Yothu Yindi to re-form for 2019 Yarrabah Music Festival
INDIGENOUS CULTURE
Legendary Indigenous music group Yothu Yindi will re- form with five original members for the first time since the passing of M Yunupingu for the Yarrabah Music and Cultural Festival.
M Yunupingu’s nephew Yirrnga Yunipingu will join the band as vocalist, bringing the act’s iconic, timeless and important canon back to the live stage.
The iconic act will be supported by other Indigenous cultural heavyweights Baker Boy and Thandi Phoenix as well as the Yarrabah Brass Band and more artists to be announced.
“We look forward to bringing Yothu Yindi back to the stage and sharing our culture and music with the people of Far North Queensland,” said Yirrnga Yunupingu.
“It is time for the messages of Yothu Yindi to be heard again and we couldn’t think of a better cultural platform than the iconic Yarrabah Music and Cultural Festival.”
The free, family-friendly event provides the perfect day out with market stalls, local art and a celebration of the Gungganji people and cultures of all Nations represented in Yarrabah and surrounds.
The event will also hold weaving, spear and shield making workshops along with the launch of a new exhibit in the Yarrabah Arts Precinct.
The Yarrabah Music and Cultural Festival was founded in 2013 by the Queensland Music Festival to re-form the renowned Brass Band which was founded more than a century ago in early mission days in Yarrabah.
Now an annual tradition, the festival creates an opportunity for the local artists to join together with visiting musicians and community members for a perfect mix of music you love.
The celebration of First Nations music and culture is a key initiative of the Queensland Music Festival, which is supported by the Queensland Government for its work in harnessing the power of music to unite and delight communities across the state, with the ability to transform lives in the process.
Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch said the festival was a significant event for the Yarrabah community, attracting thousands of visitors and showcasing local culture.
“The Yarrabah Music and Cultural Festival provides an opportunity for a meeting of cultures, the telling of stories, a remembrance of the past and a celebration of the future of the Yarrabah community,” Ms Enoch said.
“This popular annual event sets the scene for the 2019 Queensland Music Festival program, which kicks off state-wide on 5 July, celebrating the diversity of our musical talent, building local pride, inspiring young creative minds and delivering cultural tourism benefits to our regions.”
Queensland Music Festival is also embarking on a training program, with technical, administrative and business roles at Yarrabah Music and Cultural Festival this year being undertaken by local community members, with a view to build capacity within the community.
Queensland Music Festival will continue to work with the community over the coming years to ensure a future where the festival is brought to life each year by the community, for the community.
“Once again we are extremely proud to present the Yarrabah Music and Cultural Festival and bring these extraordinary artists to the wonderful Gunggandji community,” said Queensland Music Festival Artistic Director Katie Noonan.
“Not only does Yarrabah enable world-class music to be presented in Far North Queensland and help celebrate awesome local talent, but it is with immense pride that Queensland Music Festival can facilitate a First Nations-run event that will help to build capacity in the community.
“The festival builds on the community’s generational legacy and will help them build on and celebrate that cultural heritage for decades to come.”
The Yarrabah Music and Cultural Festival is on 15 June at Jilara Oval, Yarrabah. Tickets are free, but must be pre-registered at www.yarrabahfest.com.au
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