Wheatsheaf Hotel

George St Thebarton

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SCALA Special Event: Showcasing Aboriginal Artists

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Showcasing Aboriginal Artists

We’re rapt! It’s been a solid dream that’s taken some time but we’ve managed to get there thanks to the remarkable guest artists being featured in thisinaugural showcase.Yep, smack bang equidistant between 2 of the biggest events on the annual Australian calendar – Reconciliation and the coming NAIDOC Week – we’re delighted to be able to dedicate the entire night to the brilliance and achievements of these musoes who work tirelessly and with grace to promote and preserve their cultures through song and example to us all.

It’s been fun and rewarding work pulling this one together and now with the calibre of new artists stepping up, we’re keen to keep the partnership going in the future!          So, who are our fab artists?!

SCALA Live @ The Wheaty

Thursday 13th June 2019

SCALA Special Event: Showcasing Aboriginal Artists

A SCALA initiative showcasing aboriginal artists at SCALA Live. Presenting local artists, Nathan May (soloist) and Kuko (duo) plus Robert K Champion (duo) from Victoria plus SA’s own Jessica Wishart (duo) as the headline act.

1. Nathan May

Multi-talented emerging singer-songwriter Nathan May descends from the Arabana, Yawuru and Marridjabin clans and SCALA would like to congratulate Nathan for recently winning the 2019 South Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young Achiever Awards (Arts). Well done you!

When Nathan’s not helping others, he writes in memory of his friends and family and as a reminder that there’s always hope. He sings with a wide open smile from deep within his soul and has an innate ability to craft songs and e press feelings of wide appeal to a broad audience that are way beyond his 24 young years.

Formerly a student at the Centre for Aboriginal Music Studies (CASM) Nathan is now studying Popular Music & Creative Technologies at the University of Adelaide Elder Music Conservatorium.

https://www.nathanmaymusic.com/

2. Kuko

In the Ngarrindjeri language, Kuko means two, and for Sonya Rankine and Shane Labady there is something very special about that number. Both industry veterans, together the two have hit one very exciting musical wavelength.

Both from Moonta Bay, Sonya is also a Ngarrindjeri, Narungga, and Ngadjuri woman from Narungga country. Recently returning to music through this collaboration, she is known for songs that are self-reflective and soulful. Shane Labady brings over twenty years as a singer/songwriter.

https://www.facebook.com/kuko.means.two/

3. Robert K Champion

Robert K Champion moves audiences with his haunting guitar music and compelling stories of life, love and loss across the Australian landscape. Known as a deadly guitarist, Robert is a modern-day storyteller, performing original compositions; contemporary folktales and country ballads. Robert will be featuring his violinist at this event.

In 2013 Robert released his EP, ‘This Road Is Too Long’, and in 2018 he released his long-awaited debut solo album ‘1977’.

https://robertkchampion.com/

4. Jessica Wishart

JESSICA WISHART is a young Bidjara woman who writes and performs songs inspired by her love of music, family and culture. She is a storyteller whose songs take elements of country, folk and soul music and weave them into deeply personal tales which capture and express her unique experience.

In 2017, she recorded and released her debut EP, working with acclaimed songwriter and performer John Baker, recorded by The Yearlings’ Chris Parkinson and featuring additional vocals by Nancy Bates. Also in 2017, she has performed at Tandanya’s Survival Day concert, at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, and at Spirit Festival, and is one of two artists in Nexus Arts’ Creative Pathways development program for Aboriginal contemporary musicians.

Jessica’s music speaks from deeply held personal beliefs, drawing upon her experiences as an Aboriginal woman, daughter and mother to explore her culture and its place in community.

https://www.jessicawishart.com/

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Come along and have the ‘SCALA’ experience, hear some brilliant local original music and network with fellow songwriters and music appreciators.

We will have a couple of ‘SCALA Spotlights’ to start off the night, these will air two of their best or newest to our wonderfully attentive and respectful SCALA audience. (NB: These Spotlights are booked in advance with a preference for SCALA members – please email scala@scala.org.au).