In July this year we launched an annual Festival celebrating old and new culture.
Artists from South-East Asia and across Australia gathered in Darwin to present inspired music, theatre, and collaborations. Everything was live and it highlighted how truly different it is to take in something that you can experience in that moment.
Highlights included Music for Dogs, and improvisations by Michael Leunig who painted live (with Matt McMahon accompanying him on piano). There were some outstanding surprises including esteemed folk singer Ego Lemos (East Timorese) collaborating with Suming Rupi (Amis), and Abdi Karya (Makassan) singers and we were privileged to have the night opened by Lynette Fejo and Willy (Larrakia), and peacefully ended by Putu’s Balinese sounds.
With Kate Bradbury’s #lovenotestodarwin, to DSO string quartet accompanying Archer, Vince Jones and Band, and more, there was too much to take in for one day - which bodes well for a crossover Jazz/World South-East Asian collaborative event in an ongoing capacity, and we are excited to see what we can present in the future.
Ego Lemos at the Darwin International Jazz & Arts Festival (Photo by Paz Tassone)
