Artback NT and Music NT’s music touring manager Vanessa Hutchins has been on the road for weeks, working at festivals and special music events all over the Northern Territory.

In August she went on tour with the Tjupi Band from Papaunya, who in May 2011 became recipients of a Contemporary Music Touring Grant through the Federal Government.

The seven-member “Indigenous desert reggae” band have been working hard to increase their profile since forming in 2004. Singing in language (Luritja) and in English, Tjupi Band were playlisted on triple j in 2010 after performing at the Alice Springs One Night Stand gig in March. They were billed alongside John Butler Trio, Bluejuice and Washington, and the concert was broadcast to a national audience.

The Tjupis have also have played five times at the annual Bush Bands Bash concert of Indigenous music at Alice Desert Festival, at the Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin in 2009, and have recorded two CDs with CAAMA Music.

This year they were on the bill for the opening night concert of Alice Desert Festival, supporting headliners Blue King Brown.

Tjupi Band‘s distinct sound is described as epitomizing the “Central Australia desert reggae – sparse upbeat, driving kick and snare, in-language; the songs are about loneliness for country, love lost, listening to elders, following tradition, social issues, skin pride, tribal unity”.

Here’s Vanessa’s report from that amazing month-long tour, called ‘Desert To Saltwater Country’ – with a post-script on the 2011 Road Safety Song Competition…

The Tjupi Band Tour was a significant adventure for both Artback NT and the band.

Grants were applied for in 2010 and in 2011 and I visited Papunya in early June to meet and discuss the tour.

In addition a photographer (Oliver Eclipse) shot some pictures so we could choose the shots to be used for publicity. Producer Jeff McLaughlin was already in Papunya recording the Tjupi’s new album and we timed its completion to coincide with the tour ensuring a special tour release.

The tour covered 21 days with 10 major performances, including shows at Yirrkala, Gapuwiyak, Galiwinku, Ramingining, Maningrida and Oenpelli (Stone Country Festival) as well as the Telstra NATSIA Awards, the Darwin Festival Santos opening concert and Katherine and Gove Festivals.

It was a tough schedule and throughout the whole tour, the Tjupi Band were a huge success and gave it their all.

Each concert had its own special quality.

For the Santos Concert Opwning concert at Darwin Festival the band were all looking great in their Tjupi tour t-shirts and Barnabus the lead singer was trim in a custom white suit.

The Katherine concert was very well received by countrymen with many family members present in the audience.

Galiwinku was a significant tour stop as it coincided with families coming to celebrate the headstone ceremony of the late G. R. Burarrawanga. The Tjupi Band and Sammy Butcher participated in this all-day event and the following day a special tribute concert was held on the basketball courts.

Community engagement was huge across our visits with concerts well attended even during the week. It was common for us to HAVE to end the concert and say “we have to stop now because you kids have got school in the morning” otherwise we would have been asked, “Just 1 more”.

A lot of planning went into this tour which was well worth the effort as we crossed deep rivers, drove rough roads, had flat tires, flew around in small planes and exerted much effort in delivering concerts – along with bumping out in the dark!

All up the band and production crew, crammed in 2 troop carriers, travelled around 5,000kms and performed to at least 6,000 people.

A tour such as this would not have been possible without much support. We are extremely grateful for financial assistance from a Contemporary Music Touring Grant, Office of the Arts as well as Centacorp Foundation and the Arnhem Land Progress Association (ALPA).

Also a big thank you to the MacDonnell Shire for the use of the community bus to drive from Papunya to Darwin and return and the Winanjjikari Music Centre for the trailer.

Alice Springs Desert Festival

The opening night concert was Tjupi Band, Dr Strangeways and Blue King Brown and excellent connections were made between Tjupi Band and Blue King Brown.

Road Safety Song Competition – Ramingining

The Road Safety Song Competition Concert was held on Saturday 3rd September as part of the Ramingining Community Festival. The concert was well-received by the community and over 400 attended. The winners were:

1st prize – Gerald Yawulkpuy “Safe Driving”

2nd  prize – Charlie Nunamawuy “Safety on a Dusty Road”

BEST MALE – Martin Gaykamangu

BEST FEMALE – Sea Band Galiwinku – “Use Your Seatbelt”

BEST SCHOOL CLASS – 5’s and 6’s Ramingining School “Road Rules”

The Road Safety Song Contest was also held in Milingimbi on Saturday 26th September. The two concerts were recorded and mastered by Jeff McLaughlin for a Top End Road Safety CD.

This project has been sponsored by East Arnhem Shire and the Department of Lands and Planning.

Words: Megan Spencer & Vanessa Hutchins. Thanks to Vanessa for the report and the pic of Sammy Butcher!