NAIDOC Week 2017 celebrations in Brisbane will be brought to a close in style with a performance at Queensland Multicultural Centre (BEMAC) featuring singer-songwriters Robbie Miller and Sue Ray.
A Brisbane local, Robbie will perform as part of BEMAC’s World Music Café for this year’s NAIDOC Week, which celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements as well as their contributions to Australian society. “I feel pretty good,” Robbie says of the upcoming show.
“I haven’t done that many shows this year compared to last year, so I’m looking forward to doing a solo set, playing a few new tunes and just having fun. Every show is an opportunity to meet new people or try new things, so when it comes around I’ll be looking forward to doing it.”
A one-time winner of the Triple J Unearthed National Indigenous Music Awards, which helped to launch his career, Robbie says he is both proud and honoured to be representing his heritage in such a significant way. “Celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is very important and being in a place where that can be celebrated.
“Even though myself and Sue Ray don’t play traditional Indigenous music, we play that kind of contemporary music, but it’s great to be able to use that to celebrate culture and I don’t think there’s a better way than on the last day of NAIDOC Week.
“We’re all individuals and we’re all just people caught up on our own journey, so just to celebrate who we are as people and the culture we’re a part of and the future we’re part of. A lot of Aboriginal and Torres Strait lslander people would agree that we’re paving the way for future generations.”
Robbie released his debut EP ‘The Faster The Blood Slows’ in 2015, following in quick succession with sophomore EP ‘Close To Home’ last year. His subtle approach to songwriting combined with wrought, emotional vocals has made him a favourite on the indie singer-songwriter scene.
For his World Music Cafe performance, Robbie says that although he is yet to narrow down a set-list he plans to present a wide selection of material featuring tracks from both his EPs as well as previously unreleased material. “It’s interesting,” he says.
“I haven’t actually put together a set-list, but it will be a mixture between some electric guitar and acoustic songs and maybe a cover here and there, and I’ll be trying out some new things with looping and percussion. Really I’m going to try and have as much fun as I can on stage, share the songs and the stories of what they’re about.
“I’ll probably play all ten of the tracks from my EPs, maybe in a different way to how they were recorded but they’ll be there in one form or another and there will also be some new songs that no one has heard before. It’s going to be mixed up between released and unreleased material.”
Robbie Miller performs as part of World Music Café at Queensland Multicultural Centre (BEMAC) in Brisbane 7 July. He also has a Queensland Music Festival @ The Johnson Hotel (Brisbane) 22 July.
