A record 65 participants and 7 bands attended the 2010 Bush Band Business in Alice Springs, in the beautiful surrounds of the Ross River Resort and East McDonnel Ranges.
Now in its third year, Bush Bands Business (BBBiz) was a series of workshops for Indigenous musicians and technicians, who were preparing for the Bush Bands Bash performance on Saturday September 11th at the 2010 Alice Springs Desert Festival.
Sounds of great music floated all over the ‘compound’, as the musicians rehearsed full tilt in the lead up to their big gig. They also attended recording sessions lead by Darwin engineer Duane Preston, and gathered at a media and promotion workshop conducted by Radio National Awaye! co-producer Rico Adjrun and members of Music NT, Miyika Scales and Megan Spencer.
APRA NT’s Rob Collins also gave sessions about copyright with CDU’s Cain Gilmour holding one-on-one performance and skills workshops where needed. Much valuable information was passed on by all the mentors involved - with Jeff McLoughlin (Tableland Drifters) and Mark Smerdon on hand with power tools for a couple of essential guitar repairs for Iwantja Band!
The desert's answer to Vampire Weekend: Iwantja Band with their manager Mark Smerdon, at the 2010 Bush Bands Business. Pic: Megan Spencer
See the photo album from BBBiz here.
The BBBiz bands included Tjupi Band (winners of the triple j’s One Night Stand Competition in Alice Springs), Desert Mulga, Iwantja Band, and Sunlight Band and Alunytjuru Band from the successful Turlku 4 CD, who have received national media attention and airplay. Mentors for BBBiz included Manuel Ngulupani Dhurrkay, Tableland Drifters, Lorrae Coffin from NG Media and legendary singing star Warren H. Williams.
The goal of BBBiz is professional development. Music industry trainers and professional musicians and technicians mentor the Bush Bands Bash musicians, with the bands able to rehearse under the guidance of experienced mentors.
This year the Bush Band Business ran September 8-11th at the Ross River Resort Campground. This three-day ‘Band Camp’ provides the musicians with invaluable skills development and rehearsal opportunities, as well as the chance to focus completely on their music before their ‘big gig’.
The Bush Bands Business program is part of the iNTune Music Conference Alice Springs and also NT Music Month.
Read more BBB articles on Arts Hub and Crikey.
Words: Megan Spencer
