Archie Roach’s foundation for the future

The Archie Roach Foundation award will bestow praise, mentorship and a cash prize upon a Northern Territory musician.

Singer-songwriter Archie Roach and actor Jack Charles ahead of the National Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin. Picture: Aaron Francis.

When they visit the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre near Darwin today, singer-songwriter Archie Roach and actor Jack Charles hope to lend an ear to about 20 inmates of the predom­inantly indigenous prison population.

As well as listening, they will talk about their own experiences behind bars as younger men, and perhaps play a song or two.

“We’ll come in to see them and ask how they’re doing, because we care about that,” said Roach. “A lot of them are surprised, and they look at each other and say: ‘Gee, we didn’t think Archie Roach would have been locked up.’

“I say to them: ‘We made mistakes­, and you’re allowed to make mistakes — but you try to learn from them, so you can turn your life around.’ ”

Then tomorrow night, at the National Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin, the two cultur­al elders will bestow praise, mentorship and a cash prize upon a Northern Territory musician who will become the first recipient of the Archie Roach Found­ation award.

“I think it encourages people to keep going, and it’s important that we recognise them — espec­ially when you’re recognised by your own mob,” said Roach.

His long-time friend Charles will present the new award, after digging into his own wallet to provide­ the $2000 to an artist in the early stages of their career.

“I’m a board member of the Archie Roach Foundation, and they were seeking a funder for a young person on their journey forward,” said Charles.

“I said, ‘Well, I’ll donate to that’.”

Alongside fellow performers such as singer Jessica Mauboy and electronic music duo Electric Fields, the two men will together perform Roach’s song We Won’t Cry, with Charles singing a part originally sung by Paul Kelly.

“I waltz up on to the stage after he’s done the first verse — the feral legend stands next to the bald legend,” said Charles. “It’s a hoot; everybody loves it.”

Awards in seven categories will be handed out at the NIMAs tomorrow night, with Roach himself nominated for both artist of the year and album of the year for The Concert Collection 2012-2018.

Other key nominees include Melbourne R&B artist Mojo Juju, hip-hop artists Baker Boy and Briggs, and singer-songwriter Dan Sultan.