Culture, comedy, and the things that bother him: Andy Saunders tells it like it is at Parrtjima Festival

Biripi funnyman Andy Saunders channels his childhood antics, cultural roots and unapologetic mischief into a laugh-out loud performance set for the centre stage of the Parrtjima Lights Festival. Alice Springs you have been warned.

The Arrernte exhibition at Parrtjima Festival 2024 featured installations showcasing emerging and established Indigenous artists.

Mparntwe — the Arrernte name for Alice Springs — is about to light up and not just with dazzling displays, but with the electrifying energy of a Biripi comic with “no off switch”.

Mid-North Coast-raised comedian and former contestant on The Block, Andy Saunders, will take his rapid-fire wit, cultural insights and a lifetime of attention seeking to his headlining performance at the first ever comedy night in Australia’s only Indigenous Light Festival Parrtjima.

Growing up in a large Aboriginal family in Taree, where humour was second-nature, has definitely shaped Mr Saunders’ funny bone.

“You only have to go into any Indigenous lounge room in Australia and you’ll have a sitcom right there,” Mr Saunders said.

The MacDonnell Ranges lit up in 2024, part of the biggest Aboriginal lights festival in Australia and the only Aboriginal light festival of its kind in the world.

“And then you know with people coming in and out of the front door, the stories they tell about their day to day and goings on it’s laughing constantly over real stories and real life situations.

“It’s all about having a good laugh at yourself and sitting back knowing that Aboriginal people are still here, surviving through laughter and connection.”

Andy Saunders appeared on The Block with his wife Deb.

But Andy Saunders doesn’t just go for cheeky banter and sharp one liners — he balances humour with a decent dose of truth through comedy.

If something bothers him, for example cultural stereotyping, he can write a joke to find something funny about it and make people laugh first and think later.

“Someone came up to me once and asked me if I was a real Aboriginal and do I play the didgeridoo and tap the tap sticks?”.

“I asked “Are you a real white person — when you eat mentos does it give you heaps of inspiration to get out of tight situations?

“When you get out of a Toyota, do you jump really high in the air and yell what a feeling?”.

The Parrtjima 2024 crowd enjoys Grounded featuring the work of Margaret Bloomfield.

The former reality TV show contestant has gone from class clown to a career in comedy spanning 30 years.

“It’s an addiction that I’ll probably do right up until lunchtime at my funeral.”

Taree-born Andy Saunders is ready to get lit at Parrtjima Festival in Mparntwe.

Now with the vibrant opportunity in Alice Springs, Mr Saunders is ready to meet the energy of the audience – which he expects will give a “chill” festival vibe.

This year’s festival theme is timelessness and will highlight more than 20 First Nations artists and features an opening weekend with Troy Cassar-Daley taking to the stage. Parrtjima runs over ten nights from 4 to 13 April on Arrernte country.

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Originally published as Culture, comedy, and the things that bother him: Andy Saunders tells it like it is at Parrtjima Festival