Presented by Queensland Country Bank
FREE EVENT!
Date and Time
Sun 29 Sep - 4.30 PM to 9.30 PM (AUSLAN)
Set Times
Gates Open - 4.30 PM
Djawarray - 5.00 PM to 5.45 PM
Kee’ahn - 6.00 PM to 6.45 PM
Fred Leone - 7.00 PM to 8.00 PM
Xavier Rudd - 8.30 PM to 9.30 PM
Event Description
The North Australian Festival of Arts is pleased to announce a free night of live music and culture presented by Queensland Country Bank.
To round off our spectacular opening weekend, we have curated a perfect line up of Australian musicians to unwind after a busy week. Headlined by national folk treasure Xavier Rudd along with Garrwa and Butchulla artist Fred Leone, who recently joined him on his European tour. This free concert will also feature local artist Kee’ahn and Cairns artist Djawarray.
Join us at Jezzine Barracks from 4:30pm and bring your own rug or picnic chair to enjoy this free music event with the whole family. Food trucks will be available.
Learn more about the performers below!
Artist Information
Xavier Rudd
Born on the sandy beaches of Torquay in Victoria, Xavier Rudd has drawn fans from all over the globe with his distinctly Australian charm. Kickstarting his career in 2002 with To Let, Rudd now has 10 studio albums under his belt along with an abundance of ARIA nominations and chart placings.
A man of Wurundjeri background, Rudd is an activist carrying out work to champion the rights of Indigenous Australians and preserve his own heritage. Xavier Rudd incorporates themes of spirituality and environmentalism into his unique brand of indie folk, forming connections with listeners from all walks of life.
Fred Leone
Fred Leone is one of the Butchulla Songmen with Aboriginal, Tongan and South-Sea Islander roots. He comes from the Garrwa and Butchulla tribes. Fred’s role as a Songman sees him as one of the custodians of the traditional songs of the Butchulla tribe and one of a handful of keepers and custodians of their language. Fred has been touring the world for over a decade, traveling with Public Enemy, Dead Prez and People Under The Stairs as well as receiving invites to collaborate and play with contemporary artists such as John Butler, Xavier Rudd, Amanda Palmer, best-selling author Neil Gaiman and many, many more.
Kee’ahn
Born and raised in Townsville (Gurrambilbarra/Thul Garrie Waja) acclaimed First Nations soul pop r'n'b vocalist Kee'ahn has travelled across the country supporting Green Tea Peng, Blind Boys of Alabama, Hiatus Kaiyote, Stella Donelly and more.
Kee'ahn's music speaks of heartbreaking, healing, with ties to her tropical rainforest home.
Join Kee'ahn as she returns to Townsville featuring Triple J favourite, Alice Ivy collab track 'catch the night' and 'sunsets', as well as new unreleased music from Kee'ahn's upcoming debut album.
Djawarray
Djawarray is Bertie Riley, a Djabugay and Western Yalanji traditional custodian and singer-songwriter from Ngunbay (Kuranda) and Gimuy (Cairns). Djawarray's music is deeply rooted in Djabugay and Western Yalanji songlines, passed down to him through generations. This unique sound blends Ngirrma (his language) and English, pulsating with the upbeat energy of Aboriginal Rainforest Reggae that made waves in North Queensland.
The 7-8 piece band behind Djawarray is Koahlition, who began jamming on a veranda in Koah, Far North Queensland (FNQ). A multicultural lineup including members with Aboriginal and Torres Strait heritage, the band has a common goal to break boundaries through music and has been dedicated to playing in regional communities across the Country for over 10 years.
General Event Information
G | 5 Hours | Auslan Interpreted | Curated | Free
Accessibility
Please check our website here for details.
