Hailed as one of Australia’s most important cultural events, Northern Territory-based Indigenous music, sport and culture festival Barunga will return next month with an epic line-up in tow.
The 2018 festival, which takes places from June 8 – 10, coincides with the 30th anniversary of Bob Hawke’s Barunga Statement and will see Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians advance the discussion on progressive reconciliation measures.
Barunga is also a celebration of the world’s oldest living culture, so it’s fitting that Galiwin’ku’s Saltwater Band and dancers will perform a tribute Gurrumul, while Taiwanese artist Suming’s first Australian performance will see the two Indigenous cultures together for the first time.
Here’s who else graces this year’s musical line-up:
Shellie Morris & Dhapanbal Yunupingu, Yirrmal, B2M, Mambali, Tasman Keith, Lonely Boys, Dewayne Everettsmith, Ripple Effect, Tjupi Band, Black Rock Band, Justine Clarke
“The meaning of the word Barunga is ‘a happy place for families to live’, and that’s exactly what we want for the festival, a happy place for people to come and enjoy themselves,” said Barunga community member Jamie Ahfat.
There’ll also be men and women’s AFL, softball and basketball, and a range of activities that punters can get involved with, including traditional dance, spear throwing, didgeridoo playing, weaving, damper making, storytelling and more.
John Butler described the experience as one that “changes the way you see the world forever”.
Tickets are on sale now and you can find more information via the festival’s website.
