'Spectacular' 10-day First Nations international arts festival YIRRAMBOI kicks off in Naarm/Melbourne
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this article contains the names of people who have died.
With a grand cohort of international talent joining local mob across this year's YIRRAMBOI — the Naarm/Melbourne-based biennial First Nations arts festival that both embraces and upends tradition — the decision was made to ease audiences in.
"We're starting off slowly, being grounded onto Country and then really going out with a bang with the Uncle Archie Roach Block Party, making some noise on closing night," says co-creative lead Sherene Stewart (Taungurung/Filipino), who co-leads with J-Maine Beezley (Wakka Wakka/Kabi Kabi).
"It's a spectacular and beautiful event."
Billed as one of the largest-ever First Nations-led happenings in Naarm, the Block Party is named in honour of the late game-changing musicians Archie Roach (Gunditjmara and Bundjalung) and partner Ruby Hunter (Ngarrindjeri/Kukatha/Pitjantjatjara), whose collective voice helped fire up generations of activists and artists.
Amos Roach, pictured with Sky Thomas, says his parents would more than approve of YIRRAMBOI's Block Party line-up.
(
National Indigenous Times/Joshua Scott
)
Curated by YIRRAMBOI music producer Sky Thomas, aka Soju Gang (Gunnai/Kurnai/Yorta Yorta/Wiradjuri), it's a giant street party centred on the Aunty Ruby Hunter Stage. It's headlined by Roach and Hunter's son, award-winning musician and dancer Amos Roach (Ngarrandjerri/Djab Wurrung/Gunditjmara).
"It means so much to me that the Block Party carries my mum and dad's names," Roach says.
"Growing up, I'd travel round the country with them performing and meet so many musicians and their kids, including Kutcha Edwards [also playing the Block Party]," he adds. "I know they'd love this line-up."
Acclaimed Mutti Mutti songman Kutcha Edwards features in YIRRAMBOI.
(
Susan Carmody
)
That stacked line-up includes the likes of Miss Kaninna (Yorta Yorta,/Dja Dja Wurrung/Kalkadoon/Yirendali), who recently supported Irish rappers Kneecap, pioneering rockers Blackfire and Canadian roots star Leonard Sumner (Anishinaabe).
"I'm hoping to catch as many performances as possible," Roach says. "I can't think of a better tribute."
Stumble upon something new
YIRRAMBOI will also stage the welcome return of Barring Yanabul, a free showcase of First Nations arts events in and around Bourke Street Mall.
"Barring Yanabul translates to 'we all walk the path', and the idea is it's a great way to stumble upon something you've never seen before," Stewart says.
Yorta Yorta/Dja Dja Wurrung/Kalkadoon/Yirendali artist Miss Kaninna is performing at this year's festival.
(
Supplied: Yirramboi Festival
)
First dreamt up by YIRRAMBOI founder Jacob Boehme and a council of Elders, this year's iteration includes everything from installation art to psychic readings and drag stars, and it continues to evolve the idea of moving beyond designated spaces, decolonising where art can happen.
"The idea was to remove barriers of engaging with new audiences," Stewart says.
"You don't need to go and buy a ticket to engage with incredible work created within our communities, interwoven with international acts."
The breadth of free works on offer is impressive, and it comes with a message.
"
For far too long, we were only seen as capable of traditional art," Stewart says. "That's an incredibly important part of our cultural inheritance, but we can also do anything and everything.
"
Hence a program with "a diversity of people and practices" and a little bit of everything for everyone, bringing "joy into the public sphere".
Breaking down the door
Continually expanding what YIRRAMBOI can do is built into the festival's mission statement.
"Yirramboi means 'tomorrow' in the local languages of the Boon Wurrung and Woi Wurrung," Stewart explains.
"I worked on the very first festival and remember going for a walk along the Birrarung with Jacob. He said to me, 'One day you'll be in a position where you have the opportunity to hold open the door, and when you do, pull through as many people as you can.'"
It's advice that stuck. "As I've been able to grow and develop within YIRRAMBOI, we've gotten to the point where we say, 'Why not rip the door down?'"
Already Occupied, a contemporary art project that's part of Barring Yanabul.
(
Supplied: Yirramboi Festival/Keelan O'Hehir
)
YIRRAMBOI's international offering is an excellent example of folks passing through that door in either direction.
"J-Maine and I sat down and we really thought about how to program international artists authentically," Stewart says.
"And it's all about self-determination."
They invited Anishinaabe producer Sage Wright to help coordinate that aspect of the festival, including the Block Party and Barring Yanabul participants.
"She sits in the office with us," Stewart says. "It's not just a moment in time where we pick up a show or program an international musician. It's about legacy building; creating relationships that will continue forevermore."
Rock the block
The Block Party builds a bridge between the past, present and future.
"When Sky was curating the music program, she reinforced that Archie and Ruby transformed the landscape of the Australian music scene way back when they didn't get the opportunities we do today," Stewart says.
"So having Uncle Kutch and Amos in there alongside emerging artists is vital.
"
When we talk about futures past, we have that responsibility to create platforms for the people that created platforms for us.
"
It's more important now than ever.
"There has been a lot of hate, not only here but across the globe, including in the gender space," Stewart says. "We have survived for 80,000 years-plus, and that doesn't just happen. It happens because of the power and resilience of our communities.
"YIRRAMBOI is a joyful act of resistance."
YIRRAMBOI runs in Naarm/Melbourne from May 1–11.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
11 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘There's always one person': The show taking a funny and frank look at filmmaking
Among the boundary-pushing new dramas selected for Screen Australia and SBS' Digital Originals initiative this 50th anniversary year of the Special Broadcasting Service is one that goes inside the industry itself. Based on the professional experiences of its Nyul Nyul/Yawuru creator and co-director Jub Clerc, Warm Props is a funny and scathing look at cultural ignorance and exploitation within filmmaking, alongside a moving homecoming story. 'There's definitely been some things that have happened on sets that have caught me by surprise,' says Clerc. 'Sometimes it's a mistake – people just not being educated about First Nations culture. It becomes problematic because when you're the only First Nations person on set, you don't just work your job, you work the job of cultural advisor … 'The majority of cast and crew are just golden. But unfortunately, there's always one person who spoils it for everybody. This film is exposing people in the industry that take cultural appreciation too far, or who are unconsciously biased, culturally blind or outright racist.' Loading A film within a film set in Broome, Warm Props – its title refers to the industry slang for extras – stars Yolngu actor Rarriwuy Hick (Wentworth, True Colours) as local identity Aunty Jilby, and newcomer Tehya Makani, a Yawuru/Wadjarri, Pitjanjarra and Wadjuk actor, as Charlie, a 'warm props wrangler'. The pair share a painful family history and are forced to confront their rift while working on an autobiographical film by a narcissistic white 'writer/director/producer' named Keith, who believes he has acquired a 'bush name' from a local mob and therefore identifies as Aboriginal, trampling all over cultural customs in the process. Clerc says there was only ever one actor for this unforgiving role: Mystery Road actor Peter Docker. 'Peter Docker is a great ally,' says Clerc. 'So I knew there would be no moment in any of our conversations where his white fragility would step up and go, 'Oh, but we don't do that!' I knew I could just talk to him and there wouldn't be any cotton-ball babysitting.'
The Age
11 hours ago
- The Age
‘There's always one person': The show taking a funny and frank look at filmmaking
Among the boundary-pushing new dramas selected for Screen Australia and SBS' Digital Originals initiative this 50th anniversary year of the Special Broadcasting Service is one that goes inside the industry itself. Based on the professional experiences of its Nyul Nyul/Yawuru creator and co-director Jub Clerc, Warm Props is a funny and scathing look at cultural ignorance and exploitation within filmmaking, alongside a moving homecoming story. 'There's definitely been some things that have happened on sets that have caught me by surprise,' says Clerc. 'Sometimes it's a mistake – people just not being educated about First Nations culture. It becomes problematic because when you're the only First Nations person on set, you don't just work your job, you work the job of cultural advisor … 'The majority of cast and crew are just golden. But unfortunately, there's always one person who spoils it for everybody. This film is exposing people in the industry that take cultural appreciation too far, or who are unconsciously biased, culturally blind or outright racist.' Loading A film within a film set in Broome, Warm Props – its title refers to the industry slang for extras – stars Yolngu actor Rarriwuy Hick (Wentworth, True Colours) as local identity Aunty Jilby, and newcomer Tehya Makani, a Yawuru/Wadjarri, Pitjanjarra and Wadjuk actor, as Charlie, a 'warm props wrangler'. The pair share a painful family history and are forced to confront their rift while working on an autobiographical film by a narcissistic white 'writer/director/producer' named Keith, who believes he has acquired a 'bush name' from a local mob and therefore identifies as Aboriginal, trampling all over cultural customs in the process. Clerc says there was only ever one actor for this unforgiving role: Mystery Road actor Peter Docker. 'Peter Docker is a great ally,' says Clerc. 'So I knew there would be no moment in any of our conversations where his white fragility would step up and go, 'Oh, but we don't do that!' I knew I could just talk to him and there wouldn't be any cotton-ball babysitting.'
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Wild One: Drifting Clouds - Bawuypawuy
Conceived in the homelands of Bunhungura, ancient landscapes combine with ancestral Songlines for this week's transcendent Wild One from Yolngu artist Drifting Clouds, 'Bawuypawuy'. Drifting Clouds is the solo project of Terry Guyula, who draws upon an eclectic mix of musical genres, ancestral Songlines, Dreamtime stories, indigenous culture and life in community to create an inspired vision of First Nations artistry. Terry explains that his debut single 'Bawuypawuy', sung in his first language; Liyawulma'mirr-Djambarrpuyngu, a language of Yolngu Matha, 'is about the sea becoming rough and tough and also it is on the Songlines we dance and sing". The music video is directed by rage favourite Matt Sav, who skillfully captures the gorgeous natural beauty of Larrakia Country in all its dreamy 16mm glory. "It is a huge privilege to work on a project that is a songline from Terry's country' says Matt. 'I need to thank Zac who asked if I could help out and who collaborated on it from the start, and Terry for trusting me with his song. Also I want to Acknowledge and pay my respect to the Larrakia people whos country we shot the video on. 'This was my first time shooting on 16mm by myself with a super 16 bolex that my star dp Lewis Potts' dad jimmied with a lightswitch so we can power it with a V-Lock [battery]. Ghetto but functional setup'. Matt's ghetto/functional setup also translated into the set design for 'Bawuypawuy', with the whole team coming together to ensure that every piece of equipment was right where it needed to be. He explains 'we needed to prop the speakers up with something, and Zac (producer) said 'what about bricks? I have heaps of bricks at home'. I said 'I don't think we should use bricks, we need to carry them 500m across sand while the tide is moving fast. Have you carried any bricks before Zac?'. The next morning at sunrise, I ask Zac, what did you bring to prop the speakers up. He looks at me with a sheepish grin, ' Well if you look at the bts closely you can see us all happily carrying bricks across a croc infested creek as the tide is rising." "The funniest is about making this video, my director put me in the lake when it's cold season' says Terry. He also adds 'the BTS Crew makes me feel more confident by talking to me what to do and how to look at the camera."
