2024 Garrmalang Festival program announced

Geoffrey Williams reports

Darwin’s Dry Season cultural calendar kicks off with the release of Garrmalang (the Larrakia name for Darwin City) Festival’s program. Garrmalang’s Creative Director, Ben Graetz, who returns to the helm for 2024, said, “Having been involved with the Festival since 2014, I am so proud seeing the event grow and build over the years and support so many local and national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers, artists and community members.”

ELECTRIC FIELDS and THE DARWIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

In a world first, multi award-winning electronic music duo Electric Fields will join the Darwin Symphony Orchestra (DSO) in a debut collaboration that will see the original music of Electric Fields’ Zaachariaha Fielding and Michael Ross amplified by the full might of the DSO. Under the baton of Resident Conductor Stephen Pevely, DSO will perform moving song cycles of Electric Fields’ work arranged for the orchestra by Alex Hurley, with supporting vocals from Belle Bangard, Alyson Joyce, and the Antara Singers.

Electric Fields’ Zaachariaha Fielding said, “I love going back to Larrakia Country … all our shows have been wonderful, and the energy is always new. Darwin has real sexy rock and roll vibe, like Tina Turner.” DSO General Manager Kate Stephens said, “We are delighted to take the stage with iconic duo Electric Fields as part of Garrmalang Festival. Hot on the heels of their appearance at Eurovision, this performance will be full of energy, and I know audiences will be transported by this special collaboration. I can’t wait to see everyone up and dancing.”

When: Fri 24 May @ 8pm

GARY LANG NT DANCE COMPANY'S THE OTHER SIDE OF ME

After premiering at the 2023 Darwin Festival, Gary Lang's NT Dance Company returns with this powerful and moving pas de deux. The Other Side of Me shares the tragedy of Stolen Generations through the heartbreaking story of one man stranded between two families, continents and cultures. Achingly intimate, it confronts the destruction wrought by Motherland and colony still felt by First Nations people but offers the redemptive beauty of singing his spirit home.

When: Wed 22 and Thu 23 May @ 7pm

BIG BLAK DOT COMEDY SPECTACULAR

Wrapping up the Festival is everyone’s favourite Blak comedy variety show! Join us as we honour and pay tribute to Warramungu warrior and original Deadly Darwin comedian Kumanjai Lewis. Actor, writer and poet – Steven Oliver of ABC’s Deadly Comedy – will host legendary Deadly Darwin comedians, and special guests.

When: Sat 25 May @ 2pm

DAMANG – GARRMALANG FESTIVAL CLUB

Dance the night away at the official Electric Fields + DSO after-party! 'Damang' is the Larrakia word for ‘midnight’, so brace yourself for the pinnacle of Garrmalang Festival’s nightlife, curated by the sensational Larrakia Diva Mikayla Lee, alongside the dynamic duo BENNYGOLD (Ben Graetz) and Kuya James (James Mangohig).

When: Fri 24 May @ 9pm 

The 2024 Garrmalang Festival. Wednesday 22 to Saturday 25 May 2024 at The Darwin Entertainment Centre. For tickets and more information, visit: https://www.yourcentre.com.au/#!/events

You can read Geoffrey Williams’ review of the opening night of the NT Dance Company’s The Other Side of Me as part of Darwin Festival here: https://www.stagewhispers.com.au/reviews/other-side-me

Image: Zaachariaha Fielding (right) and Michael Ross of Electric Fields (supplied).