Photo - Andrew Curtis. Art Direction - Famous Visual ServicesThe opening performance of dirtsong touched the heart and sent the spirits soaring. It was a special privilege to experience this incredibly generous performance from a host of talented musicians, black and white, who express themselves in a range of musical genres from jazz to rock, and represent Indigenous communities from across the country. The audience that packed the concert hall on Friday night responded in kind. At the end they rose to their feet, clapping, cheering, and whistling, not so much to encourage an encore (which they would have dearly loved, but didn't get), but even more to express their pleasure and gratitude. When initially welcomed to country we had been promised a healing experience and we were not disappointed.
The Black Arm Band's first show Murundak (2006) revealed to audiences the depth and breadth of contemporary Aboriginal music. With Hidden Republic in 2008 the band expressed their hopes, and those of many other Australians, for a more united 'post apology' society. With dirtsong, performed predominantly in Indigenous languages from across Australia, the focus is on a celebration of language and culture, and their importance in forging an Australian society that venerates and learns from the past, thereby gaining the strength to create a better future for all.
From the beginning there was a relaxed but expectant atmosphere. The stage is in darkness. A single spotlight highlights an Aboriginal man in traditional paint sifting through sand. Again blackness, and then the stage is slowly revealed, no spotlights only a large black and white image of an eagle soaring which forms a backdrop, and the words it comes from where we bin start off … my far away home (Alexis Wright).
The performance is in five episodes – dirtsong; Big Law; Heartbeat; Side by Side; and Rainstorm. The text, which from time to time appears on the screen over images of land and people, are the words of Alexis Wright (winner of the 2007 Miles Franklin Award for her novel Carpentaria). They are words that she wrote in recognition of the recorded voices of elders in the books Take Power and Story About Feeling by Bill Neidjie. However the performance is anything but episodic; the whole is beautifully integrated, with an easy and natural flow from one performance to the next (a credit to everyone involved, including director Steven Richardson and musical supervisor Iain Grandage. The band is on stage throughout. Apart from four female vocalists, the featured singers enter from the back moving down centre stage. The stage remains semi-lit with the featured artist highlighted by a single spot. The effect is visually impressive and evocative, with the yellow, red, ochre colours (the colours of the earth) worn by most of the singers really standing out against the black and white background.
It's not often that such a wealth of musical talent is gathered together in one place. To read the profiles of any one of those involved is to be impressed with their talent and experience. However, as community is such an important concept within Indigenous society and that is what is seen in action on the stage, it seems mean to single out any one performer ahead of another. That said, I have to say that I never fail to be moved by the wonderful voice and songwriting talents of the likes of Lou Bennett (Tiddas) and Archie Roach. Kutcha Edwards always succeeds in moving me to tears and Mark Atkins didgeridoo, well it simply sets my heart and soul vibrating. Nothing can match the didgeridoo for evoking the heartbeat of life in the land and in us.
No one performer upstages another, even Jimmy Barnes in a special guest performance with Shane Howard and again with Bart Willoughby (Mixed Relations) is only one part of a greater whole. Dewayne Everettsmith makes his debut appearance with Black Arm Band singing a strong rendition of This Land is Mine with Paul Kelly and a moving rendition of milaythina nika / Rrawa with Djolpa Mckenzie who is also joining the Black Arm Band for the first time.
And this only mentions the singers, backing them are a host of equally talented musicians. As a jazz fan I have to mention contemporary pianist/composer/and improvisor Andrea Keller and saxophonist Julien Wilson (2008 Australian Jazz Artist of the Year).
And I haven't mentioned the humour and the wonderful percussion, or the host of people who worked to create and present this experience!
Every element of dirtsong works together to create the overall impact: music, language, song, and images complement and support each other. If you can beg borrow or 'steal' a ticket to tonight's final performance then do so. If they are sold out, as they deserve to be, make sure that you are quickly in line for any future performance.
I'll leave the final words to Lou Bennett who is quoted in the programme notes as saying:
- 'dirtsong is about land, language and people and the connection between the three is innate to us (Aboriginal people). … Whether we're from the cities or the country, we all come from that earth, we all go back to that earth.'
Melbourne International Arts Festival in association with Arts House and in collaboration with The Black Arm Band present
dirtsong
Featuring Text by Alexis Wright
Venue: State Theatre | the Arts Centre, St Kilda Road Melbourne
Dates/Times: 23 - 24 Oct @ 7:30pm
Bookings: the Arts Centre 1300 182 183
Visit: www.blackarmband.com.au