Andrew Gurruwiwi Band

19 Oct 2023

Just like King Stingray and Baker Boy before them, the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band are the next hot musical act to burst out of Arnhem Land, NT.

The band is led by the one and only Andrew Gurruwiwi - a shy-but-extravagant, blind, keytar-wielding Yolngu elder with a passion to make people dance while sharing his culture.

A high-energy, 8-piece funk band who have honed their chops on the beach at Birrtjimi and in the dirt of Yirrkala, the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band write real funk jams in their native tongue, Yolngu Matha. Their sound is truly fresh - Yolngu Funk - a style only hinted at previously on the impossible-to-find pair of 7-inches cut by George Rrurrambu & Birdwave, that now go for hundreds of dollars on Discogs.

Debut track "Gatjumak" features a very special guest - King Stingray guitarist Dimathaya Burrarwanga plays drums on the track - a truly multi-talented musician. he band’s debut single, a song spawned out of the absolute mayhem of Arnhem Land community festivals. When Andrew Gurruwiwi shouts ‘Gatjumak’, it’s nothing short of a direct challenge to the audience, to the dancers, to the other musicians. ‘Show me your style... Show me what you got...Go for it!’

And it delivers. Fierce dancing and craziness have erupted on the dirt dancefloors all across Arnhem Land, from Galiwin’ku to Milingimbi, with the band ready to now take their unique sound to all of Australia, and hopefully, the world.

This performance is part of SXSW Sydney.

Performances

Performances

Thursday 19 October 2023, 6:30pm

Location

Phoenix Central Park
49 O'Connor St, Chippendale

Tickets

Free, by ballot only

Strobe lighting and other intense lighting may be used
Haze may be used

Ballot closed

Ballot draw date: Friday, 13 October 2023

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