Spinifex Gum

Spinifex Gum description

Since its stunning premiere at the 2018 Adelaide Festival, Spinifex Gum has disarmed and uplifted audiences across Australia, bringing together the lush vocals of Marliya, the music of Felix Riebl and Ollie McGill (The Cat Empire) and the choreography of Deborah Brown.

In this fully orchestrated version, the artists of Spinifex Gum will be joined by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and powerhouse singer-songwriter Emma Donovan as Adelaide Festival’s free opening night concert returns to Elder Park.

A Cairns-based choir of talented young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls, Marliya is the beating heart of Spinifex Gum. Under Lyn Williams AM (Gondwana Choirs), their vibrant voices blend stunning harmonies with a joyous pop-choir sound, singing in both English and Yindjibarndi to speak to important social and cultural issues with passion and exuberance.

This unique show confronts some of the most hard-hitting issues of our time, while emphasising the importance of empowerment and recognising what can be achieved when we come together as one.

The concert will open with the premiere performance of the Citizens’ Orchestra. Under the artistic direction of Airan Berg, and the musical direction of Tim Steiner and Ricardo Baptista, the 2023 ensemble consists of Adelaide Symphony Orchestra musicians, local South Australian artists, Quirkestra (Tutti Arts), amateur community musicians, and community members who have never before been involved in music. The ensemble has been created through an exciting collaborative & community-centric creative process and innovative participatory workshops. The concert includes first performances of their original collaborative compositions, inspired by South Australian landscapes, communities, and experiences.​

Join with us in celebration and protest under the stars as we open the 2023 Adelaide Festival.

Event times

5pm Gates open
7.30pm Citizens' Orchestra
Interval
8.20pm Greeting to Spirit of Place
8.30pm Spinifex Gum with the ASO

Event additional information

Credits

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Images Mark Gambino

Partners

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