PLAYWAVE CREATIVE REVIEW: KLUB KOORI

July 23, 2018

Klub Koori
Reviewed by Nicole Pingon

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been willing to spend my money on live music. Whether it’s a band you love, a free event in a park, or an event that simply looks cool, sometimes we all just crave a good, sweaty boogie. There's truly nothing better than sharing an ephemeral moment, with good tunes; friends and strangers alike.

Klub Koori is an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, music and culture, born out of an ongoing collaboration with Gadigal Information Services First Nations radio station, Koori Radio 97.3FM, and Carriageworks in Redfern.

Klub Koori is one of the many NAIDOC Week events held across Australia to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This years theme, Because Of Her, We Can!, celebrates the essential role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have played, and continue to play as role models today.

MC’s Honey Piri and Lynda June Coe, with Welcome to Country from Aunty Annie brought an empowering female energy into the space. They set the night as a celebration of the women who have fought, and continue to fight for justice, equality, rights, and opportunity to celebrate the culture, language, music and art of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

There was something really special about this event. Klub Koori had such a lively energy, and undeniable community atmosphere that left me unexplainably empowered. Bringing together some incredible Indigenous artists, performers and influencers from all over Australia – a magical night was born. With a mix of artists, genres and styles – Klub Koori brought a range of sounds to satisfy the ears of many generations.

Chloe Grant-King and Kakira Brennan eased the audience into this exciting evening with their mellow tones and hard-hitting lyrics. Both artists are from Young, Black and Deadly, a youth program run by Gadigal Information Service Aboriginal Corporation. Triple J Unearthed rapper Dwayne Broome, moved us into hip-hop territory, followed by Melbourne’s upcomer, Kaiit - an absolute treasure - who brought her uniquely Australian fusion of jazz and neo-soul right to our bones.

It is headliner, Electric Fields that gets the dance floor groovin’ with their fusion of traditional sounds, electro-pop and soul into trance-inducing melodies. Just back from their international tour, Electric Fields are an iconic duo whose epic performance must continue to be shared with the world.

I feel so lucky to have been there to experience this celebration; it was truly something magical. Kaiit’s utter thrill that because of art and music we meet, really resonated with me as a reminder of how important art really is. It was such an incredible celebration of togetherness and community that left me feeling so inspired and I can’t wait to see what’s next for everyone involved.

KLUB KOORI
Carriageworks
14 July