Boomerang is occurring right at your doorstep in beautiful Byron Bay in subtropical Northern NSW. You would need to travel to a remote area of Australia to experience such an amazing event and even then it would not present near as many of the incredible artists that define the Australian Indigenous experience that is Boomerang.
This is a fully realised commercial event, not dependent on grants or government handouts because the time has come to present our first culture in a way we have not had the opportunity to before - as headliners in their own land.
Boomerang will feature the very best our original culture has to offer in the arts, culture and ideas, as well as emerging musicians, artists and dancers, theatre and much more. It features 4 stages, along with workshops, traditional healings, as well as introducing the First Nations Film Festival, panels and forums over three days which define the Indigenous experience in Australia NOW.
It is an all-embracing event - for peoples of every persuasion - come join us.
A very limited amount of 3 day and single day Early Bird Tickets are now on sale through www.boomerangfestival.com.au or by phoning the Boomerang office on 02 66858310.
Hosted by the oldest living culture it's a time to get up close and personal, there is nothing that quite matches the exchanges our audiences will experience. A new partnership with Bluesfest Director, Peter Noble and leading cultural creative, Boomerang Festival Director and Curator Rhoda Roberts, both have been inspired by the artistic collaboration across our shores. Peter Noble says of the festival "Boomerang is a Festival of Indigenous Ideas, of all aspects of our original culture. We think now is the right time to show the viability and value of Australian Indigenous culture in an accessible event which will give all Australians a sense of pride on experiencing the best of the best in Indigenous arts today"
However it isn't all just music! Renowned Australian Actor, TV Host and Personality Ernie Dingo and Academic Larissa Behrendt are the first of our speakers program to be announced along with comedian Sean Choolburra who will guarantee a laugh with his show "Fifty Shades of Black"
& many more to come with another astounding announcement on Wednesday July 3rd.
Gurrumul WITH THE QUEENSLAND VIRTUOSI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is a blind musician, who sings in the Yolngu Matha language. He was born in Galiwin'ku, off the coast of Arnhem Land. He performed with Yothu Yindi and the Saltwater band before going solo with his award winning album Gurrumul his second album Rrakala was described as the definitive folk record of all time.
Recently at the Sydney Opera House Vivid LIVE presented Gurrumul as you have never seen him before in a world-first collaboration, re-arranging and performing the hits from his ARIA Award-winning, multi-platinum albums in a breath-taking orchestral debut with the Sydney Symphony. This bought a new dimension to his performance; through multimedia the stories of his childhood told by the elders of Elcho Island added a very personal new layer to his music, lyrics and song. The sell-out shows received glowing reviews;
"...his performance is immediately magnificent, its impact intensified by a sense of the generous energies involved for such an introverted artist" (The Guardian)
"An aunty tells us Gurrumul is special because he was born "covered with rainbow" and, as he begins singing, his voice just lightly caressed by violins, her words are proved true" (Sydney Morning Herald)
GURRUMUL PLAYS BOOMERANG ON SATURDAY 5TH OCTOBER 2013
Archie Roach WITH LOU BENNETT, EMMA DONOVAN, DELINE BRISCOE AND A TEN PIECE ENSEMBLE FEAT A STRING QUARTET
One of Australia's beloved, singer/songwriters with a voice and sensibility that is this country's most important song line. He captured the hearts and minds of a nation in 1990 with Charcoal Lane and the landmark song Took The Children Away, winning two Aria Awards and a Human Rights Award and listed in the US Rolling Stone's Top 50 albums for 1992.
CREATION is a collection of deeply spiritual songs gifted to the world by one of Australia's much loved and revered voices and songwriters; Archie Roach.
Penned by a young Roach these early songs went on to find homes on four seminal albums released between 1990 and 2002. Others demoed during these years and reluctantly set aside have now been resurrected and brought to life in this very special box set and live show.
Archie will be premiering songs from Creation at the inaugural Boomerang Festival embellished by the sublime vocals of Lou Bennett, Emma Donovan and Deline Briscoe and a ten-piece ensemble featuring a string quartet under the direction of Jen Anderson.
Creation consolidates a body of work from a storyteller who has and continues to make a profound and lasting connection with people of all ages. Many of Roach's songs have journeyed beyond the shores of Australia to be embraced by cultures worldwide. Such is the transformative power of his songs.
The birthplace of these songs found their genesis at the family's kitchen table.
Archie created, crafted and then recorded songs on an old tape deck. Accompanied by his late partner, Ruby Hunter who would provide never-ending cups of tea and occasional harmonies. It was at this kitchen table, with life bursting at the seams all around him; children running around, family and friends dropping in at all hours of the day and night, that Archie captured the essence of those songs that would one day travel to touch the hearts and souls of people worldwide.
From 1990 to 2002 Archie was signed to this country's only major independent record company, Mushroom Records, and in that time released four classic and award winning albums to critical acclaim. His debut album in 1990, Charcoal Lane, co-produced by Paul Kelly and the late Steve Connolly, brought a young and painfully shy Archie Roach to the attention of music fans worldwide. In 1992 he released his second album, Jamu Dreaming, produced by David Bridie, followed five years later by Looking for Butter Boy, produced by Malcolm Burn and in 2002 Sensual Being, co-produced by Richard Pleasance and Paul Kelly.
CREATION @ Boomerang Festival brings to life for the very first time this majestic body of Archie Roach's early work, both old and found, a home made gift from the healing hands of our nation's most cherished storyteller and songman.
ARCHIE ROACH PLAYS BOOMERANG ON FRIDAY 4TH OCTOBER AND SUNDAY 6TH OCTOBER 2013
Shellie Morris
One of Australia's finest singer songwriters, her voice and heartfelt music has seen her grace the stage from Melbourne to Vancouver Winter Olympics, Japan and London receiving numerous awards. A featured singer with award winning Black Arm Band her collaborations with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, as well as her intimate shows, she has shared her life and stories to delighted audiences.
In 2009 she travelled with Brazilian legend Gilberto Gil through different communities collaborating with musicians along the way, as he featured in a documentary that tracked his journey across three different continents.
The project Liberty Songs saw her work with Liberian women refugees. Her own recordings are Shellie Morris and Waiting Road and she is featured on Black Arm Band's Murundak and Hidden Republic and Ngambala Wifi Li-Wunungu (Together We Are Strong) created with the Borroloola Songwomen. She is an ambassador for the Fred Hollows Foundation.
SHELLIE MORRIS PLAYS BOOMERANG ON FRIDAY 4TH OCTOBER AND SATURDAY 5TH OCTOBER 2013
The Medics
Hailing from Cairns, The Medics started out when cousins Kahl Wallace and Jhindu Lawrie and friends Andrew Thomson and Charles Thomas came together to make music for the first time. ‘Unearthed' by national broadcaster Triple J, they've played alongside Birds of Tokyo, The Grates, Gypsy and the Cat, The Jezabels and The Panics.
Showcasing the changing face and sound of Indigenous music in Australia, The Medics took out top honours at the 2012 National Indigenous Music Awards with wins for Album of the Year and Song of the Year for ‘Griffin and were crowned Best New Talent at the 2013 Rolling Stone Awards.
THE MEDICS PLAY BOOMERANG ON FRIDAY 4TH OCTOBER 2013
Thelma Plum
ROSIE is the debut EP for this 18-year-old singer-songwriter. Her first demo, FATHER SAID, won Triple J's Unearthed competition in July 2012 and was celebrated on the UK-based Record of the Day blogsite. Shane Howard invited her to join his 30th anniversary celebration of "Solid Rock" at Melbourne's Forum Theatre. With her exquisite acoustic set Thelma has opened national tours for Bob Evans and Emma Louise and packed her tent at Bluesfest this year.
THELMA PLUM PLAYS BOOMERANG ON SATURDAY 5TH AND SUNDAY 6TH OCTOBER 2013
Arakwal Dancers
The Arakwal dancers are a local Byron Bay dance troupe that practice and perform traditional dance. They have performed at local gatherings and key regional events including Bluesfest respecting the saltwater stories of the region.
THE ARAKWAL DANCERS PERFORM AT BOOMERANG FRIDAY 4TH, SATURDAY 5TH & SUNDAY 6TH OCTOBER 2013
Ernie Dingo
A Yamatji man and one of Australia's most loved personalities, Ernie began his early career in sport with the East Perth Eagles basketball team. An all round dancer, actor and writer he has appeared in some of Australia's best classic films including the international comedy blockbuster Crocodile Dundee ll, the Fringe Dwellers, Dead Heart and the Wim Wenders epic Until the End of the World.
Dingo hosted the television program the Great Outdoors and appeared as an actor in many television series such a s Blue Heelers and The Flying Doctors, Kings in Grass Castles and ABC Heartlands to name a few.
Ernie joins Boomerang as part of our speakers program and will also join the footy panel for the NRL grand final along with some of our most loved players
ERNIE DINGO APPEARS AT BOOMERANG ON FRIDAY 4TH AND SATURDAY 5TH OCTOBER 2013
Larissa Behrendt
Larissa is the Professor of Law and Director of Research at the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at UTS and a practicing barrister. Award winning novelist she has also published numerous text books on Indigenous legal issues and written on human rights, property law, Indigenous rights, dispute resolution and Aboriginal women's issues.
Her current research work includes analysis of the federal government arrangements for policy making and service delivery to Aboriginal communities, governance in Aboriginal communities and organizations, as well as on land and other rights of Indigenous people. She is Chair of Bangarra Dance Theatre and a Board Member of the Museum of Contemporary Art.
LARISSA BEHRENDT APPEARS AT BOOMERANG ON SATURDAY 5TH OCTOBER 2013
Sean Choolburra
Sean Choolburra has carved his niche as Australia's No.1 Indigenous comedian. Choolburra broke into comedy in 2002 after a lustrous ballet career with Bangarra and the Electric Boogaloo's. Choolburra continues to tickle and entertain people through dance, and amusing stories which to some may seem borderline pure genius or pure ridiculous but whichever way you take it, you will be leaving with a belly full of laughs.
As a comedian, Choolburra draws on his life experience as an Aboriginal man while blending his skills as a dancer and didgeridoo player. He gives the audience a chance to get in on many hilarious "Black Fella Yarns". Perhaps it is his ability to share the naivety of a small town Aboriginal boy still coming to grips with the big city lights that make him all that much more inviting and engaging as a performer.
Choolburra has performed at many local and international festivals including Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scottish Storytelling Festival, The Adelaide Fringe Festival, Dreaming Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival. He has also hosted the Deadly Funnies in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
Choolburra's television credits include Message Sticks, Thank God You're Here, Stand Up!, The Footy Show, Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, The Squiz and NITV's From the Heart of the Nation free-to-air telecast.
SEAN CHOOLBURRA PERFORMS AT BOOMERANG ON SATURDAY 5TH OCTOBER 2013
I Don't Wanna Play House
The longest running Aboriginal play, I Don't Wanna Play House is not for the faint hearted, this production tackles domestic violence, child abuse and thanks to the engrossing storytelling, deft characterization and humor. It's a gutsy solo play and worth seeing. Tammy is a graduate of the Swinburne University Indigenous Performing Arts course and the John Bolton Theatre School, graduating in 1997.
Her theatre work includes numerous creative development workshops for Ilbijerri Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Theatre Co-operative, Playbox and Melbourne Workers Theatre. She appeared in the world premiere of Stolen, and toured nationally and internationally with various productions. Tammy is currently teaching at Swinburne University. Her recent film credits include the award winning feature, The Sapphires.
"It is not so often that a performance receives a standing ovation; for its Hobart opening night I Don't Wanna Play House received this spontaneous tribute, recognition of a moving tale told honestly, bravely and with much good humour—and of an almost faultless, brilliantly versatile lead performance from the very same woman who had lived and survived the indignities portrayed"
John Bolton RealTime
TAMMY ANDERSON PERFORMS I DON'T WANNA PLAY HOUSE AT BOOMERANG ON FRIDAY 4TH, SATURDAY 5TH AND SUNDAY 6TH OCTOBER 2013
Butcher Paper, Texta, Blackboard and Chalk
Former 60 minutes journalist Jeff McMullen in conversation with Archie Roach on his life on the streets and life after the passing of his beloved Ruby (film to screen as well) and his new children's series.
Butcher Paper, Texta, Black Board and Chalk is the culmination of 15 years work of Aboriginal singer songwriter Ruby Hunter with support from her life partner Archie Roach. This stunning children's song book is full of beautiful illustrations and an accompanying music CD and informative DVD.
Many of the songs were written through song writing and music workshops held by Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach with children from across Cape York. The songs reflect the beliefs, pride, aspirations and issues of many clan groups and Aboriginal communities, from the coastal savannahs of Kowanyama to the towering rainforests of Lockhart River, as seen through the eyes of Aboriginal children and songwriters.
BUTCHER PAPER, TEXTA, BLACK BOARD AND CHALK FILM & DISCUSSION WILL TAKE PLACE AT BOOMERANG ON FRIDAY 4TH, SATURDAY 5TH AND SUNDAY 6TH OCTOBER 2013
