The Countdown is on to NT’s Barunga Festival 2016 Friday 10th – Sunday 12th June, 2016

Featuring Wildflower from West Arnhem Land, Kardajala kirri-darra (Sand Hill Women), with Eleanor Dixon from Tennant Creek, Courtney Barnett and Jen Cloher, and Justine Clarke

There are just five weeks to go until NT’s premiere music, sport and cultural festival, Barunga, opens its gates and welcomes people from all over the world.

Barunga Festival takes place annually on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend
at Barunga community, 70kms south-east of Katherine on the Central Arnhem Road, in the glorious Territory dry season. This year’s event will kick off from 10am Friday 10th June, concluding midnight on Sunday 12th June 2016. The theme for the festival this year is Celebrating Women.

The 31st annual Barunga Festival will feature a strong line-up of events, activities and local and national performers to showcase the talented and unique women in all of our communities.

Heading up the 2016 performers is Wildflower band, an inspirational group of five young women from Mammadawerre, who perform pop music in Indigenous language. Courtney Barnett will perform each evening with acclaimed singer songwriter Jen Cloher. Best-selling children’s singer, film and TV star, Justine Clarke, will thrill children with her two morning shows.

Barunga combines three very powerful drivers of community participation – Music, Sport and Culture – with a strong emphasis on cultural exchange and collaboration. It offers a unique opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to come together and celebrate remote community life.

Festival-goers can camp under the stars, enjoy everything from Indigenous rock bands to a game of Australian Rules football, or join in a traditional dance ceremony. Barunga Festival is an alcohol and smoke free, family-focused event with a healthy food policy.

Importantly, Barunga Festival supports the development of micro businesses for local Indigenous people, as well as training and employment. Art stalls, tour guiding, didgeridoo making opportunities – the list of small business participation and development grows each year.

BARUNGA 2016: Confirmed performers

Wildflower (Arnhem Land)
Kardajala kirri-darra (Sand Hill Women) feat. Eleanor Dixon (Elliott) B2M (Tiwi Islands)
Courtney Barnett and Jen Cloher

Justine Clarke Serina Pech

In the words of local elder, Margaret Katherine, the culture program is all about “sharing cultural knowledge – the beautiful sites that ancestors walked on, bush berries, medicine plants, herbs, how the sun tells the time, how paper bark is used as a sleeping blanket or a cup. We invite everyone to hear stories about our country”

Tickets on sale now via moshtix.com.au and at the gate during the festival For more information on Barunga Festival 2016: www.barungafestival.com.au