Kiwirrkurra Band Selected For Nannup Music Festival’s Artist Development Program
The band’s talent will be nurtured via a 10-day program including recording sessions, mentoring, and a festival slot.
Kiwirrkurra Band (Supplied)
The Nannup Music Festival has announced the Kiwirrkurra Band as the first recipients of its newly launched Remote Aboriginal Artist Development Program. The band, hailing from the remote community of Kiwirrkurra in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, will take part in a transformative music journey, aimed at developing and showcasing their talent.
Formed in the early 2010s, Kiwirrkurra Band blend desert reggae and rock with lyrics sung in their traditional Pintupi language. Their songs, inspired by their deep love for their ngurra (home country), have reeled in audiences across WA’s north-west, including a notable performance at the 2014 Bush Bands Bash in Alice Springs. This week, the band continues to build momentum with a tour across Scarborough and Fremantle.
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Through the 10-day development program, the band will travel south to Bunbury’s Lamb Chop Studios to record new music with producer James Newhouse (John Butler, Banjo Lucia, Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham). After completing the recording session, Kiwirrkurra Band will perform live at the 2025 Nannup Music Festival, sharing the stage with a mammoth lineup including Kim Churchill, Tijuana Cartel, and Joan & The Giants.
The accolades don’t stop there - the band will also receive mentoring from the acclaimed Family Shoveller Band, a Karajarri family group with extensive touring experience, including a recent European tour. Their mentorship will prepare Kiwirrkurra Band for future opportunities, including their return to Nannup in 2026 as program mentors themselves.
The initiative, supported by WA’s Contemporary Music Fund, picked Kiwirrkurra Band out of a pool of eleven talented WA rising acts. The band will be wrapping up their January headline tour over the weekend, with tickets available here. Tickets for Nannup Music Festival can be purchased via the event’s website.
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body
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