MEDIA RELEASE:
JULY 22, 2019
18 Musicians, 9 Venues: Umeewarra Radio and Guitars in Bars bring First Nations music to Downtown Port Augusta.
In what will be a first for the Upper Spencer Gulf, Port Augusta will take part in Adelaide Guitar Festival’s Guitars in Bars, with two days of music from First Nations artists in an event called Umeewarra Downtown.
This coming weekend, with the support of Umbrella Winter City Sounds,Port Augusta will be pulsing with beats as Aboriginal artists perform everything from hip-hop and country to rock and acoustic. This rolling musical feast will serve up some of the region’s best musicians at a range of venues from the classic to the unexpected.
“This will be an amazing event for the town and we are really pleased to be working with the different venues across Port Augusta to showcase our Aboriginal artists. This will be the first of many, so we hope people will come out and enjoy this exciting first Guitars in Bars.”Said Umeewarra Media CEO, Vince Coulthard.
“It’s terrific to see the Adelaide Guitar Festival’s Guitars in Bars programme extend into the regions, and the State Government is proud to support Umbrella Winter City Sounds and Umeewarra Radio in putting on these shows in Port Augusta. The whole town is in for a real treat with so much local musical talent taking the stage,” said Minister for Innovation and Skills, David Pisoni.
Umeewarra Downtown is a collaboration between Umeewarra Aboriginal Media that has been running in Port Augusta for over 30 years and Adelaide Festival Centre. Umeewarra Downtown is a part of Adelaide Guitar Festival’s events happening right across South Australia.
“Adelaide Guitar Festival’s collaboration with Umeewarra Aboriginal Media is a highlight of this year’s program, with brilliant First Nations artists taking centre stage playing everything from hip hop to country. We’re so excited we’ve been able to facilitate the creation of Umeewarra Downtown – it promises to be a really special two days in Port Augusta, with gigs across the city showcasing the region’s musical talent.” SaidProducer of Adelaide Guitar Festival, Andrew Dundon
Umeewarra Downtown includes local artists from the region: Stephen Atkinson, Jeanne Miller, Derrick Milera will be travelling from Hawker in the Flinders Ranges to perform on Friday night. Other artists include the famous Robert Champion, 16-year-old Tilly Tjala Thomas and the duo Kuko from the Yorke Peninsular. Adding to the program is singer Letisha Ackland, Nathan May, Jeremy Whiskey, James Butler and Corey Theatre. The program includes a hip-hop workshop at the Port Augusta Youth Centre with Eskatology and an RnB ‘Block Party’ with Port Augusta locals DJ Yalla and MoZzi aka Dre Ngatokorua.
“It really is an all-star cast.” Said Dre Ngatokorua, Umeewarra Radio Broadcaster and DJ.
The artists are performing at the Hotel Augusta, the Hannahville, the Hotel Flinders, the Platform Gallery, Archers Table and West Augusta Football Club, the Port Augusta Yacht Club and an opening event at Umeewarra Media Studios on Jervois Street. All events are free except the ‘Block Party’.
Umeewarra Downtown is presented with the kind support of the State Government through the Music Development Office, Adelaide Festival Centre and Music SA as it features in the Umbrella Winter City Sounds Festival.
For full program and artists’ bio’s please see:
adelaideguitarfestival.com.au/events/umeewarra-downtown/
#UmeewarraDowntown
#ADLGuitarFest
