Darwin Festival organisers have revealed their first artist announcement for this year’s edition, which is set to run from Thursday, 4th to Sunday, 21st August.
Announced so far are British singer-songwriter Arlo Parks as part of her first ever Australian tour. She’ll be performing songs from her acclaimed, Mercury Prize-winning debut album, last year’s Collapsed in Sunbeams, on Sunday, 7th August. Other acts on the bill include Brisbane party-starters Confidence Man, fresh from releasing latest record Tilt, who’ll be performing Friday, 18th August.
Elsewhere, this year’s Darwin Festival has a strong focus on First Nations music and art. Opening the festival on Thursday, 4th August, will be Buŋgul, a celebration of Gurrumul‘s posthumous 2018 album Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow). Created on country in North East Arnhem Land with the Yunupiŋu family’s involvement, the free, open-air event at Darwin Amphitheatre will feature live performance by Yolŋu dancers, songmen and the Darwin Symphony Orchestra.
Also taking place as part of this year’s Darwin Festival is the National Indigenous Music Awards, which will at long last return to an in-person format on Saturday, 6th August. It boasts a huge live performance lineup that includes Thelma Plum and King Stingray, with more to be announced.
“This is just the first taste of the hot August nights to come and it’s going to get hotter yet, with our full program launching in June,” says Darwin Festival’s Artistic Director Felix Preval. “We are thrilled to invite international acts back into the Festival this year, playing alongside some of the best Australian and Northern Territory talent. We’ve prepared a huge program with pressing themes as well as nights of pure abandon.”
For more information on this year’s Darwin Festival and its first lineup announcement, head to the festival’s website here.
