For some unknown reason the folk of Castlemaine and Mount Alexander Shire have developed many creative connections with First Nations communities in the Northern Territory.
There have been exhibitions of artwork from the desert regions and the Top End in various galleries and bands, such as the all-woman Ripple Effect, have travelled down to perform at local venues.
Djolpa McKenzie from Maningrida, Arnhem Land, is visiting Castlemaine to perform a solo show in The Coolroom at The Northern Arts Hotel on Saturday October 11.
A songman of the An Barra clan of the Gigaliyarrcha tribe, he has also fronted Wild Water since the mid-1990s.
The band, which plays a mix of reggae, rock, dub and funk, has toured nationally and released two albums, Baltpa (1996) and Rrawa (2007).
Wild Water, consisting of musicians from Fijian, Papuan, Arrente and Anglo ethnicity, played support for reggae star Maxi Priest at his 1997 Brisbane show.
The band has also supported Yothu Yindi, Tiddas, The Cruel Sea, Rochelle Watson and Sunrize Band.
But as a soloist singing in his tribal language Burarra, plus Kriol and English, Djolpa has recorded an EP with the single Red being released in 2019.
As a young boy he would traditionally have learnt several languages to be able to communicate with neighbouring mobs, and then he was taught English at school.
Djolpa was a part of The Black Arm Band, an all-star Indigenous group, performing in the Hidden Republic and dirtsong shows, which toured the country.
In it he sang a plaintive version of the Warumpi Band’s My Island Home/Dron Wanga that had been translated into Yolgnu by Warumpi’s late lead singer.
This special Castlemaine performance will highlight Djolpa’s songwriting talent. His personal songlines range from city life to being at home on Country.
Presented by 94.9 MainFM’s In Didj’n’Us radio program and the Northern Arts Hotel.
