'Set Me Free' Album Launch + Yulugi + Meremba Duo

8.30pm Keyna Wilkins and Jalal Mahamede "Set Me Free" Album Launch

"Set Me Free" is an album collaboration between 9 years imprisoned refugee poet-artist Jalal Mahamede and Australian Art Music Award finalist Keyna Wilkins, working via zoom from his prison cell, with many special guests. It is a musical setting of 13 of his poems around themes of justice and freedom. Jalal has been in detention for 9 years.

This has included 6 years on Nauru and 7 months on Christmas Island and he is currently held in a Brisbane detention centre. Doctors Without Borders described conditions in Nauru refugee camps as "beyond desperate", UNHCR described it as "some of the worst conditions seen". Through this immense pain has come an understanding of tragedy, humanity and compassion. His poems are evocative, soulful and beautiful. Jalal is a refugee who has committed no crime, but he remains in limbo, with no time frame, end date or guarantee of release.

This is his story set to music. A book of his illustrated poetry is soon to be published by Tangerine Books.

For more info about Jalal, visit his website and social media pages.

Following will be Yulugi:
Yulugi is a collaboration between leading didgeridoo player and song man Gumaroy Newman, a proud Gamilaroi and Wakka Wakka man and Keyna Wilkins, a British-Australian composer/musician. For this special debut post COVID show, Yulugi will be joined by special guest beatboxer Connor Malanos. Yulugi is a dialogue across cultures, inspired by the Australian landscape and animals. The word 'Yulugi' means play, dance or have fun in Gamilaroi.

The final set will be:
Meremba Duo
"Two sisters' musical worlds: piano songwriting ranging from the epic to the light-hearted with hints of Joanna Newsom, Regina Spektor and Tori Amos; gentle folk melodies on guitar influenced by great storytellers Joni Mitchell, Kate Rusby and Kate Bush. Accordion, piano, violin and guitar create a backdrop for their beautiful vocal harmonies."