The Black Arm Band

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The Black Arm Band's mission is to perform, promote and celebrate contemporary Australian Indigenous music as a symbol of resilience and hope in the spirit and action of reconciliation.

The Black Arm Band continues its songlines with Hidden Republic, an historic musical event that delves deeply into the songbook of contemporary Aboriginal music to reflect the renewed promise of 'post-apology' Australia. This iconic music of national significance draws on the combined musical virtuosity and subtlety of 33 members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra together with a blistering seven-piece jazz section to underscore the vocal artistry of The Black Arm Band

The Black Arm Band came together in 2006 to perform murundak ('alive' - Woiwurrung ), a powerful event celebrating music as an instrument of identity, resistance and freedom. This performance features a 32-piece 'super-band' of Australian indigenous artists and was the winner of the 2007 Helpmann Award for Best Contemporary Music Concert. The Black Arm Band is currently nominated for 'Band of the Year' for the 2008 Deadly Awards.

“Up on stage at Hamer Hall on Friday night were some of the greatest performers this country can presently boast of, members of what is described as black folk protest, a phenomenon as significant to the national cultural life as Aboriginal art.” - John Slavin, The Age Newspaper 30/10/06

Upcoming Concerts