- New Storytelling Night by Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language and Culture Centre
- New Art in the Park
- New Waringarri Arts Centre Experience
- Corroboree Under The Stars
- Deadly Awards winning comedian Kevin Kropinyera at Comedy in the Park
- Aviair HeliSpirit Kimberley Moon Experience headlined by Indigenous superstars Jessica Mauboy and Emily Wurramara along with Torres Strait Islander Jeremy Marou of Busby Marou
- The 20th anniversary of the Ord Valley Muster, held 21 - 29 May featuring 30 events across nine exciting days in Kununurra
The 20th anniversary of the Ord Valley Muster, held in Kununurra, the beating heart of the East Kimberley from 21 to 29 May 2021, is the perfect festival to become inspired by Indigenous culture.
New to the ‘Muster’ program this year is Storytelling Night on Thursday 27 May by the Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language and Culture Centre (MDWg) where the ancient art of communication and the story of storytelling will be shared. After an introduction to your storyteller and the Miriwoong Country, there’ll be tales of the station days, the passing on of tradition, a dance performance and a little Miriwoong language lesson.
The land of the Miriwoong and Gajirrabeng people covers a wide area with Kununurra at the heart of Miriwoong country. It stretches from Molly Spring in the west, most of the mighty Ord River including parts of Lake Argyle and up beyond the Northern Territory border across Keep River National Park and to the coast.
Ord Valley Events chairman Beau Robinson said the Board was excited about the new Storytelling Night.
“Intergenerational learning through storytelling forms a significant part of our culture and by sharing this as part of our program, we anticipate the experience will be something special,” Mr Robinson said.
The power of a traditional Corroboree by the Miriwoong Gajeroong people is showcased at Corroboree Under the Stars at the Waringarri Arts Centre. This Muster favourite is already sold out and those lucky enough to have tickets will be treated to local Indigenous culture and an art showcase along with a traditional tucker. For those without tickets, the good news is that Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language and Culture Centre and Waringarri Arts Centre are open to visitors at other times.
Art is an important aspect of local culture. Art in the Park is an exclusively curated exhibition under the stars held on Monday 24 May at the Muster Hub which will be transformed into an open-air gallery on the banks of Lake Kununurra, shining a spotlight on Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists from the region. Meander through the park, wine glass in hand and discover arts, photography and more.
The lucky ones with tickets to the sold out Warangarri Art Centre Experience will join local artists, tour the art centre and gain inspiration from local textile artists as they are guided during the printing of their own complimentary carry bag. The experience ends with chatting with artists over morning tea and fresh damper. For those who missed out, the Warangarri Arts Centre is open to visitors Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings.
The Ord Valley Muster’s hallmark event, the Aviair HeliSpirit Kimberley Moon Experience on Saturday 22 May, features Indigenous superstar singer-songwriter, Jessica Mauboy, who has performed for the likes of Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres and former US president Barak Obama. Mauboy has scooped up a swag of ARIA awards, hit singles, Platimum selling albums as well as awards as an actress since she first shot to fame in 2006. She made history as the first non-European solo artist to represent Australia at EuroVision in 2018. Mauboy’s album, HILDA debuted at Number 1 on the ARIA charts and is her most personal album to date.
Joining Mauboy is Queenslander Tom Busby and Torres Strait Islander Jeremy Marou, known as Busby Marou, who have been playing music together for over a decade and hold a reputation as one of Australia’s hardest working live bands best known for their distinctly Australian storytelling and gifted musicianship that’s intertwined with vocal interplay of two lifelong mates.
Busby Marou’s success includes millions of global streams, top 20 airplay and four ARIA charting albums. Busby Marou’s self-titled album is certified ARIA Gold, while their most recent album The Great Divide and Farewell Fitzroy debuted in the Top 5 on the ARIA album charts, and Postcards From The Shell House was Busby Marou’s first ARIA #1 album.
Supporting Mauboy and Busby Marou at the ‘Moon’ is Emily Wurramara, originally from Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory. Growing up, Emily loved hearing her uncles sing, but also realised that women from her community rarely sang in public. Wanting to inspire and empower members of her community, especially young Indigenous women, to find their voice, Emily embarked on a musical journey that has touched the hearts and minds of audiences across Australia and internationally. Emily is a six-time Queensland Music Award winner and her debut album ‘Milyakburra’ received an ARIA nomination and AIR award for Best Blues and Roots Album.
There are still some general admission tickets available for the Aviair Kimberley Moon Experience and the last remaining tickets to the styled and licensed AirNorth Garden Bar are selling fast.
Tickets are also selling fast for Comedy in the Park, held over two nights of hilarity on May 25 and 26.
One of Australia’s most established and popular Aboriginal comedians, Kevin Kropinyera, will be one of three side-splitting performers at Comedy in the Park. Kevin, known for his engaging brand of comedy warmly, invites both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal audiences to share his journey, his culture, his life with his is a high energy performance that mixes keen observational stand up with joyfully ridiculous physical comedy.
The State Government is a proud supporter of the event through Tourism WA's Regional Events Program.
The 20th annual Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster will be held from 21st to 29th May in Kununurra, kicking off the tourism season in Western Australia’s incredible East Kimberley region.
www.ordvalleymuster.com.au