BARUNGA BEAUTY
The multi-day, June long weekend celebration that is Barunga Festival returns, yet again delivering on its dedication of putting First Nations culture at the forefront, with some very exciting acts on the bill.
WORDS TIERNEY WHITE
FOUNDED IN 1985 by Peter Apaak Jupurrula Miller, a proud Aboriginal man who has fought for land rights and devoted much of his life to teaching, the Festival was formed through his vision to create a space for all to meet.
40 years later, it’s still going strong, attracting huge crowds to the tiny community of Barunga annually, 80 clicks south-east of Katherine. It offers three huge days of Indigenous music, culture, and sport, making it one of the most anticipated cultural festivals in the country.
Barunga Festival thoughtfully provides a chance to immerse deep in culture, with a range of workshops on offer including weaving, painting, yidaki (didgeridoo) making, a community tour, and storytelling. There’s footy, basketball and baseball, art market stalls, camping, and dance performances, too. Add to this a ripper line-up of musical acts and, well, you’ve got yourself on heck of an experience for the memory bank.
A very exciting addition this year is musical theatre performance Big Name, No Blankets by Ilbijerri Theatre Company, returning to the Territory after selling out shows across the country. Described as a rock ‘n’ roll theatre extravaganza, it tells the story of Warumpi Band, a rock group that formed in 1980 in the remote community of Papunya.
If that wasn’t exciting enough, family and original band members are reuniting at Barunga to see the show.
Suzina McDonald is a Jawoyn/Pitjantjatjara/Warlpiri woman, sister to Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher who formed the band back in the day, and wife of the late George Rrurrambu, who was frontman of the band. Her nephews, Jason and Jeremiah Butcher, Sammy’s sons, also later joined the band. She says the music was passed on through culture.
“My two nephews came on when their father got old. But you know, they don’t need the paper or anything, they don’t need no instructions or teaching lessons, because they already know. It’s just all in their head, the music line goes through the blood,” she says.
After seeing the show on Larrakia Country at the 2024 Darwin Festival, she says she’s excited to see it with the family in Barunga.
“I was there in Darwin, it was really, really great. It really shook the body – everybody – I was by myself sitting on the walker, everybody dancing away,” she laughs.
“Family reunion as well, for me … I’ll be happy to see my brother this time. All my grandsons coming from the south, from the north, then join in together and we walking and laughing.”
Also featuring in the line-up is singer-songwriter Thelma Plum, hip hop brutha bois J-Milla and Yung Milla, North East Arnhem Land band East Journey, – iconic ceremony leader and songman from Arnhem Land Ngulmiya Nundhirribala, Yolŋgu Songman Rrawun Maymuru, emerging female rapper Kootsie Don, and Yilila with their high energy tunes and displays of colourful traditional Red Flag dancing. So much good stuff.
Pack your swags and tents, and hit the road to Barunga. It’s a beauty.
Barunga Festival
WHEN FRI 6 – MON 9 JUN
AT BARUNGA COMMUNITY
COST $58-$364
INFO barungafestival.com.au
Header: Red Flag Dancers from Numbulwar
Inset: Big Name, No Blankets. Photo: James Henry
