Press
Hidden Republic
Selected press quotes
"It was more than just a concert. It was . . . a ritual: a summoning of hope and possibility, a mourning and expiation, a gift of huge spiritual generosity, a Damn Good Time." Theatre Notes, 26/10/08
"For nearly two hours the sold out audience that packed the State Theatre clapped and cheered as the nearly 30-strong group took us on a journey through contemporary Indigenous music." Arts Hub, 25/10/08
murundak
Selected press quotes
"...an uplifting experience that said more about black and white solidarity than a million parliamentary speeches." West Australian, 25/2/08
"The idea that a real Aboriginal person is a black man standing on one leg in a desert with a spear in his hand is wrong - murundak is about breaking down those misconceptions, allowing them to stay in the past and moving forward into the future." Lou Bennett, quoted in X-Press Magazine, 21/2/08
“murundak does not hide or sugar-coat the colder realities found throughout Australia’s history, nor the ongoing issues being tackled by the Indigenous community. Yet it overwhelmingly retains a tone of positivity and hope.” Arts Hub, 24/01/08
“...a massive, inspiring joyful celebration of survival against odds, with a suitably sharp sting in its tail...coming in so close after the departure of the Howard government...it takes on more of the character of a celebration rather than a fight. We have hope.” Australian Stage Online, 23/01/08
“The concert was a sweaty, powerful, uplifting example of why cities and governments invest in festivals.” The Australian Newspaper, 30/10/06
“This gathering of stars and styles was like listening to a gathering of Beaz, Dylan, Judy Collins, Eric Clapton and Odetta.” The Age Newspaper, 30/10/06
“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.” The Age Newspaper 30/10/06
“Audiences gave the Black Arm Band a standing ovation on Saturday night…‘Audiences received (the band) so well that you know that something healed, it just did’ Edmunds said.” The Age Newspaper, 30/10/06
There is something about the human imagination endeavoring to give us something extraordinary - something that even cracks the breastbone and gets inside you - that makes the work a privilege to work with, and to sand besides…To me, it’s a joy, actually, to see the audiences who come and make an authentic discovery of something they didn’t know was out there. And that’s why you do a festival.” Kristy Edmunds, quoted in The Australian Newspaper, 30/10/06
“There are no stars here, the 'star' is the music and the stories it tells, the stories of Aboriginal Australians. Catch it if you can, you may never see so much talent together again” Melbourne Stage Online, 29/10/06
