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Coloured Stone was formed in 1978 at a little
community called Kooniba, 50 km west of Ceduna, South Australia.
Over the years they have been based in Katherine, Alice Springs,
Darwin and Townsville.
Awarded the Don Banks Music Award in 1999 for his outstanding
contribution to Australian Music - the first time this award has
ever gone to a rock musician, let alone an indigenous one - Bunna
Rupert Lawrie is the original founding member. From the start
he was the original drummer for the band, but went onto rhythm,
when his brother, Neil left the band over ten years ago. He then
became the lead singer/songwriter and rhythm guitarist.
The band has had many changes in line up over the years. Very
much a family affair members have included Bunna's son, Jason
Scott, playing lead guitar, nephew Duane Lawrie, on drums, with
brother, John John Miller, handling the bass. There have also
been guest appearances from Joseph Williams and Darwin-born Ash
Dargan, who is from the Larrakia Aboriginal Nation, on didjeridu
and percussion.
Constantly touring, Coloured Stone has been a big drawcard at
festivals throughout the country, including the Woodford Folk,
Big Day Out and were headliners at the Laura Cultural Gathering
on Cape York. The band represented Australia at the Commonwealth
Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Coloured Stone has recorded around eight albums and although touring
had begun in 1978, the band didn't start recording until 1983.
The most exciting album the band has released is the deeply spiritual
album entitled 'Rhythm Of Nature', which features the haunting
and evocative 'Whale Dreaming'. At a recent gig Bunna Lawrie sat
cross-legged on the stage as he began the Coloured Stone set with
'Mouydjengara', a whale-dreaming song of his people - the Mirning.
Playing what he described as the oldest musical instrument on
the planet - the bundawuthada or gong stone - Bunna created an
eerie, ringing percussion, over which the wailing lead guitar
feedback simulated the song of the whale.
The haunting piece is just one of several tradition-based songs,
which feature on the album, 'Rhythm of Nature'. Despite many earlier
compositions dealing with Aboriginal issues, this is the first
time the band has reached extensively into its rich cultural heritage.
Most of the tracks on the compilation CD, 'Bunna Lawrie's Best
of Coloured Stone', should be familiar. Classic tunes like - 'Dancing
in the Moonlight', 'Black Boy' and 'Love is a Medicine', while
country-flavoured songs, including 'Stay Young', hark back to
the band's early days.
Like 'Rhythm of Nature', 'Best of Coloured Stone' is out through
CAAMA Music and is a compilation of tracks from previous albums
'Kooniba Rock', 'Island of Greed', 'Wild Desert Rose', 'Human
Love' (winner 1986 ARIA award), 'Crazy Mind' and 'Imaj'. According
to Bunna Lawrie, "there are some really good favourite songs
on there." I couldn't agree more!
More on Coloured Stone, check out http://mujik.com/mujik/colour
Peter Dawson
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