This June, the lush surrounds of Healesville will play host to a deeply moving night of music and storytelling with MEERTA – Rise Up! The Ballad of James Arden, a powerful live performance led by revered singer-songwriter David Arden (Kokatha/Gunditjmara).
Set against the intimate backdrop of The Memo, Healesville, MEERTA is more than just a concert – it’s a musical journey through identity, resilience, injustice, and ultimately, the enduring strength of the Gunditjmara people. A perfect excuse for a winter weekend in the Yarra Valley, this one-night-only event offers audiences the chance to immerse themselves in First Nations stories, culture, and song – all through the transformative power of music.
MEERTA – Rise Up! The Ballad of James Arden
- When: Friday 6 June, 7.30pm
- Where: The Memo Healesville
- Tickets here
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A Deadly Team of Artists and Visual Collaborators
Backed by a deadly lineup of musicians — including Daniel Jauregui (guitar), Ann Metry (bass), Chris Cameron (drums), Jake Amy (keyboard), and horn section legends Jordan Murray and Eugene Ball — Arden’s storytelling gains a rich and textured musical backbone that blends folk, roots, soul and rock.
Meanwhile, visual projections and artwork by Dixon Patten (Gunnai, Yorta Yorta, Gunditjmara, Dhudhuroa) amplify the emotional impact of each song, weaving in stunning visuals that mirror the cultural and historical threads of the performance.
Adding to the magic, a local Healesville choir — who’ve been working with David in the lead-up to the show — will also take to the stage, adding a powerful community voice to the performance.
An Invitation to Rise Up and Learn
With the late Uncle Archie Roach AM once praising David’s musicianship as among the finest in the country, MEERTA promises not just musical brilliance but a heartfelt, humbling experience.
“David has the sweetest rhythms and he has a perfect ear on the guitar,” Uncle Archie Roach once said. “He treats not only his own music with incredible respect, but other people’s music too – and it shows.”
More than just a gig, MEERTA is a call to action — a space to learn, to feel, and to rise up with deeper understanding of the stories that shape this land and its First Peoples.
A Family Legacy Brought to Life Through Music
At the heart of MEERTA is the story of James Arden, David’s great-grandfather – a proud Gunditjmara activist who, in 1916, stood tall against colonial control, fighting for his people’s right to live freely on their own lands. Born on the sacred grounds of Gariwerd, James was taken to Lake Condah and Framlingham missions, where he resisted the control of missionaries and station managers who dictated the lives of Gunditjmara people.
This incredible personal and political legacy is told through David’s original compositions, brought to life by a stellar band of musicians and artists. It’s a tribute not only to James Arden, but to all who’ve walked before – those who’ve fought, survived, and shaped the path forward for future generations.
An Intimate, Warm and Gracious Journey
Described as “an intimate, warm and gracious journey,” MEERTA draws on David’s own lived experience, as well as the strength of the Arden family line and the spirit of his Gunditjmara ancestors. Through soaring melodies, bluesy grooves and heartfelt lyrics, Arden creates a performance that is deeply personal, yet universally resonant.
Audiences will hear songs that speak to themes of identity, urban and tribal life, friendship, repatriation, racism, freedom, and resistance — with every note steeped in lived truth and heartfelt reverence.
Whether you’re a lover of live music, a supporter of First Nations storytelling, or simply looking for something special to experience in the Yarra Valley, MEERTA – Rise Up! The Ballad of James Arden is a night not to be missed.
