FIRST NATIONS FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The 38th Illawarra Folk Festival at Bulli Showground on January 17-19 maintains the strong tradition of showcasing Australian First Nations performers that has developed over the festival’s history.
This year’s program includes celebrated Northern Territory-based performers The Andrew Gurruwiwi Band, Ray Dimakarri Dixon and Shellie Morris, as well as Illawarra-based Alara Livingstone, Jiah King and Kyarna Rose.
Co-Artistic Director David De Santi said the festival was proud to provide a stage for First Nations artists to share their music.
“This has been an important part of the Illawarra Folk festival for many years, and we are really excited by the Indigenous line-up at this year’s festival,” he said.
The Andrew Gurruwiwi Band is an eight-piece funk band from Arnhem Land following in the footsteps of great acts from the same region including Yothu Yindi, King Stingray and Baker Boy, who have all made indelible marks on the Australian musical landscape. The band is led by Yolngu elder Andrew Gurruwiwi, a shy but extravagant performer with a passion for making people dance.
Ray Dimakarri Dixon hails from Marlinja, halfway between Darwin and Alice Springs, where he is a an elder and guardian of Country. His songs celebrate Country, family and culture, while also warning of the threats of mining and fracking to his people’s way of life.
Shellie Morris is an old favourite of folk festival audiences, having performed multiple times at the Illawarra Folk Festival and Folk By The Sea in Kiama. The awarding-winning singer-songwriter shares captivating stories and songs about discovering her people and her roots. Shellie can sing in 17 Indigenous languages
Alara, Jiah and Kyarna are three accomplished performers who will be performing in the 90-minute Koori Voices show at 1pm on Saturday at the Black Diamond stage, hosted by academic, story sharer and writer Dr Jodi Edwards, who will also deliver the Welcome to Country on Friday evening. Alara is a proud young Yuin woman living in Wollongong, Jiah is a Waanyi and Pitta Pitta man while Kyrna is a Yuin woman living in Shellharbour. Koori Voices promises to be one of the festival highlights.
You can find tickets and festival information here.
Story by Illawarra Folk Festival Publicity Officer Nick Hartgerink.
