The Dreaming Festival 2006 Woodford QLD (09-12/06/06)

Tue 13th Jun, 2006 in Gig Reviews

You know when year on year festivals become bigger and better and word of mouth spreads and they become great and how gleeful you feel that you were there at the beginning?

Well you will wish you attended The Dreaming 2006. The people, the artists, the musos, the bands, the vibe were all brilliant and I was privileged to witness many things but especially so many legends of Indigenous music.

Headline acts were Youth Yindi, Warumpi Band, Troy Cassar-Daly, Bunna Lawrie & Coloured Stone and Jimmy Little! I was especially excited to see Yothu Yindi and Warumpi Band – where have these guys been? Yothu Yindi came out on stage to a packed tent – any competing interest in other parts of the festival had no chance of an audience. Youth Yindi are beloved by all. Manduway Yunupingu sings all the well known tracks that helped bring aboriginal music to the mainstream in the 90s: ‘Djapana: Sunshine Dreaming’ pumps the crowd; ‘Tribal Voice’ empowers the crowd singing ‘listen to your tribal voice’ over and over again; and ‘Treaty’...well that just rokd! Someone near me yelled out ‘feel the love people!’. And he was right – there was so much love and peace it was like Woodstock not Woodford.

Although at times the sound was a bit dodgy and Manduway’s vocals therefore suffered, the Yothu Yindi sound, or message, hasn’t dated and I would love to hear a remix or re-release of some of these tracks.

With anticipation fortifying the huge crowd during the steady rain that failed to dampen anyone’s spirits, Warumpi Band driving 80s rock magicked George Rrurrambu on stage. The crowd as one leaped to their feet as George strode and posed on stage in his leather red, black and gold flag outfit, like a cross between Bon Scott, James Brown and Mick Jagger and that’s not to take anything away from his individuality as a performer.

George is charismatic and adored by all. Girls pressed to the front of the stage and one or two jump up as Neil Murray alternates his guitars riffs from country twangs to Acca Dacca rock. I overhear someone say what I am thinking, I forgot how hard Warumpi Band were. George states he is ‘joining my life with you today’ and reminds us that he was The Face that brought national and international attention to aboriginal music. All the big hits from the mid-80s (20 years ago!) were enthusiastically performed: ‘Stompin’ Ground’, ‘Waru’, ‘Gotta Be Strong’ and anthems for indigenous Australians everywhere. Crowd favourites ‘Fitzroy Crossing’ and ‘My Island Home’ has tears running down the cheeks of  most of the crowd – and I ain’t never been to Fitzroy Crossing. George’s insistence that the crowd sang ‘Our Island Home’ even made us prouder. Again, these magic tunes just last.

Another crowd fave, Bunna Lawrie and Coloured Stone set a different pace. More toned down and chilled out with reggae beats and golden melodies, but I had to kick on to see more things around the festival but managed to hear ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’ and ‘Black Boy’.

Due to enthrallment with some tribal Solomon Islanders, I missed Jimmy Little! Argh! But managed to jag seeing him gently singing and strumming around a fire with a small mob who were again enraptured to hear such a smooth guy with such a velvet voice. I was impressed with the Brolga Boys, fronted by Russel Smith on vocals, guitars and yidaki (didgeridoo). Quick setups, little warm up time and short gigs in the smaller venues meant some sounds issues but the guys showed their potential with their light funked up sound. Organ and yidaki definitely give them a different edge and I anticipate their new CD out later in the year.

Yowarliny are a contemporary rock band from Perth fronted by two enigmatic and complementary female singers. Their band name means to speak out and their tunes about gossip, deadly women and ‘if it’s not on, it’s not on’ certainly send the right message. Kerrieanne Cox was another standout performer and rightly won the NAIDOC Artist of the Year in 2005. Her voice reminded me at times of Roberta Flack, sometimes Shirley Bassey and with it, she easily connects with the audience. Playing evocative guitar and including excellently mimicked bird songs, she also sings songs with a message and that teach. ‘Bush Tucker’ is very catchy and beats any Wiggles tune hands down.

Finally for a real contemporary sound were The Last Kinection, a name derived from the brother-sister rapper/simger’s realisation that their last connection to their indigenous culture was through their only living kin, their grandmother and a yearning to keep alive traditions of teaching youngsters through music. This hip hop/rap trio might not sit so easily on FasterLouder but I know a lot of subscribers are into various forms of music. The Last Kinection are very talented, tight, phat, sassy, sexy and only a month old! Considering a 10am Monday morning gig they kicked off and pumped it up and would give the Black Eyed Peas a run for their money.

A couple of people did amazing impromptu guest MCing and they woke up the gathering crowd to tunes like ‘Pull Em Up’ about standing up and speaking out when people are dissing others and ‘This Song is for Commercial Radio’ a sarcastic swipe at the commercial music industry. Definitely look out for them (find them on MySpace).

There were many other talented musicians that I only got to briefly see and glimpse and I would be keen to see more of them. But as was commented on a few times, Indigenous artists get told, more often than not, that festival organisers “have booked their aboriginal artists, thanks”. All these musicians are trying to provide positive role models for their communities and we can help support Indigenous artists by asking venue managers, festival organisers and street mags, where are they being showcased? Check em out.