In collaboration with Gadigal artist and curator Hylander, Phoenix is proud to present Emerge.

This event showcases emerging artists, voices and creative leadership, weaving stories & songlines in the modern context through the mediums that feels authentic to them. 

Emerge aims to challenge monolithic stereotypes & conventions, displaying the rich diversity among First Nations creatives that is to be celebrated and nurtured.

About Bow and Arrow

Bow and Arrow is a Contemporary First Nations (Wiradjuri/Ngunawal/Ngambri/Gamilaraay) electro-soul trio based on Gadigal land fusing modern and traditional instruments.

They've played many major festivals throughout Australia including Parrtjima, Homeground, Byron Bay Blues Festival, Adelaide Fringe, Boomerang Festival, Spirit Festival, Blaksound and major venues like The Factory, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Parliament House and The Australian Museum for their Ngalu Warrawi Marri (We Stand Strong) and Australia's First People exhibition. They  have performed at The Sydney Opera House every year as 'House Band' for 'Badu Gili' and live from the Joan Sutherland Opera Theatre during lockdown for their 'Our House To Yours' digital special. They've also performed live on NITV many times with the Jan 26 'Sunrise Ceremony' (NITV and Channel 10 and broadcasted internationally to NZ and Canada) delivering their blues version of Archie Roach classic 'A Child Was Born Here' and a performance of their current single '7 FORCES' on  Big Mob Brekky being highlights. 

You can expect monster vocals, big rhythms and electro beats, live sampling and looping with a fusion of modern and traditional instruments and also the traditional languages of the Wiradjuri and Gamilaraay peoples. 

There is always more than what you see. That which creates can also destroy. And still, Songlines continue

About Akala

The Urban List once described Akala Newman as a “bonafide triple threat we really can’t get enough of at the moment".  It’s hard to pinpoint her in one direction, she creates a genre that is uniquely her own. Her edgy dark pop is unapologetic - you know when a song begins with "what's it like in hell" you're in for a ride. She challenges the notion of what it means to be a First Nations woman today and to live by your own narrative. She wrote and performed the opening song for the New Year's Eve Fireworks at Sydney Opera House, “Calling Country”. Her song "Spell On Me" won the inaugural Indigitube song contest where she was flown to Darwin to perform at the National Indigenous Music Awards and opened the Women's World Cup draw in Aotearoa with Gawura Dance Company.

Akala received both the Koori Radio Artist Residency and The Red Rattler Artist Residency, where she will present her electric EP Venus in September 2023.