Free NAFA concert Saturday night

Some of Australia’s most beloved First Nations musicians will join with a swathe of fresh new voices in a free concert at Jezzine Barracks, Saturday, September 28, as part of the North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA).

Emma Donovan will take part in the Looking Forward, Looking Back concert on September 28 at Jezzine Barracks Photo: Ian Laidlaw

Some of Australia’s most beloved First Nations musicians will join with a swathe of fresh new voices in a free concert at Jezzine Barracks on Saturday, September 28, as part of the North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA).

Looking Forward, Looking Back celebrates the legacy of music and friendship shared by Slim Dusty and Australia’s First Nations people.

The show brings together a stellar line-up of artists including Jem Cassar-Daley, Emma Donovan, Jungaji, The Briscoe Sisters, Black Image and BullDust, as well as emerging artists who’ve undergone a year-long mentorship toward the performance, led by Topology | Regional Arts Services Network (RASN) NQ.

Celebrating the legacy of Slim Dusty Creative Director of Topology | RASN NQ, Christa Powell said the idea for this project was borne several years ago from a conversation with fellow musician, Megan Sarmardin of BullDust band.

Black Image Band is another act that will perform at the concert

“Megan mentioned that every Aboriginal person who’s learned to play guitar learned through a Slim Dusty song and I thought ‘Oh, there’s a project there’,” Christa recalls.

“And it’s true. In every community I go to, I test the theory by asking First Nations musicians the first song they learned to play and Megan is absolutely right, it’s always a Slim Dusty song.

“There is so much reverence for Slim Dusty and the work he did – he was touring this country for more than five decades, and had more than 100 albums. His legacy is incredible.”

The line-up of artists – experienced and new – for tonight’s concert have all picked up a guitar in the wake of Slim’s enduring friendships with Indigenous communities and the legacy of his storytelling prowess.

“Each artist has a different story to tell and a memory of their own relationship with Slim Dusty songs,” Christa said.

“Some of the headlining artists toured with Slim or had very close relationships with him and his music, while a number of the emerging artists remember seeing him play in their own communities years and years ago, or grew up singing Slim’s songs with their families.”

Telling stories through an eclectic mix of song

While Slim Dusty was dubbed the King of Country, Saturday’s Looking Forward, Looking Back concert will take punters on a beautiful jaunt across a wide array of musical genres.

Two-time 2024 Queensland Music Award winner Jem Cassar-Daley will bring her enchanting Indie- Pop stylings; Emma Donovan, The Briscoe Sisters and Jungaji will serve up lashings of Soul, Funk and RnB; and Black Image and BullDust blend Australian Country with influences from Rock, Reggae and easy listening ballads.

“The eclectic mix of sounds is united by storytelling,” Christa said.

“Slim was a phenomenal storyteller and that’s what we’re embracing in this show with both the covers and the original tracks.

Linda Oliver will take to the stage Photo: Charles Wiles

“Music is a powerful way for people to be able to communicate the hard stories, the good stories, the happy stories.

“There’s a lot that can be said through song that can’t be said in spoken word. And that is really, really important when we’re talking about some of the difficult things that this country has experienced.”

Introducing a new wave of First nations Artists

Bringing less experienced songwriters in to yarn and jam with musicians who’ve been doing this for decades is one of the most powerful facets of the Looking Forward, Looking Back project.

Wangkamahdla woman and project participant Christine Doyle has been singing her whole life but said being mentored by experienced musicians from Black Image, BullDust and Topology bands was opening up so many exciting new opportunities.

“It’s blowing my mind because I’m getting more opportunities to sing with people other than my own family,” Mrs Doyle said.

Jungaji is another highlight of the concert

“Playing with these fellas - Anselm and Clifford from Black Image Band and Lucas and John from Topology - is amazing. I am learning how they play and it’s different to how we play.

“Aboriginal people mostly play their music the Slim Dusty way but unique to us. But with these fellas here, it’s something new. Their music is completely different but it is still in the rhythm of my music. It’s blowing my mind really!”

As part of the Looking Forward, Looking Back concert, Christine will perform a number of Slim Dusty covers, as well as an original that she’s written about her husband.

“We were visiting my husband’s older brother in Toowoomba one day and we were yarning, singing and talking,” Mrs Doyle said.

Jem Cassar-Daley is another talent that will perform at the concert

“As soon as I picked up the guitar and started singing, my husband gave me this funny smile and walked out the door. I said to my brother-in-law ‘I’m gonna write a song about this man one of these days because he always walks out when I start singing.’ So I wrote this song for him.”

Now Christine will share it with a few thousand expected punters at NAFA, on a big-scale public stage.

“It’s exciting, and we are going to be up on the screen - it’s the first time for me in my whole life. I’m really excited. I’ve already told a few family and I hope they come.”

Looking Forward, Looking Back is a free concert as part of the North Australian Festival of Arts.

The concert will be held tonight, Saturday, September 28, at Jezzine Barracks from 7.30pm.

Originally published as Free NAFA concert Saturday night