Yothu Yindi and The Treaty Project

Featuring original Yothu Yindi members, along with emerging First Nations artists and special guests performing new remixes of classic Yothu Yindi hits with an electronic twist, Yothu Yindi & the Treaty Project will make its Arts Centre Melbourne debut at Hamer Hall.

Yothu Yindi & The Treaty Project was initially launched in 2017 to celebrate the release of the 25th anniversary remix of Yothu Yindi’s timeless hit Treaty and raise awareness for the need for treaty with Australia’s First Nations people.

As evinced by Yothu Yindi’s success in the 1990’s, Indigenous music, song and dance are powerful tools of protest. The current national conversation surrounding Indigenous affairs and recent wave of new generation artists keeping the message and culture alive such as A.B. Original, Baker Boy, Kardajala Kirridarra, Electric Fields and the recent successful reformation tour of Midnight Oil, stalwart supporters of the cause—have made it clear that now is the time for this iconic outfit to renew their involvement in that protest.

Including brand new material in this new, electronica-driven formation, founding members of Yothu Yindi - Witiyana Marika, Stu Kellaway and Kevin Malngay Yunupingu - are joined onstage by former band members and popular Indigenous singer/songwriters. The group also features cabaret artist Kamahi Djordon King and emerging Yolngu singers, Yirrnga Yunupingu and Yimala Gurruwiwi along with special guest Shane Howard, Emma Donovan and more to be announced.

Rounding out the line-up is multi-instrumentalist and current musical director of Circus Oz, Ania Reynolds, Stu Kellaway's son Roy Kellaway on guitar, along with DJ/producer Gavin Campbell on additional percussion and the Toraiz SP-16 sampler.

This unique, bespoke ensemble has brought the wide appeal of ARIA Hall of Fame inductees Yothu Yindi, reunited with their long time Treaty remix collaborator, Gavin Campbell of production outfit Filthy Lucre, to a diverse array of festivals and events, including Survival Day 2019 concerts (at Parramatta Park and the national ABC TV broadcast at Circular Quay), Strawberry Fields Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, Homeground at Sydney Opera House, NAIDOC Week in Kalgoorlie, Gulf Country Frontier Days Festival, Enmore Theatre and Croxton Bandroom, as well as their memorable performance of Treaty at the Closing Ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Yirramboi means tomorrow in the shared languages of the Boon Wurrung and Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nations. YIRRAMBOI is Melbourne’s premier biennial First Peoples festival celebrating the vibrant living cultures and diverse contemporary practices of First Nations creatives. The full program will be launched in March 2019.