AUSTRALIA

WORLD PREMIERE

THE dirtsong FEATURING TEXT BY ALEXIS WRIGHT

the Arts Centre, State Theatre Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned that audio and visual material included in this concert has been Fri 23 & Sat 24 Oct at 7.30pm gathered from a range of sources and may contain voices of Indigenous people who have passed away and images of 1hr 40min no interval places that may cause sorrow. Warning: Haze effects dirtsong was developed with the support of City of , Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body through the Presented by Melbourne International Arts Festival in association Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board and the Music with Arts House and in collaboration with The Black Arm Band Board, VicHealth, Arts , Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust, AndyInc and APRA. CDs available for sale from the Arts Centre foyer.

Principal Public Partner Public Partners Supported by www.blackarmband.com.au www.melbournefestival.com.au Arts House, a City of Melbourne contemporary arts initiative. CREDITS A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR Steven Richardson

The Black Arm Band Developed and Produced by Arts House dirtsong is the third major project of The Black Then, if words or phrases are missing, do you Mark Atkins, , Deline Briscoe, Associate Stage Director Marilyn Miller Arm Band following murundak (2006) and make up substitutes? Should you, and how do , Kutcha Edwards, Dewayne Hidden Republic (2008). you modernise a language that was last widely Repertoire and Vocals Supervisor Lou Bennett Everettsmith, , , Performed predominantly in Aboriginal spoken in the 1800s? And is this engineering of , Bunna Lawrie, Djolpa McKenzie, Musical Supervisor Iain Grandage languages, the project is presented in five language right or wrong? Lee Morgan, Shellie Morris, , Cultural Consultant Sarah Jane Bond episodes with songs and music inspired by the Like the polar ice caps it seems that the world’s with guests words of Alexis Wright. Many of the pieces are languages are melting away. According to Arrangements and Orchestrations and Paul Kelly structured as musical “conversations” between UNESCO, they disappear at a rate of one every , Iain Grandage, Kate Neal, the collaborating artists reflecting oncountry , two weeks. And if we don’t stop the decline, 90% With Jocelyn Pook (UK), Julien Wilson conjuring not only a sense of geographical of the world’s languages will be gone by the end Eugene Ball Trumpet with artists of The Black Arm Band Stuart Byrne Reeds place but encounters, memories, obligations, of this century. Additional Repertoire Research Ceridwen Davies Viola community and nature. Aboriginal languages are part of Australia’s rich, Sian Prior, Paul Kelly, Urszula Dawkins Iain Grandage Cello Tonight’s performance is drawn from Aboriginal deep cultural heritage. The inexorable march Anita Hustas Double Bass Linguistics Consultant Dr Julie Reid Australia mixing traditional approaches and of English across the globe is partly to blame Arwen Johnston Tuned Percussion Production Management and Sound contemporary songs, existing repertoire and for the drying pool of language diversity. And Andrea Keeble Violin John O’Donnell newly commissioned music, performed in 13 this is nowhere more evident than in Australia. Piano Indigenous Australian languages. Since colonisation, we have the worst record Rory McDougall Drums Stage Management Brock Brocklesby, PJ Rosas While the inspiration for dirtsong has been to of language extinction on the planet. Before Michael Meagher Electric Bass Design Consultant Paula Levis awaken some sleeping Australian Indigenous the arrival of Europeans there were hundreds Jordan Murray Trombone of languages spoken here but only around Lighting Designer Jennifer Hector languages and to work in a spirit of mutual Geoffrey Morris respect and understanding, the project has half of them are left and many of them are Greg Sheehan Percussion Screen Visuals Natasha Gadd, Rhys Graham, required all involved to summon the courage to critically endangered. Sue Simpson Violin Daybreak Films face many dilemmas. I want to pay a special tribute to Alexis Wright Julien Wilson Saxophones Program Images Andrew Curtis, Daybreak Firstly, and most significantly, the deep pain of and in turn Bill Neidjie for the generous use Films acknowledging why and how a language has of their words which have inspired tonight’s Original Text Alexis Wright Image Art Direction Famous Visual Services been removed from use and the associated performance. I encourage you to read them in full in this program. The Black Arm Band has also featured cultural, familial and community ramifications. Andy Alberts, David Arden, Robbie Bundle, For me, as an urban dwelling whitefella it is not We hope that you enjoy dirtsong. Patron of The Black Arm Band Aaron Burrarrawunga, GR Burrarrawunga, John such a huge empathetic leap to understand the and Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Murphy Butler, , Liz Cavanagh, Carole dire social and political consequences wrought Conception and Direction Steven Richardson Fraser, Sally Dastey, , , Jessie through the removal of language. Producer Jude Gun Lloyd, Rachael Maza Long, Della-Rae Morrison, , Peter Rotumah, Amy Saunders, , Ursula Yovich, Bevan Gapanbulu Yunupingu and Geoffrey Yunupingu.

Thank you to the following individuals and Sarah Caufield, Sarah Ernst, Genine Romagnoli, Vicki Gordon, Jill Shelton, Martine Delaney, Jesse Alderson, Mandy Muir, Travis Vigona, organisations for their generous support Eleni Arbus, Jane Crawley, Morris Bellamy, Janina Noeletta McKenzie, Helene Jedwab, Lisa Watts, Jessica Vigona, Tony Vigona, Micky Mundine, , Vivia Hickman and staff of Harding, Siu Chan, Pip Campey, Genevieve Dominic Forde, Kent Johnston, John Paxinos, Aven Noah, Lily Shearer, Billy McPherson, Melbourne International Arts Festival, Sue Beal, Lacey, Sarah Whitteron, Ben Walker, Anna Deirdre O’Brien and staff of Auspicious Arts, , Aboriginal Housing Kate Ben-Tovim, Kara Ward, Deanna Smart, Howard, Annette Herschtal, Alison Edwards, Melanie Rice, Eloise Curry, Martel Ollerenshaw, Company, Redfern Community Centre, Olivia Anderson, Tom Howie, Lexie Wood, Gemina Corpus, Mia Christopherson, Madeleine Loretta Mannix-Fell, Geof Webb, Lydia Miller, Elouera Tony Mundine Gym, Garma Festival of Adrian Aderhold, Angela Calderwood, Brian Bower, Stewart O’Connell, Djarla O’Connell, Liz Gilles, Debbie Dadon, Julie Kantor, Jenni Traditional Culture, Torres Strait Islanders Media Horder, Jim Stenson, Nathan Evers, Zoe Pepper, Teresa O’Brien, Marguerite Pepper, Kate Cashel, Begg, Richard Green, Alan James, Jan Leo, Association, Foundation. The Songs

episode I – dirtsong episode III – Heartbeat Far Away Home / Gungalaira Big Law It comes from where we bin start off Sing the stories back. Bring the country back. Featuring Archie Roach Featuring Leah Flanagan, Deline Briscoe Far Away Home Sunrise Sung in English and Bundjalung Sung in Alyawarre and Yalanji dirtsong Giidang Musical arrangement Eugene Ball Written Leah Flanagan, Deline Briscoe, Coming up close now Yarian Mi Tji Composed by Graham Tardif with lyrics by Alexis Wright Winnan akk Pupuup Kaleek Rolf de Heer. Words and music from the award- Musical arrangement Lou Bennett, episode II – Big Law Giidang winning filmThe Tracker directed by Rolf de Heer. Iain Grandage I am country. This piece features the vocal talents of Deline Listen to me! episode IV – Side By Side dirtsong Briscoe and Leah Flanagan based on text by I cannot be any other way Side by side. Proper way for this country. Featuring Lou Bennett Alexis Wright. First Contact Chin Wag Sung in Deline’s language comes from Kuku Yalanji, Big Law This Land is Mine Written Lou Bennett, Alexis Wright the rainforest country of the Daintree. Musical arrangement Iain Grandage Madha yidi Leah sings in the language of her Nana episode V – Rainstorm I am country From the Echuca, Barmah region, the from east of . She was born Ivy Waakoobawhan yannak Bringing fish. Rainstorm. heartland of Yorta Yorta country, it is a song of Upurla-Dempsey but as part of the Stolen the connection of people, song and country. Dron Wanga Generation her name was changed to Dorothea ‘Baiyan Woka’ is Yorta Yorta for for milaythina nika / Rrawa (Dempsey) Berto. country/land. This song comes from the depths Rainstorm of my knowing and understanding that we “All you People, Come and listen to this Spiritual Gungalaira all have connection, we just have to learn connection to land” ‘Gulpa Ngarwal’ (deep listening). Madha yidi Coming up close now Featuring Kutcha Edwards Featuring Mark Atkins Sung in Mutti Mutti Devised and arranged Mark Atkins, Written Kutcha Edwards, Creedence Edwards Julien Wilson Musical arrangement Iain Grandage, Kutcha Edwards In the spirit of the Wongi word GrunGada or Linguist Dr Julie Reid ‘gathering’ from the Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie regions of , this is an invitation This song is in Mutti Mutti language from Mutti for people, performers and storytellers to share Mutti country. After all that has been denied of experiences, songs and music – old and new. our people, language is the connection that brings us back home. Traditional Chant Madha yidi (I never) Bunna Lawrie Madha yidi ngenggadhin ngabuninalai, Spoken in I never sat with my grandfather Madha yidi yarngadin kukingialiai, I never talked to my beautiful grandmother Madha yidi wiugadhin waripa I never sang or danced in a cooroboree I am country Giidang Chin Wag milaythina nika / Rrawa Musical arrangement Greg Sheehan Featuring Emma Donovan Featuring Mark Atkins Featuring Dewayne Everettsmith, Sung in Gumbayngirr Musical arrangement and additional Djolpa McKenzie Waakoobawhan yannak Written Emma Donovan, Alexis Wright musical material Eugene Ball Sung in palawa kani and Burrarra Featuring Shane Howard, Jimmy Barnes Musical arrangement Lou Bennett, Vocal arrangement Lou Bennett milaythina nika mana mapali written Sung in Peek Whurrong/Tjapwhurrong Julien Wilson In the tradition of sitting down and having a chin Heather Sculthorpe, Dianne Cook, June Written Shane Howard Giidang is sung in the Gumbayngirr language wag, this is a musical conversation between the Sculthorpe, Chris Mansell, Roger Sculthorpe, Musical arrangement Julien Wilson which comes from the mid-north Coast of NSW. player, guitar and . The instruments Theresa Sainty Rrawa written CJ Maxwell In 1994 I was visiting Uncle Banjo Clarke, and performer complement each other, speaking Giidang means Heartbeat, and the song tells Musical arrangement Eugene Ball a Kirrae Whurrong elder, at his house on the story of my connection to jagun (country) their own unique and universal language as one. the high banks above the Hopkins River at how I am the country, how I’m keeping the milaythina nika mana mapali is about land and This Land is Mine Framlingham, South West Victoria. Uncle Ivan heartbeat of my country going, I am asking you the special connection Aboriginal people have Couzens, a elder, was visiting him to ngarraanga (listen). Featuring Dewayne Everettsmith, Paul Kelly with it, sung in palawa kani, which translates at the time. They sat by the fire talking while Written Paul Kelly, Kev Carmody as ‘blackfulla talk’, a contemporary composite The other women in the song keep the heartbeat I made cups of tea. At one point Uncle Ivan Musical arrangement Kate Neal language developed within the Tasmanian almost like a pulse, we always call our country looked up at me and said, ‘You should write Aboriginal community since the . To our miminga (mother) and this song gives me a Written by Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody for some songs in language from this country.’ maximise Aboriginal ownership it is currently voice to calll out like the mother who we have the filmOne Night The Moon directed by only taught within that community with emphasis It’s a challenge to delve into any language always referred to as country too. . Originally set on Andyamathanha that you do not know. Peek Whurrong is the land in ’s Flinders Ranges, placed on developing language skills of luwutina, language of the area where I was born and Yarian Mi Tji (What’s My Name) This Land is Mine / This Land is Me reflects on the children. raised and now live. This song represents my very Featuring Ruby Hunter possession and belonging. Written in the language of the un-burra clan, basic attempts over the last fifteen years to try to Sung in Rrawa is a song from the saltwater country of Dron Wanga bring the song to life. Written Ruby Hunter Western . Rrawa, meaning home, Waakoobawhan yannak is an eel hunting song. Musical arrangement Ruby Hunter, Featuring Djolpa McKenzie sings of First Island, now a natural reserve at the The rains come, the lakes and rivers fill, the eels Jocelyn Pook (UK) Sung in Gumatj mouth of the Liverpool River in Maningrida. travel down the rivers, the people will travel to Written Neil Murray A song of questions looking for answers for Musical arrangement Eugene Ball milaythina nika / Rrawa is two songs sung in two those places they know, they will take their eel your name, your story, your land. Ngarrindjeri languages, perfomed by Dewayne Everettsmith spears. The song goes on to say that the singer language is from the Lower , Performed with permission from the family of and Djolpa McKenzie. looks up into the night sky, sees the great river, South Australia GR Burrarrawanga. This version is dedicated to (the Milky Way) and sees the ancestors and GRB and sung in Gumatj from the Yolŋu Matha Rainstorm acknowledges that the people will all follow the Winnan akk Pupuup Kaleek languages of North East Arnhem Land. ancestors from this life on Earth. Featuring Shellie Morris (My Own Family) Sung in Gundjeihmi Sunrise Featuring Archie Roach Written Shellie Morris, Mandy Muir, Sung in Tjapwhurrong Alexis Wright Featuring Bart Willoughby, Jimmy Barnes Written Archie Roach Musical arrangement Jocelyn Pook (UK) Written Bart Willoughby Musical arrangement Eugene Ball Rainstorm is sung in the language from the This song is about a teenage boy waiting for his A song about being a man with a woman and southern end of Kakadu National Park which is first love to come back home, but she never does children singing the sunrise, hunting for food to still spoken fluently all over the region. My sister and so he realises it’s the end. eat with your family. Tjapwhurrong language is Mandy Muir, with the help of her mother Jesse from Western Victoria. Alderson, a Traditional Owner in Kakadu, translated this piece for me as she is fluent in the language and helping me to regain some language in my life to feel like I belong and that I have a place. words by Alexis Wright

This is dirtsong – It comes from where we bin That Canberra law underneath – any creation story, law story. Dry country some places now start off. Australia law underneath – only little law. Growing up children. Too much Comes from country line. Yeah, I reckon old Law is everywhere. Growing up country. I don’t know if we will get rain soon. Long time singing song for country. See it over there in the hill where the old Looking after. Who will make it rain? dirtsong coming up from where everything spirits lives, inside rock, tree, wind, sky, all Side by side. I can’t make it rain start off. animals and these old ones are coming Proper way for this country. Some of them old people passed away now, you know, the rainmakers. Coming up from ancient song for making through the elders singing the country with all I don’t know what other people do to the country good – looking good all of the time. the knowledge for big law. country. They been make it rain. Singing it up, singing it up, looking after I cannot be any other way. I cannot understand it. Make it rain and the country come back. it well. I am not your way. It is a crying shame to see the country like You got to look after the rainmakers. Should be like that, very important for Everyone must listen to the land to live strong. this. People need to listen spinifex, gidgee, mulga, Land strong with Law. Yep! We have seen all the change. Listen carefully Plenty good food, plant, water hole, Indigenous law. There were a lot of good things right through The wind blows strong animal each country place, He is the right constitution for this country. this country – but memories now. Through the tree it blows Sky place, I am here. Still though, the Indigenous law for land Come visiting you Sea place – looking after em. Sitting down here. stands strong, I don’t know how, but it does. Spirit talking to you It comes in dreams Keeping story alive for country, make it alive – My country, he’s alright, very good. We got to make the stories. You can hear it too singing the songs, I am happy now. Sing the stories back. We are made the same, you and I Living the stories, First time I am happy. Bring the country back. Hot wind bringing the goose Holding the knowledge, I like that country and go back and stay there. Singing it up. Bringing fish Following the story, It is desert country, all flat, and big range on Bringing it back. Rain storm. That is the Aboriginal law belonging to us. side – that far – and all the sandhill going the Bringing up feeling. dirtsong – happening now! other way. Feeling it in the heart. Country! We done ceremony – making corroboree, Giving it back to the country. and all that for our own country. Alexis Wright’s words written in recognition of the recorded Country for me! You listening? Listen for the heartbeat. I know everything: what Dreaming I got, law voices of elders in the books Take Power and Story About Are you listening to me? The heartbeat now – with the pulse of Feeling by Bill Neidjie. that my father lend me. Coming up close now. the land, Alexis Wright is supported by The Writing and Society Research Group, College of Arts, University of Western and we I am country. Listen to me! I am here. The bird; The tree; The grass and the wind. acknowledge the generous support of Central Land Council. I am your government – I am the land. Sitting down here. Bringing it up. This country speaks proper way. Sitting where grandparents’ grandparents Law right up top. lived. It has to be above other laws. Watching my country, watching story – Singing ‘coUNTRy’ in new ways – dirtsong Urszula Dawkins

The Black Arm Band’s first show,murundak western Great Australian Bight – and quite a still speaking their language fluently – the “Even if I’m using English, [if] I’m using a different (2006), surveyed the depth and breadth of few more. Each of The Black Arm Band artists whole gamut. And it is such an overwhelming type of melody, [if] I’m not necessarily using contemporary Aboriginal music to date, its has their own particular relationship to culture emotional thing to go through that journey traditional instruments, it’s still a connection to second, Hidden Republic (2008), took a step through language; whether it be long-standing [of language recovery], even by yourself, with my land, it’s still a connection to my belief system. towards the future in its expression of hope and uninterrupted through generations of your family and community – let alone for a It’s not just a pop song – it links me to that ‘post-apology’. Now dirtsong – performed family, recently recovered, or severed through particular show.” ancestral land.” predominantly in Indigenous languages from geographical displacement. “Language is belonging,” she says. “It is tasting – Songlines, says Bennett, relate not only to time across Australia – brings past and future together In this sense, dirtsong re-maps and strengthens it is feeling. When I speak and sing my language but also to places, “like little veins that run and celebrates language restoration and cultural these cultural relationships, feeding back into the I feel at home. I feel a sense of belonging, and through the country”. survival through songs that map the ‘countries’ larger project of language revival in this country. pride in my language. I also feel a sense of of the band members. “You know, some of those old men and women Many of the songs are newly commissioned – not connection to the land where that language that travel through bushland, they sing the Of the hundreds of Aboriginal languages that just reinforcing or affirming culture, but actively comes from.” country; and when they sing the country they were spoken before 1788, many have been creating it. dirtsong is about telling a story, not only musically, know where they are. It’s like a map to them, irretrievably lost or are at risk of disappearing Black Arm Band artist and Yorta Yorta woman, but spiritually, about the meaning of country and and that’s more of the depth of what songlines when their remaining fluent speakers pass away. Lou Bennett, sees dirtsong as being much more the Indigenous relationship to the land through are to me.” But some languages survive and are thriving, and than a concert, and language as much more time. According to Director, Steven Richardson, it Transplanted to a contemporary setting, perhaps many are being recovered, restored and learned than ‘words’ for the artists in the band. charts a new ‘territory’ encompassing the many anew by younger generations. there is a relationship between the singing of “dirtsong is about land, language and people,” landscapes, both physical and cultural, that the old people and the map that The Black Arm Remembered and passed on by the old people, says Bennett, “and the connection between the make up this continent. Band creates through this show. dirtsong’s title or reconstructed with the help of early journals three is innate in us [Aboriginal people]. It’s “The performance is in some senses a map of track, written by Bennett, acknowledges the and ethnographic records, these recovered something that’s always been there, always will Australia,” says Richardson, “but not in the depth of tradition while retaining a clear focus on languages are helping redress the cultural be in humankind, but in our mob it’s very evident sense that we are trying to represent specific the present. dispossession suffered by Aboriginal Australia. in our everyday life. Whether we’re from the cities geographical locations. Each language is specific “[The song, dirtsong,] is about the songs that They are also enabling the renewal of an oral or the country, we all come from that earth, we to a place, but the music perhaps renders a tradition over 40,000 years old. come up from the country – that have been all go back to that earth.” symbolic portrait of Australia embracing cultural coming up from the country for a very long The languages in dirtsong come from across For many of the band’s members, the creation and linguistic diversity.” time. And if you listen to that country, you hear Australia, from the to of dirtsong has been an intense personal This idea of a ‘map’ also suggests the traditional the songs, you hear that oldness, you ‘Gulpa Tasmania, and from east to west: Gumatj and experience – and particularly for those who are Aboriginal concept of ‘songlines’. The concept Ngarwal’ – you start to listen deeply.” Burrarra of Yol u Matha from Arnhem Land; ŋ in the process of retrieving their language, or of songlines is complex, but for Lou Bennett it palawa kani from Tasmania; Yorta Yorta and “It’s not just about looking to the past and to the who are yet to hear their own language spoken. represents “the connection between the past, the ancestors, it’s also happening now: we are still Mutti Mutti from southern Mungo region; present and the future.” Ngarrindjeri from the lower Murray River region “We have members within The Black Arm Band singing our country, but in other ways.” in South Australia; Gumbayngirr, from north- that have been dispossessed and removed For Bennett the creation of a songline does not coast ; Mirning, from the from their countries,” says Bennett, “and also depend on a traditional approach. people who are still on their countries and The ARTISTS

Mark Atkins Emma Donovan Aboriginal woman whose voice is heard on the A recipient of an Australia Council Fellowship, Mark Atkins is a descendant of the Yamijti Hailing from Nambucca in Northern NSW, oldest known recording in Australia, singing in Shane is also patron of the Spirit of Eureka people of Western Australia and also of Irish- Emma Donovan has performed across the globe her traditional dialect. His voice has taken him Committee and a founding member of the Australian heritage. He plays the didgeridoo treating audiences to her rich soulful voice as all over Australia to the United States and Samoa. Tarerer Gunditj Project Association, (a group of and is also a storyteller, , drummer a solo artist. Emma Donovan is an original dirtsong is Dewayne’s Black Arm Band debut. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people committed and visual artist. He has performed around the member of the vocal trio Stiff Gins, and co- to cultural and environmental restoration in world, working with including Donal wrote the 12 track Origins and the award Leah Flanagan southwest Victoria). Lunney, , James Morrison, Philip winning single Morning Star. She has toured A storyteller at heart and a multi-instrumentalist Glass, Ornette Coleman, John Williamson and worldwide including performances in London, by nature, Leah Flanagan moves between Ruby Hunter members of Led Zeppelin. In 1996 he performed Paris, Athens, , and New guitar, ukulele and piano with a powerful, Ruby Hunter, a proud Ngarrindjeri woman, was with the London Philharmonic at London’s Zealand. With the inclusion of her traditional versatile voice, shifting effortlessly between born at a billabong near the banks of the Murray Festival Hall. language Gumbayngirr in her songs, she is jazz, folk, latino and country. Born and raised River in South Australia. When only eight years committed to educating the global community to in Darwin she studied Opera at the old, Ruby was forcibly removed from her family Lou Bennett understand more about the depth of Aboriginal Conservatorium, graduating with a major in and grew up in foster homes and institutions, Known for her work in the group Tiddas, culture and spirituality. Blending genres from classical voice performance. She continues to eventually living on the streets in Adelaide Australian Indigenous performer and songwriter country and gospel to soul and R&B, her capacity impress with her natural talent and charm that where she met Archie Roach. They are part of Lou Bennett has performed to audiences to connect with her audience continues to impact emerges through her performances. Australia’s . In 1990 Archie worldwide. She has performed with numerous on both the Australian and International stage. made his first recordingCharcoal Lane and one Australian and international musicians, including Shane Howard of the album highlights was the song, Down City , Bangarra Dance Theatre, Bob Kutcha Edwards Shane Howard is a treasured and influential Streets, written by Ruby Hunter. In 1994 Ruby Geldof, Arlo Guthrie, Weddings Parties Anything, Kutcha Edwards is a Mutti Mutti man born in Australian songwriter, both as a solo artist and released her debut album, Thoughts Within and Mark Seymour, and , Balranald in New South Wales. He was ‘stolen’ from his early years as part of the band Goanna. was the first indigenous woman to be signed to and has composed music and performed at 18 months of age and denied his birthright to His songs have been recorded by artists as a major . A second album, Feeling for film, television, theatre, and public events. grow up with his family, to experience his culture diverse as Ireland’s Mary Black and Australia’s Good followed in 2000. In 2004, Ruby and She has also acted in theatre productions: and to live his identity. As a teenager he was and Troy Cassar-Daley. He has Archie collaborated with and the Magpie, Conversations with the Dead and reunited with his family and so his journey began devoted much of his working life to working with Australian Art Orchestra to produce Ruby’s Story, Yanagai! Yanagai! to retrieve his identity and reclaim his family and Aboriginal musicians, as well as touring Ireland an intensely rich musical experience charting his community. For many years he was the lead and forging Irish-Australian connections. He has Ruby’s search for identity and hope through love. Deline Briscoe singer in Blackfire. He has since formed Kutcha worked as music producer for numerous artists, Ruby’s Story won the 2004 Deadly Award for Excellence in Film and Theatrical Score. Ruby’s Deline Briscoe is a singer-songwriter hailing Edwards and Band. He has travelled to China, including , Street Warriors, songs reflect her personal history. She is firmly from Mossman, North who Mexico and Japan. Mary Black and Archie Roach, as well as the established as a unique and powerful voice in now calls Melbourne home. Her songs are a musical Corrugation Road. Australian music. delightful mix of roots soul, gospel and tear- Dewayne Everettsmith jerking ballads. Her former outfit The Briscoe Though proudly seeing himself as both Aboriginal Sisters performed across Australia, including and Australian, Dewayne Everettsmith’s roots at WOMAD and and released and musical heritage are very strongly connected their debut EP Check It Out. The Briscoe Sisters to Aboriginal communities of Tasmania and were voted Most Promising New Talent at the southeast Victoria. His grandfather was born and in 2004, and the following year raised in the Aboriginal community on remote received the Port Fairy Folk Festival award for Cape Barren Island in Bass Strait, birthplace of Maton’s Young Talent of the Year. In 2006 they a unique form of (a blend of many recorded Live @ The Tanks, and went on to styles known simply as Cape Barren music). play before Jimmy Cliff at WOMADelaide. She His grandmother was from the Gunai/Kurnai has also collaborated with producer Airi Ingram people of southeast Victoria. Adopted as a (Drum Drum/Grrilla Step) for her latest album. child, he was raised within a family descended This is Deline’s debut with The Black Arm Band. from Fanny Cochrane-Smith, a Tasmanian Bunna Lawrie with some of Australia’s legendary musical talents removed from his family. The album won a Steven Richardson Bunna Lawrie is the frontman of , including , Dean Geyer and The Human Rights Award, the first time such an Initiator of The Black Arm Band in late 2004 the band he co-founded in 1977 on the Kooniba Mary G Show. He continues the storytelling that award has been given to a songwriter. Archie Steven also directed murundak and Hidden Mission in Northern Territory. The band rose was inspired by his indigenous grandfather, the has toured extensively both in Australia and Republic. He has a broad experience in the to prominence in 1984. Their music featured great Banjo Clarke (Wisdom Man) that we all overseas and has gone on to release a further arts spanning twenty years in a variety of artistic, on Australian national radio and they toured share the land we walk on as outlined on his four . In 2009 Archie and his wife and producing and programming roles. He holds extensively. In the 1990s the group slowed their anthemic track, Reconciliation Song. He has musical collaborator, Ruby Hunter were awarded a Fine Arts degree in visual arts and studied recording and touring schedule but released played across Australia’s venues and festivals the Performing Arts Award for their dance at Victorian College of the Arts. He is a greatest hits compilation in 1997. In 1999 and this is his Black Arm Band debut. exceptional contribution to Australia’s cultural life currently Artistic Director of Arts House – a City Bunna became the first Aboriginal Australian through the performing arts. of Melbourne contemporary arts initiative where to receive the coveted Don Banks Music Shellie Morris he has also conceived and developed Dance Award, a prize usually reserved for Australian Shellie Morris is a Darwin-based singer- Bart Willoughby Massive, the inaugural Australian contemporary classical musicians. songwriter. Adopted out to Ian and Dorothea Bart Willoughby was the first Aboriginal artist to dance platform realised in 2009. He was Deputy Dixon at an early age, she has traced her appear in and write lyrics for a docu-drama, the Chair of the Dance Board of the Australia Djolpa McKenzie roots back to a Wardaman (Katherine area) first to score a feature film and the first to sign Council for the Arts from 2002 to 2007. Djolpa is an un-burra man from Western Arnhem grandfather remembered for his skills with a record deal. In 1978 he formed the band No Land and his music career began at the age guitar and voice, and a Yanyuwa (Borroloola Fixed Address and toured Australia and the UK. Jimmy Barnes of 13. His elder brother taught him to play area) grandmother who was taken from her No Fixed Address are acknowledged as the tip of In the and 1980s Jimmy Barnes was on an acoustic guitar with only three strings. family at eight years and brought up in Darwin’s the spear of contemporary Aboriginal music and known as the wildest, loudest and most popular Djolpa began touring with his elder brothers in Kahlin compound. Her performance highlights opened the door for many artists that followed, star in the country. In the 1990s the Letter Stick band playing the rhythm guitar. include the Closing Ceremony of the Arafura also starring in the filmWrong Side of the Road. Jimmy reached mega-stardom with consecutive He created and fronted Wild Water for the past Games in Darwin and the Adelaide Cabaret He performed at the Edinburgh Festival with the #1 albums in both soul and rock genres. Then 15 years as singer, main songwriter and rhythm Festival, and she has shared the bill with many band Coloured Stone before re-forming No everything went out of control and he came close guitarist. His haunting vocals are sung in both renowned Australian artists including Yothu Yindi, Fixed Address and touring the USA with Yothu to losing everything. In recent years, after rehab English and Burrara language. Djolpa’s songs Grinspoon, Vicka and Linda Bull, and Yindi. In 1989 he formed and and open heart surgery, he has climbed back are about his life, his country, and strongly . She was nominated for a Deadly toured extensively in Australia and overseas. Bart to the top of the charts and the top of his form reflect who he is as an Indigenous person living Vibes Award in 2002. As an ambassador for has also worked with artists and with two sell out Australian tours and a current between two worlds. After nearly 15 years of The Foundation, she works with Goanna, and continues to tour internationally. number one album The Rhythm and the Blues. touring he returned home to Maningrida where Indigenous communities and youth throughout This is Jimmy’s Black Arm Band debut. he is the VET music teacher at Maningrida Australia, helping young people write music Alexis Wright Community Education Centre, passing on his about their experiences. Alexis Wright is a member of the Waanyi Paul Kelly knowledge and music wisdom to the younger nation of the southern highlands of the Gulf of Singer-songwriter Paul Kelly has recorded Archie Roach generations, continuing the mentoring role from Carpentaria. She is one of Australia’s best- numerous albums with his own bands, written his brothers. This is Djolpa’s debut performance Once in a lifetime an artist with an extraordinary known Indigenous authors and in 2007 her songs with and produced other artists, and with The Black Arm Band. spirit comes along. Archie Roach, a philosopher novel Carpentaria won numerous national written several film scores includingLantana , and storyteller in the tradition of his ancestors, literary awards including the Miles Franklin and Jindabyne. His recent Lee Morgan relays and retells intimate real life stories Literary Award. For many years she has worked albums include the bluegrass-inspired Foggy Lee ‘Sonnyboy’ Morgan is from the Gunditjmara through song that has touched the hearts and on campaigns for Aboriginal land rights, self- Highway, the Tchad Blake-produced Ways and Kirrae Whurrong clan from southwest Victoria, souls of audiences around the world. Surviving government and constitutional change in the Means, and Stolen Apples. and he spent many years growing up on the a turbulent upbringing Archie has become a Northern Territory. She currently holds the Framlingham mission. His solo career and powerful voice for . His position of Distinguished Research Fellow at vivacious guitar-strung tunes embrace a new song, from his 1990 the University of Western Sydney where she phase in soulful country , and he has debut album produced by is developing new literary works, a series of recently recorded his latest album, Feed Me. He Paul Kelly and the late Steve Connolly tells of lectures and literary collaborations. has performed and appeared on many albums Archie’s personal experience of being forcibly