Darwin’s Garrmalang festival kicks off with Electric Fields, Tiwi SistaGirls

Some of Australia’s most talented First Nations artists will be performing in Darwin this weekend as the Garrmalang Festival returns to the Territory.

Foxxy as the doors open on the The Garrmalang Festival, which showcases Indigenous artists from a variety of arts fields, is on in Darwin this weekend. Picture Glenn Campbell

SOME of Australia’s most talented First Nations artists will be performing in Darwin this weekend as the Garrmalang Festival returns to the Territory.

Darwin’s only dedicated First Nations multi-arts festival is held each year, but had to be cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19.

It will be returning strong this year, with a packed two-day program featuring Electric Fields, the Tiwi Island SistaGirls and Territory comedy group Deadly Darwin.

About 2000 people are expected to attend.

Artists Ben Geaetz, Zaacharia Fielding, Lynette Fejo, Joseph Bourke, Foxxy, Zelma Bourke Michael Ross, Karlee Boyle and Nina Fitzgerald ahead of the Garrmalang Festival. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Artistic director Ben Graetz said organisers and artists were pleased to be able to bring the festival back to Darwin.

“After what was quite a challenging year last year, we are so thrilled to be able to bring Garrmalang Festival back as a live event for everyone to enjoy,” he said.

“This festival shows that as First Peoples of this country, we are a surviving, thriving and an extraordinarily diverse group of people!”

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Local comedian Richard Fejo, who will performing with Deadly Darwin, said the festival gave Indigenous artists a valuable platform to showcase their work.

“It gives us an opportunity to build on our confidence when it comes to performing, so it’s a platform for leadership,” he said.

Garrmalang is on at the Darwin Entertainment Centre this Saturday and Sunday.

For more information or to get tickets, go to yourcentre.com.au.