A special concert featuring five outstanding Aboriginal musicians is being held at the Alice Springs Convention Centre on 17 October . The Around the Campfire concert will include performances by Central Australian musicians Jacinta Price, Warren H. Williams and Tjintu Desert Band, as well as Adelaide rap artist Caper and APY Lands band Iwantja.
The aim of the concert is to raise awareness and funds for programs that are committed to closing the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.
‘Closing the Gap’ refers to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) and the gap between the global ranking of Australia as a country and that of Indigenous Australia. Australia is ranked 2nd in the world, however Indigenous Australia on their own ranks equivalent to the 122nd country in the world, ranking lower than Thailand, Bolivia and Botswana. One of the components of the UN HDI is life expectancy at birth. An East Kimberly indigenous man currently has a life expectancy of 46 years. Also currently 1 in 5 children in remote Indigenous communities in Australia is achieving the minimum NAPLAN standard.
The concerts also hope to inspire all Australians to be proud of their Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures by showcasing these inspiration role models and their music. Alice Springs will be the first Around the Campfire concert, with the details of an Adelaide concert in January 2015 released soon. There will be many more to follow in other locations over the next few years.
Tickets are $25. Visit www.oztix.com.au
6pm – Doors open
7pm – Iwantja
7.35pm – Born to Run Foundation presentation
7.50pm – Jacinta Price
8.25pm – The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation
8.40pm – Caper
9.15pm – WillPOWER (Port Adelaide Football Club)
9.30pm – Warren H Williams
10.15pm – The Fred Hollows Indigenous Australia program
10.30pm – Tjintu Desert Band
11.15pm – Finish
CAAMA Music, Australia’s first Aboriginal record label, has been supporting Australian indigenous musicians for over thirty years. Read more here.
