The Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre is well known for engaging the community, and welcomes the return of NaranaFEST – a family friendly festival showcasing Indigenous culture, music and art. Forté have put together a bit of a guide for those who want to see what it’s all about.
How to get there
Located on Torquay Road in Grovedale, there are a few option to take you on your travels. If you are coming from Geelong, a short road trip down the surfcoast highway or catching a bus is your best bet, with a bus stop located about 30 metres from the centre. There is on-site parking available, but this is limited.
For those travelling from out of town and don’t fancy the drive, V/Line is a pretty convenient option, with Marshall Station just down the road. Visit the website to find out information on departure times.
What’s on?
NaranaFest’s hand-picked line-up features some of Australia’s brightest rising stars and will once again traverse some eclectic, genre spanning territory including rock, blues and boots, hip hop and everything else.
Narana’s Boomerang stage will host the likes of headlining hip hop artists A.B. Original (Briggs & Trials), Gawurra, Leah Flanagan, Yirrmal, Karl S. Williams, Benny Walker, Emily Wurramara, The New Savages and Deadly Duo. Everyone is encouraged to bring deckchairs and picnic rugs to relax while enjoying the sights and sounds of these talented artists.
Traditional Cultural dance performances returns with crowd favourites One Connexion, as well as well-known group True Culture. Both groups are sure to get festival goers up and moving with their interactive and highly engaging performances.
There will also be a major Art exhibition in the Gallery, Songlines on the Big screen, arts and crafts activities for kids, food trucks, market stalls, and Café Narana will be serving up its popular Festival menu with Indigenous flavours.
Forte’s Picks
Gawurra
Stanley Gawurra Gaykamangu is a Yolngu performer hailing from Arnhem Land. Singing in the Gupapuyngu language, Gawurra’s deeply resonant voice and musical sensitivity has captivated his audiences through his blend of traditional and contemporary songs. His debut album Ratja Yaliyali landed him awards for Album of the Year and New Talent of the Year at the 2016 National Indigenous Music Awards.
Leah Flanagan
Leah is a singer-songwriter (and sometime saltwater ukulele whisperer) from Darwin, with Italian, Aboriginal and Irish heritage. As well as a solo career, she has also toured with the Black Arm Band and performed with John Cale, Ricki-Lee Jones, Sinead O’Connor, Gurrumul and Dan Sulton. Leah’s smokey voice is given full flight with her intuitive backing band from the Sydney music scene.
Emily Wurramara
A prolific song-writer and multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, piano and ukulele, Emily has been writing songs since she was six. Emily sings in both English and Anindilyakwa, the traditional language of her home on Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory. She has become a seasoned performer who has taken her music around the country and abroad with show and festival appearances in Sweden and France.
Playing Times
When & Where: NaranaFest @ Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Grovedale – November 5
For more information visit the website.
