Speakers at the 2009 iNTune Music Conference in Darwin, 'Media Panel'. Pic: Mark Smith

Music NT is delighted to announce the speaker line up for iNTune Darwin, 27-28 August 2010, Medina/Vibe Conference Centre, Darwin Waterfront.

Cath Haridy - Manager (Eskimo Joe, Bob Evans) / Greg Phillips - Australian Musician Magazine / Clive Hodson – Perfect Pitch Publishing / Dave Haley – Drummer, Psycroptic / Steph Hughes – triple j / Rob Scott - Sandcastle Music / Julian Hewitt – Media Arts Lawyers / Stacey Piggott – Two Fish Out Of Water Publicity / Mark Lackey - Atlas Touring / Steven Schram – ARIA award winning producer / Scott Mesiti – Sonic Bids / Annette Tripodi – Womadelaide / Nick O’Byrne – AIR / Peter Noble – Byron Bay Blues Fest / Chris Johnson – AMRAP / Mark Smith – Music NT / Dixi Joy Bankier – Fist Full of Films / Domonique Lehmann – Creative Territory / Jeanette Button - Creative Territory / Jack Tinapple – The Neo/Powerfunk / Vanessa Hutchins – Contemporary Music Touring Circuit / Kirsty Rivers – NT Young Lawyers / Megan Spencer – Music NT/DIY marketing/broadcaster/filmmaker.

Read speaker bios – and stay intuned for last-minute speaker additions!

Over 20 sessions and satellite events, with over 20 speakers from interstate and the Northern Territory… All coming together to offer NT musicians and industry, professional advice and the lowdown on Australian music! It’s the ‘horse’s mouth’ – right on our door step!

Program Highlights… ‘On The Road’ – touring do’s, don’ts and opportunities; ‘Sync or Swim’ – getting your music out there into film, ads, TV and cross media platforms; ‘Media Watch’ – how to get access to the music media; ‘Remote Control’ – using digital music distribution to help your career; ‘Book Me!’ – how to get your band on the bill; ‘MGMT’ – what’s a manager all about?; ‘Radio Daze’ – how to get radio play; Masterclasses – Production, Marketing and Festivals; ‘Round Table Discussions’ and a ‘Demo Listening Session’ with professional industry feedback.

Plus a debate presented by Charles Darwin University: ‘Online Music Eduction and Training – Challenges and Benefits’, and the ‘APRA Connect’ networking session, hosted by APRA NT’s Rob Collins.

And don’t forget the legendary ‘Darwin Showbag’ – Music NT’s Original Music Showcase where up-and-coming NT musicians perform live to the NT Music Month crowd and interstate industry bigwigs, in town for iNTune! All at a variety of local music venues, including Darwin Festival. (Venues TBA shortly).

iNTune Darwin – 27/28 August, 2010

Medina/Vibe Hotel Conference Centre, Kitchener Drive, Darwin Waterfront

Registration is open now at www.intune.net.au

Students from Yirrkala Community Education Centre dancing at Garma 2007. Pic: Xavier Jefferson

Billed as “Australia’s leading cultural exchange event”, the 12th annual Garma Festival “will be held from 6-10 August 2010 at Gulkula, North East Arnhem Land, NT.”

Shellie Morris is a regular performer Garma Festival. She is pictured performing at Garma 2008. Pic: Mark Rogers

“Garma is a nationally significant, intimate, spectacular celebration of cultural traditions and practices – dance, song, music, and art (including presentations, collaborations, sales) – and the annual venue for a major Key Forum on Indigenous issues.”

“As well as the Key Forum and integrated academic presentations on language and culture, Key Forum participants also have the opportunity to watch the daily bunggul and music performances, enjoy Garma art exhibitions and projects, and participate in evening and night activities.”

Garma Festival is also renowned for showcasing NT Indigenous – and non-Indigenous – bands and musicians, in special musical events.

This year’s music program will include NT-based Indigenous Music VET Students,  young Indigenous bands participating in the Indigenous Students’ Contemporary Music Training Program and young Nhulunbuy band Sleeveheads, also confirmed to play at this year’s Garma Festival.

Visit the Garma website and the Music NT Forum Events Calendar for more details.

An exciting line up of local and interstate speakers from the Australian music industry will attend the iNTune Music Conference in Alice Springs!

Clive Hodson – Perfect Pitch Publishers
Stephen King – Media Arts Lawyers
Sarah Howells – triple j
Vanessa Hutchins – ArtBack NT
Vicki Gordon – VGM Media & Marketing
Susan Benham Page – Australian Business Arts Foundation
Rob Collins -  APRA NT

This year Music NT has made the 2010 Conference accessible to more musicians in the NT by adding iNTune Alice Springs. It will be held September 10–12, Totem Theatre, Anzac Hill Road, Alice Springs.

The iNTune Music Conference brings to the Northern Territory some of Australia leading music  industry figures, for three days of panels, workshops and networking. Delighted to be hosting the event  again, Manager Mark Smith says that “iNTune is vital opportunity for anyone – and everyone – in the NT  music industry, to connect nationally, and to experience first-hand what is happening in the music industry right now.”

Register now for iNTune Alice!

Registrations for iNTune Alice are open. Early bird registration will be accepted for Alice iNTune until August 13. They will be rewarded with discount entry price and the chance to win one double pass to the Cat Empire’s concert in Alice Springs on October 22.  The final deadline for online registration, iNTune Alice, is September 9. Music NT will also accept cash payment, in person at the Alice Springs office, 67 Bath Street, Alice Springs.

www.intune.net.au

Prices

Individuals: $50 / Early bird $40

Bands (up to four members) $120 / Early bird $100

Student concession (with ID): $25

More speaker announcements to come soon for iNTune Alice!

The Tableland Drifters - new album 'Land Down Under' out now!

Tennant Creek band The Tableand Drifters have released their latest album, ‘Land Down Under’.

The band will officially launch the CD on Saturday August 7th, at a very special gig at Ninkka Nyunyu Cultural Centre. The gig will also feature ex-Warumpi Band member Neil Murray (pictured below) who is touring the Territory, and local ’supergroup’ the Winanjjikari Allstars. More details on the Music NT Forum.

The Tableland Drifters will also perform material from their new album, as a headline act at the 7th annual Indigenous Music Awards, Saturday August 28th at Darwin Amphitheatre, Darwin Botanical Gardens. In 2009 they won the IMAs ‘Hall of Fame’ Award.

Neil Murray

The Tableland Drifters also released a music video earlier this year, to accompany new single ‘Tribal Voice’.

Read more about CD ‘Land Down Under’, the Tribal Voice Music Video and the 2010 IMAs.

And hear The Tableland Drifters new music on MySpace.

To make enquiries about buying a copy of the ‘Land Down Under’ CD, please contact the Winanjjikari Music Centre at Barkly Regional Arts, on (08) 8962 2799 or email them on winanjjikari@barklyarts.com.au.

We walk through the rustle of paperbarks and settle by campfires. With the moon rising over the sandstone ridge and shadows of the Aboriginal songmen and dancers flickering all around, we are on a journey older than any of us, one that began in the age of the ancestors. The Walking with Spirits festival is held each year at the end of July or early August at Malkgulumbu, a waterfall and sacred site on the land of the Jawoyn people, near the remote community of Wugularr, about 100 kilometres south of Katherine. On a night like this, camped with my family and our Aboriginal friends, is where I love to be. It is a place of unforgettable beauty and tranquility, with a deep sense of what is shared and how the land shapes us all. Djilpin Arts, the creative company led by Aboriginal musician and actor Tom E. Lewis, and supported by the Australian Shakespeare Company, blends music, dance, puppetry, animation, short films, and burning 3D images blazing against the night sky.

For more information please contact:

Djilpin Arts

Beswick (Wugularr) Community
PO Box 489
Katherine NT 0851

Telephone: +61 8 8977 4250

Beau Dusk: winner of the Darwin heat of the 2010 Road To Tamworth national talent competition.

Seventeen year-old self-taught country musician Beau Dusk from Karama has won the Darwin Heat of the 2010 Telstra Road To Tamworth “talent development program”.

Beau won “an Epiphone acoustic guitar and a trip to Sydney to participate in an intensive two-day music mentoring ‘Boot Camp’,” in the lead up to the next round of heats, held at one of Sydney’s biggest sports events: a performance at the 500 V8 Supercars, at Olympic Park in December. If he is successful he will also go one to compete at further finals, held at the Tamworth County Music Festival.

Unsuccessful at last year’s Darwin heat, upon his win this year Beau was quoted as saying, “This really is a dream come true for me – country music speaks to me and I genuinely love what I do.”

The ultimate winner of the TRTT “will be in contention for an ultimate prize package including recording opportunities and a return trip to Nashville USA.” The TRTT Grand Final will be held in Sydney in January 2011.

The NT heats were held at the The Bandstand at Darwin Showgrounds on Saturday July 24. Beau was one of six contestants, aged between 16 – 57. The other contestants included former Darwin-heat winner Yuliana Pascoe, Mark Hilton, Warren Corowa, Casey Glennon and Zoe Akkerman.

Also on the bill were official TRTT Ambassadors The McClymonts, Tenielle (2009 TRTT Performance Category Winner) and TRTT Grand Finalist Dave Garnham, frontman of Darwin band The Moving Targets and manager of Happy Yess.

Beau is a Year 11 student at Marrara Christian College and reportedly “picked up the guitar little more than a year ago”.

Read more about Beau Dusk’s big win here. Good luck Beau!

NT artists at Santos Opening Night Concert. Pic: Darwin Festival.

NT acts Duganda Street Sounds, Leah Flanagan and Shellie Morris will head a line up of interstate stars to perform at the Opening Night Concert of the 2010 Darwin Festival.

“Hailing from Ramingining in East  Arnhem, Dunganda Street Sounds comprises songwriting team Jason Durrurrnga and Michael Dhuwa along with singers Bobby Bununggurr and Jimmy Djamunba. The group also collaborate with other musicians from the Raminigning community.” Their song ‘Senor’ was nominated in the ‘Song’ and ‘Film Clip Of The Year’ categories at the 2009 Indigenous Music Awards, and is also being featured in this year’s Darwin Festival television commercial. Darwin Festival is billing their performace at the Opening Concert as “possibly one of the most anticipated debut live performance ever seen at this gig!”

NT singers Shellie Morris - already a legend in her lifetime – and rising star Leah Flanagan will be joined on stage by interstate singer Lou Bennett (ex-Tiddas), reprising their sell-out performance of ‘Liberty Songs’ from the 2008 Festival, alongside  “members of Darwin’s Liberian community.. and the African Gospel Choir and Liberian Culture Dance Group.” ‘Liberty Songs’ “is based on the shared experiences of a group of Liberian women who arrived in the Northern Territory as refugees and Aboriginal singer songwriters: Shellie Morris (Wardaman/Yanyuwa), Lou Bennett (Yorta-Torta Dja Dja) and Leah Flanagan (Torres Strait Islands).” ‘Liberty Songs’ draws on the “experiences and musical traditions of both cultures.”

The Santos Opening Night Concert will take place at The Amphitheatre, Darwin Botanical Gardens, Thursday August 12 from 6.30pm. It is an alcohol-free event and is free entry. Gates open at 5.30pm.

For full details of the Opening Night Concert for Darwin Festival, visit the website.

If you’ve kept an eye on the Music NT website this year, you will have noticed that one band from North East Arnhem Land has been very busy of late…

Not only have Garrangali Band performed two sold-out gigs in Sydney, they’ve also been busy with the launch of their first album ‘Garrangali’ (Crocodile Nest) and playing at the Barunga Sports & Culture Festival. They were also featured as part of an article on NT music, in the June ‘10 edition of Australian Musician Magazine, and in 2009 they performed as part of the Santos Opening Night Concert at Darwin Festival.

Garrangali Band perform at Darwin Festival in 2009. Pic courtesy of Laynhapuy Homelands Association Inc.

Most of the 12-member band live in and around Yilpara, working as rangers and in Community and Development Employment Projects (CDEP). They have great supporters within the local community, including co-managers Susan Sandery and Rrawun Maymuru (also a local artist); the Laynhapuy Homelands Association and local musician/producer Stu Kelloway (Horse Trank, formerly Yothu Yindi), also a Yilpara resident and resident music mentor to the band.

In addition to their popular ’saltwater reggae’ musical stlye, the band also combines traditional dance and instrumentation into their performances.

Early in July, four of Garrangali Band’s members – Ngambulili Marawili, Wurrandan Marawili, Yiniwuy Marawili and Amos Marawili - were kind enough to do an interview with Music NT, from a friend’s place in Baniyala.

It’s a poetic, entertaining and insightful ‘collective chat’ about what makes the Garrangali Band tick…

Music NT: First of all – what was it like playing at the Old Manly Boatshed in Sydney? And the rest of that experience too..

GB: We felt manymak (good)… We liked it. It was the first time for us to play in Sydney and we felt confident, not shamed. Our name, Garrangali, people are learning it, they know us. We liked travelling on the plane to Sydney… Yo. When the Captain announced that the Garrangali Band was on board flying to Sydney for a gig… Everyone was shouting and clapping for us on that big plane and one Qantas lady wanted to buy our C.D..The same thing happened when we were on our way home.

It was the first time to Sydney for most of us, but me, Wurrandan, and my brothers Ngambulili and Amos, we went to Sydney for the 2000 Olympics.

Sydney was cold!

MuNT: Where else have you played gigs, outside of your community?

GB: We played at Barunga Festival this year, and we went to Millingimbi last year. Yo, we played at the opening of the Darwin Festival in 2009 then we played at Happy Yess in Darwin and the Garma Festival in Gulkula. Next week we’ve got another gig coming up at the Yirrkala Oval, July  9.

MuNT: Can you give us an idea of what it is like to live in Baniyala community? What does a typical day hold for you, and how often do you get together and write songs?

GB: We work here in Baniyala, like CDEP jobs. We keep the Community clean, we look after the tourism sites, we all work together. We live by the sea, there’s no drugs here, no alcohol in Baniyala. This country is free… About 4 hours’ drive from Yirrkala. Sometimes we have ceremony here, like funerals, and we have singing and dancing. We’ve got strong culture.

In a typical day we work then we go hunting. On the weekends most people go hunting or camping.

The band comes together when we have time. We are always helping each other to write music. We always talk to Mudiny, our lead singer when we’re writing new songs.

MuNT: Can you name each member and describe their role in the band and what they each play?

GB: Mundinymudiny Dhamarrandji, “Nicholas”, Vocals ; Yiniwuy Marawili, “Danny”, Traditional Vocals, dancer ; Wulkuwulku Marawili, “Amos”, Backing Vocals, keyboards ; Malngay Yunupingu, “Kevin”, Yidaki & Backing Vocals ; Wurrandan Marawili, “Ronald”, Traditional Vocals, dancer ; Ngambulili Marawili, “Fabian”, Backing Vocals ; Rakuwarr Wanambi, “Dion”, Drum kit ; Wurrku Wanambi, *Rico, Bass Guitar ; Watjarrngambi Marawili, “Mathan”, Rhythm Guitar ; Makungun Marika, “Brendan”, Keyboards ; Djulumarr Gurruwiwi, “Darren”, Rhythm Guitar, and Rrawun Maymuru, “Darren”, Vocals & Backing Vocals for Sea Rights song.

MuNT: Having 12 people in a band – that’s a lot! Is it easy or hard to work in a band of that size?

GB: It’s easy for us. We grew up together. We understand each other.

All the way from Blue Mud Bay... Garrangali Band in Sydney. Pic: Cameron Richardson/News Limited

MuNT: How long have you been together as a band and how did the band come about?

GB: We got together in 2005. We started with one keyboard and 2 acoustic guitars and 1 tambourine.  We had homemade instruments – we put small rocks and sand in an empty Coke bottle for a shaker. We used one of our own stereo speakers for the amp, and we had a ukulele too.  We used empty flour tins… sugar and milk tins for drums… We had yidaki (didgeridoo) and bilma (clapsticks). Our drummer would listen to music like Lucky Dube and islander music in headphones and pick up the rhythm. Yo.

MuNT: What have been some of your favorite gigs to play as a band?

BG: Garma 2009 was our best gig. That’s because everybody was there dancing and happy. Especially for our ‘Muthi Muthi’ song – that’s a favourite for all the Homeland people in Arnhem Land.

MuNT: Do you have any big ambitions for the band?

GB: In the future we want to tour the band so we can share our culture and show people around Australia and the world our music and the meaning in our songs.  All our songs have meaning – about the sea and the land. We want to sing our manikay (songs) for people, and show the world our culture through the music and dance, both modern and traditional.

We want to inspire our djamarrkuli (children), the young people in Baniyala to make music and be proud of their culture.

MuNT: You hear of lots of young bands getting together, playing for a while and then moving on.. What’s the meaning of music for you? What does music mean to your community?

GB: Music is how we tell stories about gapu (sea)… Salt water…  Garrangali – that’s a story about crocodile nest… Baru – that’s a story about crocodile. Music makes us happy, it helps us relax and yolngu music makes us proud.  We feel inspired by other music. Yo.

MuNT: Who are some of your favorite bands and musicians – including the NT? And do you have any musical mentors who have supported your career so far?

GB: Yothu Yindi Band is our favourite. Sometimes we listen to Saltwater Band. Me, (Amos), I like Dire Straits and Lucky Dube. And me, (Wurrandan) I like Lucky Dube and Michael Jackson, and Barnsey – Jimmy Barnes.  And we all like gospel music – that’s what we started from.

Mandawuy Yunupingu and Stuey Kellaway from Yothu Yindi Band have been mentors for us – yo, they taught us a lot. Me, (Yiniwuy) I learnt traditional yolngu manikay (song) from our leader, Djambawa Marawili. And me too (Ngambulili), I learnt from my father Djambawa… He taught all of us.

MuNT: On your new album you have a disco track… Given that you’re a saltwater reggae band – how did that become part of Garrangali Band’s repertoire?! Who’s the disco fan?!

GB: That was (producer/musician) Stuey Kellaway’s idea! He used to play with Yothu Yindi Band. We haven’t played that remix live.

Garrangali Band in Sydney. Pic: Cameron Richardson/News Limited

MuNT: What would be your dream gig?

GB: We really want to play in Vanuatu. Maybe that’s gonna happen next year.

Jimmy Barnes was adopted by Mandawuy Yunupingu and we’d like to play with him one day… We’re still waiting for more gigs. Maybe around Australia or overseas… We don’t know. Maybe that reggae festival in Cairns…

MuNT: What would you like people to know about Garrangali Band, that they might not know yet?

GB: Me, Wurrandan, when I’m going to dance, that means crocodile, and (it) also means the nest for the crocodile. I’m showing the tracks where the crocodile goes… he’s going to the Garrangali (nest), that’s where our name comes from… and also the other place Yathigpa. I’m showing in the Djanytjunga manikay (song) the mangrove place down here in Baniyala. It’s called Watjin.

Have you got any more plans to record another CD?

Not yet. We’re waiting for our new studio to be ready in Baniyala.

MuNT: Please finish this sentence: “In five years time Garrangali Band will be…”

GB: … still here, travelling around the world, playing our music and teaching people about Yolngu culture.  We’ll be showing the world our bunggul (dance) and manikay (song).

MuNT: Thank you!!

GB: Ma!

Many thanks to Garrangali Band for the interview, Elise Fitzpatrick for her assistance and to Susan Sandery for the photos, courtesy of Laynhapuy Homelands Association Inc.

Enquiries about Garrangali Band can be made to co-manager Susan Sandery, (08) 8939 1803 / 0427 955 499 or co-manager Rrawun Maymuru, (08) 8939 1800.  Check out Garrangali Band’s music on Bandcamp. And read more about them on the Music NT website here and here and here.

Music NT has just commenced a new weekly radio spot featuring new NT music on ABC Radio Northern Territory!

Duganda Street Sounds pose with an award at the 2009 IMAs. Pic: Peter Eve

Each Wednesday night between 7.30 – 8pm, hear Music NT manager Mark Smith talking about new music released in the Northern Territory, with ABC NT Evenings presenter Briony Petch. They will also be spinning tunes by local artists and also featuring recent music too. The program is Territory-wide – check your frequency.

Kicking off on Wednesday July 21, Mark featured track ‘Señor’ by Ramingining Artists’ Dunganda Street Sounds (pictured above), also finalists for ‘Song Of The Year’ at last year’s Indigenous Music Awards.

Duganda Street Sounds have also been chosen to play at the Santos Opening Concert at this year’s Darwin Festival, Thursday August 12th, 2010.

He and Briony also previewed ‘Calling Names’, a song by NT singer Leah Flanagan from her forthcoming album Nirvana Nights, to be launched at Darwin Festival on August 26th. Read more about Leah Flanagan’s new album.

Tune in each Wednesday to ABC Evenings, 7.30-8pm, to catch the next big thing in NT Music!

You can also hear more NT music featured weekly from 10am, on 783 Alice Springs, ABC Northern Territory, with Music NT Alice Springs Coordinator Milyika Scales, and Mornings presenter Alice Brennan. Read the Mornings blog.

We want to hear your new music!

Post us your CD, drop it in, or email us an MP3 or a link to your website where we can listen to – and download – your new music! Get in touch with Mark – manager@musicnt.com.au – or Megan – megan@musicnt.com.au

Music NT Darwin – Post : Music NT, GPO Box 4016 Darwin NT 0801

Office : Level 1, 29 Cavanagh Street, Darwin. Phone 08 8981 1995

Music NT Alice Springs – Post : Music NT, PO Box 8545 Alice Springs NT 0871

Office : 67 Bath St, Alice Springs 0870 Phone: 08 8952 0322

Round 20 of the Contemporary Music Touring Program is now open!

The Contemporary Music Touring Program provides opportunities for a wide range of music to tour the country – including but not limited to, rock, pop, jazz, folk, country and Indigenous music.

The program is committed to supporting touring opportunities for Australian musicians, and increasing audience access to live and original Australian contemporary music, particularly in regional and remote Australia.  All professional members of the Australian music industry – including performers, managers, agents, music networks and music organisations representing all contemporary music genres – are eligible to apply.

The process is competitive and applicants need to demonstrate the strongest claims against the assessment criteria which are contained in the guidelines.  Applications will be assessed by the Contemporary Music Touring Program Committee and approved by the Minister for the Arts.

Applicants should read the downloadable Guidelines before making an application.

The Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) will assist you in determining which cities, towns and locations which are designated regional or remote.

If you have any questions, please contact the program at music.touring@environment.gov.au or on 1800 819 461.

Information can be found at the Program website.

The Round 20 closing date is 6 September 2010 (for tours commencing after 1 January 2011).