Published 29 May, 2020

This Saturday Songlines Aboriginal Music will be running a beautiful Reconciliation Week live streaming concert featuring Mutti Mutti, Yorta Yorta  legend  Kutcha Edwards, powerful song woman Maylene Slater-Burns, Yidaki , Dance and Visual Artists Culture Evolves,  alongside emerging talents, songwriter Maddie Colville and hip hop artist Bricky B.  These artists will be streaming from across the state, a number of them from on country of which they have direct connection to.  

This will  be a powerful  showcase  that will provide audiences a special opportunity to connect to the works of First Peoples song keepers with bloodline and family connections to this part of country through the powerful story, healing and messages that First Peoples artists provide so beautifully and diligently throughout the seasons as much as now. 

VMDO First Peoples spoke with a few of the artists about this event and what it means for them to perform at this time of the year.  

Young Echuca based Artists Madi Coliville said,

“Having the opportunity to be a part of Songlines is something that I will always be grateful for. Reconciliation to me means bringing people together to share history, stories and cultures; I feel this years theme.”

“We’re All In This Together” fits particularly well with Covid-19. As a proud Yorta Yorta Winyarr (Woman) I feel honoured and privileged that I can share my stories through my songwriting.” 

Bricky B, a Yorta Yorta artist based in Shepparton said,

“As a First Nation artist to be on an all First Nation Line up on reconciliation week with this event  with Song Lines is an empowering feeling.  Connecting to culture through songs  and story telling is something special and to exposes our truths to try open up closed minds. Even if we open up one closed mind through this event that’s a start and we will  have made a difference.” 

Interdisciplinary Artist Brent Watkins aka Culture Evolves of the Gunai Kurnai and Yamatji people also expressed this common theme of the feelings of being apart of this special event, stating,

“Its an honour for Song lines to give me a platform to perform and share my views.  However he did also have some strong words of truth telling that give one a moment to pause to reflect in stating “ There is no reconciliation while they are mining, tearing down ancient forest, rapping the land our culture, until they give the land back or start paying the rent there can't be reconciliation” . 

Supported by the City of Melbourne, this free special event is taking place on Saturday 30 May,
from 6pm - 8.15pm.

More information:
www.facebook.com/events/614290672521803/

VMDO First Peoples acknowledges that Sovereignty was not ceded upon the lands where these performances shall be broadcast from and we acknowledge the continued importance of song keepers across the lands of all these lands of First Nations of this land and their critical role within communities and broader society.