BUSH BANDS BASH!

12^th September Anzac oval www.bushbandsbash.net.au

The Bush Bands Bash (BBB) is a showcase concert in Alice Springs, highlighting contemporary musical talent from remote Indigenous communities across Central Australia. Through a series of development processes, bands perform at a professional, well marketed and massively attended annual drug and alcohol-free event which is presented at Alice Desert Festival.

Growing since 2003 BBB has attracted a significant following from both indigenous and non-indigenous audiences alike, with over 3500 attendees in 2008 (approximately 2000 indigenous and 1500 non-indigenous).

This year the bands being showcased are

RED SAND BAND

From the amata community

With there happy reggae sound being played across the lands.

Tackling the tough issues that people face to the good times of just being a kid on there peoples land

Radio stations across the APY Lands. CAAMA in Alice Springs and Umeewarra Aboriginal Radio in Port Augusta also play there songs. All of the band members are enrolled in Cert 2 in Music with TAFE. We love playing at Festivals around Australia and are about to release our first commercial CD.

SANDRIDGE BAND

Forming in 95 Band members are from the Garrawa, Yanula and Gadangi language groups from around the Borroloola Township.

Songs are a mixture of reggae, rock and metal sounds. Songs are about land, culture, people and contemporary life in communities The Band have spent the last 18 months recording with Dr Fouride at Barkly Regional Arts and the Winanjjikari Music Centre in Tennant Creek. The Band are Launching their New debut Album Think About Our Culture on the 8th of June at the Burunga Festival

UTJU BAND

From the pitanjara yankunjara speaking Areyonga community

The band formed in 2004 playing at Sports carnivals and a live studio brordcast with caama radio

Musically inspired by reggae from bob marly to lucky topee with lyrics derived from community life such as seeing kids sniffing and young mens and relationship to land and spirit of country

Currently Working on a album with caama studios

Sports carn live brordcast at caama radio

Camma live stage alice springs 08

Iwantja band

The band was formed in Indulkana Communitya bit of a mix of Gary Moore and Steve Morse or Joe Satriani with an Aboriginal influence.

PY Media play our songs on their radio station across the APY Lands. CAAMA in Alice Springs and Umeewarra Aboriginal Radio in Port Augusta also play our songs. All of the band members are enrolled in Cert 2 in Music with TAFE. We are aiming to travel aroundAustralia playing in Indigenous communities, festivals, capital cities and major centres.

Tjupi band

a preponderance of members of the Butcher family.

Tjupi (Honey Ant) come from the Papunya region 250 – 300k north west of Alice Springs. Tjupi Band members are made up of fellas with strong country and family ties right across the region including Mt Leibig, Kintore, Haasts Bluff, Kiwikurra communities. The main language spoken in this area is Luritja and this is the language used to perform their songs.

Warumpi Band, has been a major influence in the development of contemporary indigenous music.

The message of healthy lifestyles and culture being espoused by the BBB is increasing its reach. Featured on Triple J’s ‘Hack’ segment in 2008, BBB represents not only a platform of expression for remote and isolated musicians but also as a means of public dialogue about social issues facing communities and Aboriginal people. While music is a primary means of dialogue for aboriginal people, the Bush Bands Bash functions on many levels. Performing to a diverse mainstream audience not only contributes to the professional development of the individual musicians, but also helps foster healthy communities and challenge existing social divides. BBB has made a significant contribution to the development of contemporary and experimental Indigenous music in Central Australia. BBB was featured on ‘Message Stick’ on the 12th of July 2009.

By promoting messages for strong culture and healthy lifestyles:

BBB is one of the only musical events for Indigenous musicians in Central Australia that is not a competition ('battle of the bands', award or similar) and the focus is on building and supporting the musical culture rather than competing.

In its history, the BBB has highlighted over 230 Indigenous musicians from a broad range of age groups and represents key language groups – Arrente, Luritja, Pitjantjatjara, Warlpiri, Pintupi, Katyeye and Waramungu.

The majority of the events musicians are young men and this project builds community pride, leadership and presents music as a potential career pathway and diversionary activity.

The BBB provides a unique opportunity for interaction and communication between otherwise isolated musicians. Access to high quality sound equipment such as PA’s, recording equipment and sound engineers (which are generally not accessible ‘out bush’) provides skills development and knowledge for the bands to build on. For the Indigenous musicians involved, the BBB is the peak event for Central Australia and is a significant step forward towards a potential career path in the music industry.

The Bush Bands Bash is a multi-organisational collaboration, strongly supported by a group of local organisations including Red Hot Arts/Alice Desert Festival, Music NT, CAAMA, Tangentyere Council and support from the Winanjjikari Music Centre in Tenant Creek.