Hidden Republic

The Black Arm Band

The 2009 Queensland Music Festival will launch spectacularly into life with the largest concert event to be performed on Thursday Island, webcast live to a big screen in the centre of Brisbane.

Since the stunning national response to murundak in 2006, The Black Arm Band is increasingly sought after on the international stage. Uplifting and confronting, its music renders an intimate portrait of contemporary Indigenous life.

Their second show, Hidden Republic celebrates the dazzling talent of this country’s Indigenous musicians and the undiminished spirit of Aboriginal Australia in songs of hope and identity that reach out to all.

Twenty-five of Australia’s leading singers, songwriters, musicians and performers will be backed by thirty-three members of the Queensland Youth Symphony to create an exhilarating concert in the heart of the Torres Strait.

This free landmark event will be webcast live to Brisbane Square, located at the top of Queen Street Mall.

FEATURING DAVID ARDEN, MARK ATKINS, LOU BENNETT, SALLY DASTEY, EMMA DONOVAN, KUTCHA EDWARDS, BEVAN GABANBULU, SHANE HOWARD, RUBY HUNTER, BUNNA LAWRIE, JIMMY LITTLE, RACHAEL MAZA LONG, SHELLIE MORRIS, ARCHIE ROACH, AMY SAUNDERS, DAN SULTAN, AND URSULA YOVICH.

“To smile, to laugh, to shed a tear, to dream, to be challenged, to hope, to be inspired. What more could one want from a night out.” – Arts Hub

Hidden Republic was developed with support from the City of Melbourne, Arts Victoria, the Melbourne International Arts Festival and the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, it's arts funding and advisory body through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board and the Music Board, and is presented with support from the Community Parternships Section. Developed and Produced by Arts House, a City of Melbourne contemporary arts initiative.

Hidden Republic has as received financial assistance from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Blueprint for the Bush, Q150 and the Department of Communities.

This project is supported by the Australia Council, the Australian Government’s arts funding and advisory body, through its Community Partnerships Section.

Presented by Queensland Music Festival, Queensland Government, Torres Shire Council, Torres Strait Island Regional Council and Brisbane City Council.