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Transglobal Underground live @ Eureka 150 Festival, Ballarat Victoria
During the Victorian goldrush the towns that sprung up were a
melting pot of cultures from many countries, and like Ballarat
still show evidence of this diversity. The miner's revolt against
unfair taxes in 1854 at Eureka left a legacy of freedom, social
democracy and cultural diversity.
Echoes of Freedom was the first world music festival to celebrate
the Eureka Stockade, and was held from 2nd to 5th December in
Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Organised by the Victorian government,
with a program which reflected the diversity and strong, independent
cultural voices on which democracy is built, it may become an
annual event.
Global groovemeisters, Trans-Global Underground were just one
of the overseas acts booked. The band had everyone up dancing
right from the off with its fusion of exotic melodies and inter-galactic
rhythms. I spoke with TGU founder member Tim Whelan.
"This is our third tour of Australia. We played the Sydney
Hemispheres Festival in 2000, along with former lead singer Natacha
Atlas. We still work with her from time to time. The group was
formed in London, and started off making dance records. But it
came out sounding completely different. The current line-up has
all British born players from several backgrounds including Indian,
Kenyan, Guyanise and English. Our most noticeable CD, as far as
Australia is concerned is 'Backpacking On The Graves Of Our Ancestors'."
"The new album is called 'Impossible Broadcasting', recorded
in London and Paris and which brought in recordings from elsewhere,
including some amazing vocalists from Bulgaria (Trio Bulgarka)
and a hip-hop crew from Mali. I've got 4 or 5 favourite tracks.
First track ‘The Khaleegi Stomp’ I'm particularly
fond of. You can get a good idea of what Sheema can do on the
sitar. She's probably the most proficient musician in the group
and the best-known British-born Indian sitar player. 'The Sikhman
and The Rasta' is a song we talked about writing for years. Both
of the tracks show where the group's going at the moment. 'Cikan-Me
Message' is the one we did with Tata Pound. They are a rap group
who are enormous in Mali."
"Trans-Global Underground has developed into a semi-living
organism. We've toured a lot. Some of the interesting ones have
been Mexico, this year, and previously Hungary, Poland, Singapore
and India. "
Other international acts included superb South African jazz trumpeter
Hugh Masekela who worked the crowd with humour and musical majesty
like the master blaster he is.
More superb and funky sets came from New Zealand traditional Polynesian
group Te Vaka, Canadian fiddler Ashley Mac Isaac and the UK's
Jason Yarde who was joined by didj-man Mark Atkins. Papua New
Guinea icon Telek was accompanied by David Bridie and Yothu Yindi’s
Ben Hakalitz in some fine string-band music.
Jimmy Little opened the festival with a free concert on Thursday
2nd and wowed the audience on Saturday in the grand marquee. Like
many of the performers Little was commissioned to compose a piece
to commemorate the anniversary. He enlisted the help of his grandson
James Henry, who joined Little onstage for their poignant rendition
of ‘Eureka’.
Aussie artists also included Yothu Yindi, who sounded fresh after
a long break and Paul Kelly, who delivered a polished set, including
a duet with Kev Carmody on the classic ‘From Little Things’.
Ennio Morricone Experience, Kavisha Mazella, La Voce Della Luna,
Deborah Conway and Kev Carmody all performed well, proving Australia
not only produces diverse music from many ethnic backgrounds,
but can cut it with the world’s best. Shane Howard, leader
of the legendary Goanna band and a direct descendant of one of
the miners at the Eureka Stockade, was a crowd favourite and is
surely one of our finest songwriters. Strong Echoes of
Freedom at EUREKA 150
By Peter Dawson
It was a warm and sunny weekend in Ballarat for the event organised
by Dept of Premier and Cabinet. In the evenings the symbol of
Eureka, the Southern Cross hung over the marquees of the Echoes
of Freedom Festival in the Botanic Gardens, where a gathering
of the finest musicians from Australia and the World entertained
and educated and audience of young and old.
Many of the artists were commissioned to write songs to commemorate
the 150th anniversary of the Eureka Stockade, although the theme
'Rebel Song' by Shane Howard had been composed over 30 years ago.
It relates to the part his great-great-grandfather played as a
miner at Eureka. Howard's set on Saturday was poignant and political.
He dedicated a song to Terry Hicks, father of David the imprisoned
Australian Muslim in Cuba. Hicks, also a miner's descendant, had
caused controversy when he had been invited to the dawn march.
A large proportion of the performers was aboriginal, foremost
among them being Jimmy Little, who sang his own heritage story
in 'Yorta Yorta Man'. His grandson James Henry joined him onstage
to perform the new song 'Eureka', which they had premiered at
the opening night free concert on Thursday. Kev Carmody regaled
the large crowd with his passionate tales of indigenous spirituality,
plight of refugees and environmental destruction in the name of
corporate greed. The songs, mainly from his latest album 'Mirrors'
moved the crowd to cheers. Carmody joined fellow songwriter Paul
Kelly onstage the following night to sing 'From Little Things
Big Things Grow'. Kelly expressed the hope that "this event
is the start of a tradition, it's a really good thing."
The struggle for democracy and freedom from oppression was reflected
in the music of Bomba, who had the youngsters dancing in the heat
of the afternoon. Similarly the Dili Allstars had them reggaeing
in the isles, while Kavisha Mazzella, La Voce Della Luna and Sweet
Mona's Choir encouraged people to sing stirring numbers from Africa
and the Americas.
Dancemeisters Transglobal Underground played the last set on Saturday
and again on Sunday to a writhing mass of bodies dancing to their
blend of Afro-Bhangra beats, Rap and sitar.
Yothu Yindi pulled a capacity audience to hear their familiar
tunes, including 'Djamana' and 'Treaty'. 'Tribal Voice' was dedicated
to "the traditional landowners." Sounding fresh after
an extended layoff from touring, the band was at full strength
and included vibrant yidaki and bilma players and dancers. Cal
Williams was back on guitar, with Stu Kellaway on bass, Matt Cunliffe
on keyboards and drummer Ben Hakalitz laying down the rhythm for
Mandawuy Yunapingu's joyous vocal presence.
Hugh Masekela was the crowd favourite and majestic headliner.
This lion of a man had been exiled from his homeland South Africa
for almost three decades. His very funny anecdotes and feisty
performance had everyone dancing and singing along. His classic
'Coal Train' drew a standing ovation for its intensity and feeling.
Surely this event should become an annual festival celebrating
the Central Victoria's cultural diversity and the Goldfields'
exciting history.Peter Dawson
indidj@mujik.com
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