PORT FAIRY FOLK FESTIVAL 2020
First Nations Songs & Stories
New Artists Announced
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In 2020 the Port Fairy Folk Festival will celebrate the music of First Nations people, contemporary and traditional, Australian, Canadian, Timor Leste and New Zealand.
The 44th Port Fairy Folk Festival will feature magnificent concerts by First Nation Australian artists Archie Roach joined by Paul Grabowski and Sally Dastey, Benny Walker, Emily Wurramurra, Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse along with international artists Ego Lemos (Timor Leste), Hubert Francis (Elsipogtog First Nation Elder of New Brunswick, Canada) and Maori artist Mihirangi Fleming with Māmā Mihirangi & the Māreikura.
The Festival is proud to be presenting a special concert, First Nations – Songs & Stories hosted by Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse. This event will explore, in conversation and in song, the similarities and differences of being a First Nation artist, the path to reconciliation and the role the arts and music can play in aspirations for the future. In the lead up to the festival there will be workshops with Port Fairy’s local indigenous community and elders alongside Hubert Francis, Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse.
Port Fairy Folk Festival Program Director Caroline Moore said: ‘’We have had the privilege to engage with communities from around the world, and we are delighted to bring many together for one magnificent gathering in our beautiful Port Fairy. This Festival is about drawing people together through music and storytelling, gaining insights into lives and other cultures. These artists represent a variety of genres and are stellar in their own right. Underpinning their work and art, is the folk philosophy, a story and the capacity to inspire and provoke thought. I am truly honoured to be welcoming them to our magnificent seaside village where for one long weekend we will be an incredible global community with a great deal of love and hope in our hearts.”
These artists will be joined by The Blind Boys of Alabama (US), Patty Griffin (US), Eleanor McEvoy (IRE), John McCutcheon (US), C.W. Stoneking, YolanDa Brown (UK) and The Maes in the spectacular 2020 line-up, with more artists soon to be announced.
For tens of thousands of years the Pyipgil Gunditj clan has gathered in ceremony on this country. For the past 43 years the Port Fairy Folk Festival has been celebrated each year in the land of the Pyipgil Gundji clans, in Peek Whurrong country.
The Port Fairy Folk Festival pays their respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledges that the land we gather on each year for the Festival is the traditional lands of the Peek Whurrong people.
The Port Fairy Folk Festival is on from 6-9 March 2020. Subscriber tickets available now. For further information visit www.portfairyfolkfestival.com
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ABOUT THE ARTISTS
ARCHIE ROACH
Archie Roach is best known as an award-winning singer and songwriter but he is also widely recognised as a campaigner for the rights of First Nations. On the back of his recent release, The Concert Collection 2012-2018, this spectacular memoir event will bring Roach’s extraordinary life story to all Australians and leave a lasting legacy for generations of future readers. Roach’s story is not only a lightning rod for the issues that we all face about our nation and the survival and optimism of First Nations Australians, but more importantly a powerful, passionate and moving personal story of music, family, love, loss and renewal.
BENNY WALKER
Yorta Yorta singer/songwriter Benny Walker is the real deal. His songs are epic tales, full of love and passion for people, the land and summer vibes, driven by deep grooves that reach the soul. In 2016 he was nominated for four NIMA awards: New Talent of the Year, Best Song, Best Cover art and Best Film Clip for Oh No You Don’t, a song that shot to No.1 on the AMRAP charts and was soon followed by another No.1 for the heart wrenching single Save. Benny’s winning streak continued when he won Best Aboriginal Act at The Age Music Victoria Music Awards at the end of 2016.
EGO LEMOS (TIMOR LESTE)
Musician, singer songwriter and environmental troubadour Ego Lemos is a remarkable man, with a remarkable voice in more ways than one. With three albums and an APRA-AMCOS Screen Award for the score for feature film Bilbao, Lemos tour across South America, Europe, Asia and Australia performing at festivals and solo concerts. On top of this, Lemos is a leading teacher in permaculture have co-authored Permaculture Gardens for Kids and working as Executive Director of Permatil.
EMILY WURRAMARA
Brisbane-based emerging songwriter Emily Wurramara’s childhood was one of water and music. Growing up on Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria, days were filled with travel, fishing and extended family, a mother telling stories; seeds being sown for her future compositions. In 2018 Wurramara was nominated for an ARIA for Best Blues and Roots for her debut album Milyakburra, produced by David Bridie and which saw Wurramara singing in both her mother tongue Anindiyakwa and English.
GINA WILLIAMS & GUY GHOUSE
Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse have firmly established a reputation for bringing a fresh, modern take on ancient traditions; merging evocative sounds, natural acoustic instruments, poignant stories an incredible, beautiful voice. The natural rhythms of the Noongar language are perfectly captures and represented, and there’s an onstage connection and charisma that comes from two good friends who simply won’t quit. Williams has on four separate occasions taken out the WA Music Industry Award for Best Indigenous Artist. Telling her story and singing these beautiful crafted songs and often in her now rarely spoken language is deeply personal and something to share.
HUBERT FRANCIS – CAN
Hubert Francis was born and raised in Elsipogtog, an Indian Reservation in New Brunswick, Canada. He started his rock group J.Hubert Francis & Eagle Feather in 1990, with Eagle Feather becoming the first touring Aboriginal rock band in Canada. Releasing three albums, including the award-winning Message From a Drum in 1999, Francis and Eagle Feather have toured the world with their fusion of native chants and contemporary rock sounds. Hubert Francis and Eagle Feather have been nominated for numerous high profile awards including a Native American Music Award and two Juno nominations. Francis recently completed the filming of a documentary series, Eastern Tide, co-directing, performing and narrating in the Mi kmaq language.
MĀMĀ MIHIRANGI & THE MĀREIKURA – NZ
New Zealand’s queen of live loops Māmā Mihirangi & the Māreikura take the stage by storm with a powerful show of stunning contemporary Māori music, dance, instruments, language, stories and costumes. Weaving ancient changes with intricate harmonies, traditional and contemporary instruments, beats and deep bass, the powerful and fierce all-female Māori world-roots production is led by internationally renowned artist and activist Māmā Mihirangi. Traditional female dancers, Māreikura perform alongside, presenting the virtues of feminine power and inspiring cultural identity with the women’s haka, traditional weaponry and Māori martial arts combined into a contemporary cultural performance.
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