Dear Powdies

No, not another book.  Peter Garrett was on the ABC's "Message Stick" program just now (6.30pm Friday night), talking about indigenous music with a panel that also included Casey Donovan (2004 Aus Idol winner) and the lead singer of "Coloured Stone".

In response to a question about getting indigenous music out there, he delved into the Warumpi Band tour in '86, saying that it had affected the Oils, and given them a connection with the land (NB - writer Phillip Adams has likewise interviewed hundreds of people, and is struck by Australians nearly always defining "Australian-ness" by 
the land) by giving them a taste of indigenous Australians' struggles.

He was optimistic about the future of Oz indigenous music, because you can go to any town and there's indigenous Australian kids making music, whether with a turntable, or guitar and drums, putting material out there, and it only has to be put out in a wider public forum.  He also mentioned that black and white musicians are being affected by a global squeeze on record companies, but through community music in particular, they can step over in other forms of music, to keep the dream alive.

Casey Donovan mentioned that there's heaps of "dream-killers" out there, but she finds it delightful to teach kids how music, such as by teaching them mixing. 

At the end PGa was asked for his fave indigenous song - he chose "Treaty" because of Yothu Yindi's and Paul Kelly's involvement (he mentioned that he was also "at the backend of that"), and it was just out there in the public arena, and because it made people think.

Bunna Lawrie from Coloured Stone chose his band's song "Black Boy" 'cos it bumped Michael Jackson's "Thriller" from the top of the pops! (and "Treaty").

Go Aunty! (the ABC) See the video/transcript:

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/messagestick/stories/s2564441.htm

Back to the law books,

t