Shellie Morris & Troy Jungaji Brady

Gugu Miliyawutj - Where the Saltwater Meets the Freshwater

Shellie Morris and Troy Jungaji Brady are steeped in the cultural ways of this country. The international touring artists come together to present a show that has been in the making for 60,000 years with languages of the First Nations people of Australia sung loudly across the east coast.

One of Australia’s favourite and celebrated female vocalists, Shellie Morris has spent the past 25 years creating and engaging in music as a healing tool.  She imparts the importance of having a voice and that each individual is important.  Shellie sings in more than 17 Aboriginal languages, many considered sleeping, is a community role model, NT Australian of the Year and NAIDOC Artist of the Year.  While she has been in the spotlight over the years for her involvement with Black Arm Band, Deadly awards, ARIA nominations, Music Australia award, NAIDOC Award, G.R. Burarrawanga Memorial Award and Australian of the Year award; by and large, she works on the ground empowering and gently effecting change. 

Troy Jungaji Brady sings in the language of his freshwater people, the GuGu Yelanji of Far North Queensland, connecting his bloodline and keeping cultural fires burning. The Western GuGu Yelanji and Birri Gubba songman shares his stories of country, love and law in language and through contemporary folk/roots music. Currently touring as a feature artist with Black Arm Band as well as performing as a solo artist, Troy is a consummate performer. Forging a career over 20 years, he has led a number of bands before hitting out on his own, his current music exploring more of his language and connection to the country of his ancestors north of Cairns and west of Proserpine.

These contemporary artists bring voice and belonging to ancient stories reimagined for today’s world. Where the freshwater meets the saltwater, these two song people sing up for joy, laughter and a reminder that this country has a long history and many tales.

Shellie Morris is of the Yanyuwa and Wardaman in the Northern Territory, connecting to the Yolngu people through blood ties, thus able to use the Yolgnu Matha word for where the freshwater meets the saltwater, Miliyawutj. Troy is from the GuGu Yelanji nation of the south west Cape York region of Queensland on his father's side a descendent of the Kawanji clan group, sunset Bama (Aboriginal people). On his mother's side, his blood ties are to the Birri Gubba (Gia) peoples.

Saturday 19th August 2017 - 8:00pm
Tickets: $40
Phone orders call Country Leather, Milton 4455 3056