Last week saw an exciting week of indigenous music at Margaret River Primary School.
On Monday the school hosted singer – songwriter Scott Darlow who is based in Melbourne and has toured across Australia and overseas extensively. His brand of guitar and didgeridoo driven country rock thrilled audiences throughout the day. He also spoke to students about indigenous culture and the journey towards reconciliation and understanding.
You can watch a video of him singing his own composition: “Sorry” in the video below, using both languages. You will notice how he uses looping to enhance and blend elements of the music very effectively.
On Friday, winners of the 2013 WA Music Industry (WAMi) Awards for best indigenous act, musicians Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse engaged in workshops with students throughout the day and then played a twilight concert at the school to an audience of close to 200 people with support act , local indigenous singer Stevie Leigh Lane.
Local Wardandi elder Nina Chapman opened the evening with a spirited Welcome to Country to all present.
Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse performed music from their album Kalyakoori written and sung entirely in the Noongar language. Before each song Gina would tell the story behind and give a translation of the material. During the evening, students who had been involved with the workshops performed with Gina and Guy to the appreciative crowd of parents and friends.
Organiser of the events, MRPS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander officer Angela Ramirez said she was thrilled with the positive response to the musicians by both students and the local community. She cited the successful staging of the acts as another example of the school’s commitment to reconciliation. She thanked all the volunteers who assisted with the Friday night concert and further added she hoped in the future to entice other indigenous artists to perform in Margaret River.
Written by Gary Gibbon; Photos by G. Gibbon and D. Veary; Video and posted by D. Veary
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