The Wallaga Lake Koori Community is welcoming everyone to their exciting showcase of music and film this Friday, November 18. For the last four weeks the community has been working with Grow the Music and South East Arts in a series of intensive music and recording sessions.
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The community concert is the culmination of weeks of hard work by both the performers and the Grow the Music facilitators, music teachers Lizzy Rutten and Jen Brightwell with professional filmmaker Dean Brosche.
They’ve spent almost every day for a month developing the concert, which will feature youth bands, enigmatic MC Foster the Kid, Gabadoo, Alison Walker and will include the screening of fantastic short films made during the project.
The women of Wallaga have come together to form a choir called the Ngaardi Sisters, and they will make a much anticipated debut performance. The evening will begin with traditional dancing and welcome.
This is truly a unique and diverse event, a sharing of culture and a coming together of community from all levels. Lizzy Rutten, Director of Grow the Music remembers how the 2015 concert lifted the spirits of both the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community.
“The Wallaga mob are still talking about what happened last concert, and the feedback we received from the wider South Coast community was overwhelmingly positive,” Ms Rutten said.
“The kids have been so enthusiastic and committed again this time around, and it has been a real privilege to work with so many adult musicians this year, particularly Bermagui musician Gabadoo.
“We recorded an amazing original song of his that will be performed on Friday night. Get ready to discover some new local stars, I think this show is going to raise the roof!”
One of Australia’s most respected and influential songwriters, Neil Murray will be the special guest performer at the concert.
Neil is one of the founding members of the Warumpi Band and creator of the classic song My Island Home. He will spend the final week of the project collaborating with musicians in the community to develop their songwriting skills.
South East Arts understands the importance of building on successful programs like Grow the Music in local Aboriginal communities, and not just leaving a void after new skills have been learnt with few avenues for further opportunities.
South East Arts (SE Arts) is the regional development organisation for arts and culture in the Bega Valley, Eurobodalla and Snowy Monaro, and is fundamentally committed to increasing the presence of Aboriginal art, music, dance, language, film and culture across the region.
Jazz Williams is South East Arts’ Aboriginal Creative and Cultural Engagement Officer, and can see the power in events like the one being held at the Wallaga Lake Koori Village on Friday.
“I grew up in Bermagui, and I can’t recall many events that have energised both the Aboriginal and non Aboriginal community like these concerts,” Ms Williams said. “People seem to be very grateful for the chance to visit the Wallaga Lake Koori Village and connect with people. Music is a brilliant healing tool, and our local Aboriginal communities have talent in spades.”
The celebrations begin at 6pm on Friday, November 19, with the concert starting at 7pm at the Community Hall, Umbarra Road, Wallaga Lake Koori Village. All welcome, gold coin entry to the concert, food is available to purchase from 6pm.
More on information on the Concert and the Grow the Music Program is on the South East Arts website www.southeastarts.org.au/grow-the-music or telephone 6492 0711.
