Umeewarra Downtown 2021
Umeewarra Downtown was an amazing two day festival of amazing music from First Nations artists right here in Port Augusta. The first Umeewarra Downtown festival happened in July 2019. Umeewarra Downtown was a collaboration between Umeewarra Radio and the Adelaide Guitar Festival. Umeewarra Downtown was 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. Umeewarra Radio hopes that Umeewarra Downtown becomes a regular event.
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Jeanne Miller & Derrick McKenzie at the Port Augusta Yacht Club. Photo by: Hip Photography. -
Umeewarra Downtown team with local musicians and the team from Guitars in Bars. Photo by: Hip Photography. -
Jeremy Whiskey performs at the Hotel Flinders. Photo by: Hip Photography. -
Corey Theatre performs at the Port Augusta Yacht Club. Photo by: Hip Photography. -
Jamie Butler at the Hotel Port Augusta. Photo by: Hip Photography. -
Stephen Atkinson performs at the Port Augusta Yacht Club. -
Tilly Tjala Thomas at Archers Table. Photo by: Hip Photography. -
Letisha Ackland plays at the Hannahville Hotel. Photo by: Hip Photography. -
Warren Milera plays at the Augusta Hotel. Photo by Hip Photography.
For two days the town was pulsing with beats as Aboriginal artists performed everything from hip-hop and country to rock and acoustic. The rolling musical feast served up some of the region’s best musicians at a range of venues from the Hotel Flinders, the Yacht Club, Archers Table, the Hotel Augusta.
Umeewarra Downtown performing artists included: Stephen Atkinson, Warren Milera, Robert Champion, Tilly Tjala Thomas, the duo Kuko featuring Sonya Rankine and Shane Labady, Letisha Ackland, Nathan May, James Butler and Jeanne Miller and Derrick McKenzie and family and Corey Theatre. The program includes a hip hop workshop at the Port Augusta Youth Centre with Eskatology and an RnB ‘Block Party’ with DJ Yella and MoZzi aka Dre Ngatokorua one of Umeewarra Radios broadcasters.
We want to thank all the artists and community here for welcoming this event. 2019 was the first time it was run. We hope to run many more.
There are more photo’s available on the Umeewarra Radio fb page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Umeewarraradio/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10157530234753293
Here is what some people had to say:
“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” David Pisoni, Minister for Innovation and Skills
“Umeewarra Downtown was a huge success. Our Aboriginal performers did us so proud. Aboriginal music is key to keeping our culture strong and we are so happy to have been able to create a platform for our artists at Umeewarra Downtown in Port Augusta. We are grateful to everyone for their effort and participation in this historic and inaugural event.’ Vince Coulthard, Umeewarra Chief Executive Officer.
“Umeewarra Downtown, what an awesome first-time event. I was proud to be a part of this and hope the event will continue in the future and I can’t wait to be involved in the next one. Well done to Umeewarra media and crew”. Warren Milera, musician.
“Adelaide Guitar Festival’s collaboration with Umeewarra Aboriginal Media was 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.” Producer of Adelaide Guitar Festival, Andrew Dundon.
“The night was great, great music and great artists. We have had some great feedback on the night – we look forward to having another one.” The Hotel Augusta.