triple j’s support for NT music continues to grow, with the announcement of the partnership with the 2011 National Indigenous Music Awards, presented by Music NT.

On June 23rd Dan Sultan appeared on triple j’s Drive program with The Doctor, to announce his involvement in the NIMAs as one of this year’s headline performers.

He will perform alongside Coloured Stone, Warumpi Band, No Fixed Address, Yilila’s Grant Nundhirribala and the Red Flag Dancers.

The National Indigenous Music Awards will be supported online in triple j’s gig guide, and on air across the national radio network with music and promotional spots, in the lead up to  Awards in August.

Since 2009, triple j and triple j Unearthed have been involved in supporting Music NT showcase gigs at the Darwin and Alice Springs Festivals during the iNTune Music Conference.

NT bands such as The Aviators, The Moving Targets, Catch The Fly and Jess Ribeiro & The Bone Collectors have gained national exposure, winning slots playing at the annual original music Showcases through Unearthed competitions open to NT artists, with the gigs and artist interviews broadcast nationally.

triple j presenters Dom Alessio, Steph Hughes and Sarah Howells have also attended the iNTune Music Conference in Darwin and Alice Springs as speakers, subsequently airing music by NT artists and blogging their experiences from the Conference.

Dom Alessio will again attend iNTune Darwin in 2011, as a guest speaker.

In 2010 triple j Unearthed held it’s annual major music gig One Night Stand in Alice Springs – which was broadcast live from the Red Centre – selecting Papunya’s Tjupi Band as the local act to kick off the event.

Subsequently, triple j added several of the Tjupi Band’s tracks – sung in language – to their playlist.

They continued to support local Indigenous music by featuring songs from the Turlku 4 compilation CD, produced by NG Media Studios and John Gordon at Wingellina, near the NT/WA border.

This all means increased coverage of NT music on the national youth broadcaster, and in particular NT Indigenous music.

Music NT Manager Mark Smith says “Music NT is again happy to be partnering with triple j to expose Northern Territory music to the rest of the country”.

He adds, “we very much recognise the great support triple j is giving to Indigenous music through its promotion of

Tjupi Band's Barnabus Daniels at Triple J One Night Stand in Alice Springs 2010. Pic by Peter Carroll.

the NIMAs”.

• Visit triple j and triple j Unearthed online.
• Read more about the Music NT/Unearthed Showcase gigs.
• And visit the official NIMAs website for more info about this year’s exciting NIMAs line up! Nominations for the Awards close July 22!

Words: Megan Spencer.

Source: NIMAs, triple j and Music NT.

The One Night Stand concert in Alice Springs on March 27 at Traegar Park was a huge success, especially for local artists, Tjupi Band.

Not only were they the opening act – for the likes of John Butler Trio, Gyroscope, Washington and Bluejuice – their set was broadcast nationally on triple j radio.

The spotlight shone well and truly on this talented desert reggae band from Papunya, 250 kms NW of Alice Springs. They have also won a place at the mid-year JB Seed Management workshop in the Blue Mountains, with their music receiving huge national exposure, both on radio and online.

Jason Butcher, Tjupi Band, backstage at One Night Stand Alice Springs. (Pic. triple j).

• Read an interview with the Tjupi’s lead singer Jason Butcher (right) online at triple j Unearthed website.

• Watch the Tjupi Band’s live set here and here.

Desert reggae artists Tjupi Band from Papunya 250 kms NW of Alice Springs, have been announced as the ‘triple j One Night Stand Alice Springs Local Band’!!

They have also been made the Feature Artist on the triple j Unearthed website!

Congratulations Tjupis!!

Great performers at the 2009 NT Indigenous Music Awards – and having recently released their new CD – Tjupi Band will open One Night Stand Alice Springs, on the bill with some of Australia’s leading musicians including John Butler Trio, Bluejuice, Washington and more!

The gig will also be broadcast nationally on triple j, and as part of the ‘winning band’ prize, John Butler Seed Fund has offered a representative from the Tjupis a place at the next Seed  Management Workshop in the Blue Mountains.

Stay tuned to triple j for more on the Tjupis – and if you’re in Alice, head down and support them at the gig at Traeger Park on Saturday 27th March (gates open at 3pm).

More info about One Night Stand in Alice Springs here.

Read an interview with Tjupi Band on triple j Unearthed!

Read what home and hosed presenter Steph Hughes wrote about the Tjupi Band on her triple j blog.

triple j presenter Dom Alessio (Home & Hosed) presents a podcast of Unearthed, featuring five NT artists: Cooperblack (pictured above), 2 Cats 1 Hat, The Moving Targets, Jess Riberio & The Bone Collectors and The Aviators.

Download the podcast (Episode #29)