The inaugural BLAKSOUND – a First Nations youth-led music conference and showcase – is building momentum with an impressive list of Indigenous artists joining an epic programme.
To be staged virtually in 2021 (given current travel restrictions) across three days (6-8 September) the already announced co-curators (Sycco, Jem Cassar-Daley, DOBBY and Loki Liddle – who'll be mentored by BIGSOUND First Nations Programmer and Producer Alethea Beetson) will host an all-star line-up of First Nations talent highlighted by new additions Baker Boy and Christine Anu.Yolngu man Baker Boy will join the panel What Does It Mean To Be The Youngest Generation Of The Oldest Surviving Culture In The World? alongside Emily Wurramara, Bianca Hunt, and Barkaa.
While Christine Anu will present a keynote with Sycco titled From One Islander To Another.
Singer, songwriter and activist Ziggy Ramo, rising talent Alice Skye and revered journalist (2020’s Media Person of the Year) Rachael Hocking will also bring their insights and experience to BLAKSOUND.
Making it a family affair will be county music legend Troy Cassar-Daley who will co-present a keynote with his daughter and co-curator Jem Cassar-Daley called From One Generation To The Next.
Respected community leader and artist Fred Leone and Patricia Adjei (First Nations arts and culture director at the Australia Council for the Arts) bring their vast experience to BLAKSOUND for a yarn alongside the aforementioned Ziggy Ramo and Rachael Hocking.
"I'm so pumped to be part of BLAKSOUND!" co-curator DOBBY says. "Having a dedicated space for Mob to showcase and learn within our own circle is so powerful and necessary for artistic direction in our community.
"I'm most keen for young mob who will be taking notes and finding inspiration from our showcasing and legacy artists."
Other additions to the speaker line-up include artist and BLKMPIRE creator Jimblah, Seed Mob's Tishiko King, blues musician Marlene Cummins, emerging hip hop artist Kobie Dee as well as GLVES, Shaun Allen (Shal) and SOVBLKPSSY (Juanita Sumner).
"BLAKSOUND is one of the most exciting events I have been a part of this year!" co-curator Sycco adds.
"The conversations that will be had are going to be so important and special. I feel so lucky and grateful to have been a part of curating this with such talented beautiful humans."
Presented by Digi Youth Arts and Vyva Entertainment, and supported by QMusic and BIGSOUND, BLAKSOUND will consist of panels, key yarns, workshops and performances, discussing a wide range of important issues that affect wider First Nations communities.
BLAKSOUND is free to register (with payment options available for those who can) and will be held on the Swapcard platform on 6-8 September.
2021 BLAKSOUND Speakers & Artists
Alethea BeetsonAlice Skye
Aunty Marlene Cummins
Baker Boy
BARKAA
Becca Hatch
Bianca Hunt
Bow and Arrow
Christine Anu
SOVBLKPSSY (Juanita Sumner)
DOBBY
DRMNGNOW
Emily Wurramara
Fred Leone
GLVES
Jem Cassar-Daley
Jimblah
Kobie Dee
Loki Liddle
Maggie Munn
Naomi Wenitong
Nooky
Patricia Adjei
Pablo Barnes
Rachael Hocking
Rhianna Patrick
Shaun Allen (Shal)
Sycco
Tishiko King
Troy Cassar-Daley
Ziggy Ramo
BLAKSOUND Workshops
• Blak And Deadly: Having A Voice And Using It - Keynote With Naomi Wenitong• What Does It Mean To Be The Youngest Generation Of The Oldest Surviving Culture In The World? - Panel with Bianca Hunt, Baker Boy, Barkaa, Emily Wurramara
• How To Find Out If Your Organisation Is Racist? - Panel with Amnesty's Maggie Munn & Pablo Barnes
• Turning Our Backs To The State: Focusing On Building Our Own Spaces - Panel with Drmngnow, Jimblah, Tish King & Rhianna Patrick
• F#$K The System, We Own Our Stories - Panel with Patricia Adjei, Fred Leone, Ziggy Ramo & Rachael Hocking
• Connectivity + Continuum: Our Vision Of The (BLAK) Future - Panel with Kobie Dee, Sovblkpssy (Juanita Sumner), Alice Skye, Shaun Allen (Shal) & Glves
• Vulnerability, Strength + Survival - Keynote with Dobby & Marlene Cummins
• From One Islander To Another - Keynote with Sycco & Christine Anu
• From One Generation To The Next - Keynote with Troy Cassar-Daley & Jem Cassar-Daley
• Move, I'm Indigenous: Creating Spaces For First Nations Musicians - Keynote with Loki Liddle & Alethea Beetson
• 4esydney – BLAKSOUND Official Closing Party - performances by Nooky, Bow And Arrow, Becca Hatch, Kobie Dee and Hosted Bby Matty Mills
