Shepparton Music Week kicked off in the region on Monday, March 7, with an in-conversation on developing music environments on Indigenous land.
The opening night was presented by Yorta Yorta artists Brady Jones (Bricky B) and creative director of Still Here Arts and Culture Neil Morris (DRMNGNOW).
Mr Morris said the event proved a successful opportunity to discuss the significance of building music environments in a way that is considerate to First Nations people and land.
“From my own experiences of growing up here in Shepp, I guess being born in an era where were dealing with severe impacts of assimilation, meant participation of our people in music was limited growing up,” he said.
“We discussed how that’s been changing over time, the factors leading to that and whether that change is happening quick enough, where the change is working and how it interacts with the non-Indigenous community.
“The event itself being in Shepparton is powerful in itself, we’re in an extremely diverse community and that’s something really exciting.
“It started conversations around what it looks like for communities to come together and understand song.
“For thousands of years song has been part of Indigenous law systems, like speeding in a car is part of western systems, when we get our heads around that the law of the land pre-colonisation, people step into a powerful domain of participation and move into that understanding.”
The Monday event started with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony from Wulumbarra, along with performances from DJ Rivity Rascal and Lillie Walker.
Music Victoria regional manager Sarah DeBorre said the opening event was both personal and connected.
“People came from afar, someone from Marysborough and another drove from Geelong specifically for that workshop,” she said.
“It’s a testimony to the programming, Neil Morris, also DRMINGnow, he presented and spoke really eloquently on a topic that is so important and forging a path ahead.”
Shepp Music Week’s program features a range of workshops and live music events scattered across the week.
A panel of organisers discussing festivals and events in regional Victoria is on Wednesday night, along with a Thursday workshop on finding community and creating platforms.
Ms DeBorre said while the whole week would deliver exciting events, Saturday’s workshop and live performance would be a highlight.
“The workshop with Isaiah Firebrace will be a really up close and personal session with the young musician, followed by a free live music event from an incredible line-up of all local Yorta Yorta artists,” she said.
“We’re just hoping to see as many people possible to come out and be a part of it.
“It’s not just for music industry and musicians, but the entire community to come together and enjoy music, enjoy their community.”
The Push All-Ages Tour is coming to the Victoria Park Lake on Friday night as part of the week’s agenda, showcasing local acts of Aprilis, Vince the Kid and Mistykid, among Kaiit and Kian.
View the full Shepparton Music Week program at www.musicvictoria.com.au/shepp-music-week/