Blak Day Out hits The Tivoli (Brisbane) in April with a deadly line-up of Indigenous artists celebrating sovereignty, music and community.
Originally planned as part of the 2021 Brisbane Festival, Blak Day Out is finally going ahead after being postponed due to COVID."It's very significant to be able to gather again safely, particularly for some mob to get together and share their music," Blak Day Out co-curator Alethea Beetson says.
"Realistically, it's significant for the artists to be able to continue doing their work. Because it is a black-run and led event, it's important that we get the space to do that when we don't necessarily have access to the resources."
Blak Day Out will see Shakaya, BARKAA, AYA J (replacing DRMNGNOW), Alice Skye, The Ancient Bloods, Dameeeela, DancingWater, Selve and The Merindas take to the stage in a line-up curated by Alethea together with Blak Social's Jhindu-Pedro.
"Jhindu-Pedro is a musician in his own right, and we worked together to create a line-up that we would like to see," Alethea says. "But also, we're doing work behind the scenes to ensure that every aspect of the event is how we do things, which might differentiate to the wider music industry.
"Working with another blackfella to do this work has been really great and it has been less isolating as well, so I've really enjoyed being able to be part of a small and growing team at Blak Social to deliver these kinds of events."
In curating the line-up, Alethea says it was important that Blak Day Out feature the voice of an artist that has pioneered pathways for the upcoming crop of Indigenous artists.
"Shakaya has paved the way for so many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists that we're seeing now.
"Being able to have that kind of artist to honour and celebrate and also to hear their great music is something that means the most to Blak Social," she says.
Beyond the music, Alethea and her team have worked to ensure Blak Day Out is representative of Indigenous Australia, along with its culture and customs, for a holistic event experience.
"As someone who has worked at music festivals, just being able to bring all of the non-Indigenous staff together, whether that is security, front-of-house or bar staff, and briefing them on how we communicate and addressing things like systemic racism in the venue complex," Alethea explains.
"That's the getting-everyone-onboard stuff, but there will be elder spaces and things like that run by Indigenous people throughout the event.
"We have a team of blackfellas working on the event called BlackUp and they're there to make sure mob are all okay."
Alethea says Blak Day Out is an inclusive event open for everyone to come support Indigenous music and participate in the full experience on offer.
"Our messaging is for people to arrive in time for the Welcome To Country because it is an important part – it is the event as far as I'm concerned as well," Alethea says.
"Particularly if you're not mob, come see how we celebrate. . . and come feel that community collectiveness that happens when we gather.
"For any music industry folks, maybe come check out Blak Day Out to see how things can be done differently, but also to see just how much Indigenous artists mean to Indigenous people."
Blak Day Out takes place at The Tivoli (Brisbane) 1 April.
Blak Day Out 2022 Line-up
ShakayaThe Ancient Bloods
BARKAA
Aya J (replacing DRMNGNOW)
Alice Skye
Dameeeela
Dancing Water
Selve
The Merindas
