Our next gig at BackStage Music, Stories of Water and Earth, isn’t too far away! Darwin-based Arafura Music Collective and Sydney mavericks Ensemble Offspring collaborate for the first time in this weaving of cultures, instrumental chamber music, beat poetry and dreaming stories. Featuring an interactive performance by Yuwaalaraay woman Nardi Simpson and a new long form commission from Netenala Mizrahi and Yolngu woman Melanie Munungurr.

North meets south and freshwater meets saltwater when Darwin based Arafura Music Collective and Sydney mavericks Ensemble Offspring collaborate for the very first time. The collaboration also features special guests Yuwaalaraay woman Nardi Simpson and Djapa woman Melanie Mununggurr, in a weaving of cultures, instrumental chamber music, beat poetry and dreaming stories. Stories of Water and Earth combines an interactive performance composed by and featuring Nardi Simpson, evoking dreaming stories, traditional songs, sharing the practises of Yuwaalaraay women’s creative and cultural practice, with a new long form commission from Netanela Mizrahi and Melanie Mununggurr delving into her Yolngu identity, the triumphs and struggles of motherhood, neurodiversity and connections to land and culture.