Bush Bands bash is one of the most exciting music events in Australia.

The annual Bush Bands Bash showcase of Indigenous desert music ignited the Main Stage at the 2011 Alice Desert Festival on September 10, 2011, from 6-11pm.

In its eighth year in 2011, Bush Bands Bash plays annually to an audience of over two thousand.

Featuring 7 bands over 5 hours and one huge night of Indigenous music, the 2011  Bash again revealed the depth, range and talent of Indigenous music to an eager local and interstate audience.

The bands for 2011 included: Iwantja, Southeast Metal, Blackstone Band, Yatulu Yatulu, Tableland Drifters and Sunshine Reggae, with special guests Narbalek, from Arnhem Land.

Sunshine Reggae and Narbalek also appear ed courtesy of the Sand Tracks Tour – Country Arts WA’s remote Indigenous contemporary music touring initiative – which kicked off at the Bush Bands Bash.

All of the participating Bash bands first attended Bush Bands Business at Ross River Resort just outside of Alice Springs.

Presented by Music NT, ‘BBBiz’ is a music development and mentoring program for bands participating in the Bush Bands Bash at Alice Desert Festival.

Professional mentors from across the Australian and NT music industries work with the musicians to ensure they are ‘Bash ready’, also equipping them with skills and knowledge to sustain future careers.

In 2011 The Seed arts fund partnered with Music NT to provide funding for three additional mentors to travel to BBBiz: Michael Hutchings (APRA), Paula ‘jonesy’ Jones (Jones PR) and Carlo Santone (Blue King Brown).

National Indigenous Television (NITV) recorded the event which will screen Christmas Eve 2011, with CAAMA Radio broadcasting the event live.

Read more about Bush Bands Business, and visit the Bush Bands Bash and Alice Desert Festival for  more information.

Words: Megan Spencer