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Big year ahead for Black Rock Band

07 February 2018

With their new single out, a second on the way and an upcoming album set to be released, 2018 is shaping up to be a big year for Jabiru’s very own Black Rock Band. 
The group, Richie Guymala, Romeo Redford, Graham Rostron, Darius Cameron, Dillon Guymala, Selone Djandjomerr, Kimberley Namarnyilk, Alfie Naborlhborlh, and John Anderson, first came together through their work with Children’s Ground, working to support the learning, wellbeing and development of children in their community.  
Black Rock Band draws on deep musical family history as they incorporate traditional and contemporary sounds with a steady rock style, singing in both Kunwinjku and English. Their songs are a celebration of culture, connection to country, the fight for social justice and the future they want to create for the next generation of children.
In 2016 Andy Baldwin (Rola Pola Studios, USA) witnessed the band’s first performance at Barunga Festival and was so impressed he offered to record their first song ‘Bininj Kunborrk’.
The band’s popularity has been soaring to new heights ever since and they are steaming ahead having recently signed with Wantok Musik and released their first single and incredible film clip, filmed on country in West Arnhem Land by Sam Frederick. 
The group has also just returned home to Jabiru after a big few weeks of travel around Australia. The band travelled to Tasmania to perform in the MONA FOMA Festival in Hobart after being hand-picked by festival curator, Brian Ritchie (Violent Femmes), who worked with the band last year at Bush Bands Bash in Alice Springs. Overall, they played three gigs, including one on the MONA main stage, to great crowds with plenty of energy.

As the band’s first time to Tasmania, Black Rock Band lead vocalist, Richie Guymala, described the trip as “a little overwhelming”, as well as “very cold!”
“It was great sharing our music and to get our messages out. We got a lot of great feedback,” he said, adding that the Black Rock Band was also invited to return to Tasmania to perform at the Putalina Indigenous Festival at Oyster Cove next year.
They also ventured to Alice Springs to run music workshops as part of a holiday program with Arrernte children and families. They worked alongside Torres Strait Islander artist, Mau Power, culminating in a community performance night on January 26.
Richie said the trip was a great step forward for the band and they are looking forward to doing more travelling interstate and even overseas in the future.
He also added that, “It is always good to come home”.
There is no slowing down for the Black Rock Band, with the members keeping busy, currently working on a film clip for the next single release off their upcoming album and touring to Western Australia to perform at the Nannup Music Festival in March.
In their brief down time, Ritchie said it is great being back in Jabiru, spending time with family and friends and enjoying the wet season.

Black Rock Band encourages everyone to check out their latest single available for download via bandcamp and to keep up with the latest news you can follow them on Facebook.