IERAMAGADU ARTISTS GO ON TOUR

The Freedom Collective on stage performing. Credit: Big hART

Ieramagadu, Roebourne artists working with arts and social change organisation Big hART will head on tour this week to perform concerts around Australia. 

As ‘The Freedom Collective’, artists from Ieramugadu will present Songs For Freedom and travel to Nipaluna, Hobart and Boorloo, Perth, with more dates to be announced soon.

Yamatji man Fred Ryan, who wrote and sang the first song released, Songs Of Freedom, explained to Ngaarda Media what it was about. 

‘‘It’s about bringing us together the idea of it is trying to get us to sing a song that is inclusive of everybody’’ he said.

‘‘I did make reference to the national anthem in this song and my message behind that is as a nation we talk about coming together and walking as one.

“There was a big effort put into one song. That’s probably the most divisive song in the country. Where do we come together as one nation and sing one song? And that’s the emphasis of Songs Of Freedom.’’

Ngarluma man Patrick Churnside said there are important messages in the songs.

‘‘It’s about key messages that may be relevant today. We’re failing kids in our jail systems. The justice system is not working for our youth and simply we need to try and unlock their futures,’’ he said.

‘‘How do we do that? Maybe through the key campaign or body of work such as music arts and culture.”

Songs For Freedom will perform at Mona Foma in nipaluna/Hobart on 23 February and at the Perth Festival in Boorloo/Perth on 5 March.

Watch the full interview with Fred Ryan and Patrick Churnside below.