Nancy Bates and a killer line-up bring the heart of First Nations country music to SA stages
Nancy Bates doesn’t do things by halves. A proud Barkindji woman and one of Australia’s most powerful First Nations voices in music, she’s bringing her critically acclaimed Blak Country concert to regional South Australia this August.
Kicking off in Renmark, and making its way to Whyalla and Port Pirie, Blak Country is a cabaret-style showcase that celebrates the long-standing love between First Nations people and country music – a genre that speaks of heartbreak, connection to the land, truth-telling and survival.
And who better to lead the charge than Bates, who’s handpicked a stellar line-up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to share the stage, including standout genre-defier Jess Hitchcock and local artists at each stop: Eric Cook in Renmark, Warren Milera in Whyalla, and Uncle Chris Dodd in Port Pirie. The songs are raw, the stories are real, and every note lands with power, backed by visuals of Country projected around the stage. It’s storytelling through song, just as it’s always been
“When we take time – when we make time – to listen to the songs and stories that come from our First Nations songwriters, we are listening to and learning from Country,” Nancy says. “As our ancestors did, and as our grandchildren will.”
Singer-songwriter Jess Hitchcock says that’s the beauty of Blak Country.
“I love the raw storytelling,” she says. “There’s no beating around the bush. It’s music that’s for everyone — honest, direct, and so easy to relate to.”
Expect an intimate, cabaret-style set-up, a night of beautiful voices and bold stories. Whether you’re a long-time country fan or just someone who loves stories through music, this one’s for you.
Tickets are on sale now, and if you’re a First Nations customer, check out the Nunga Tickets scheme. That’s $15 a ticket for adults, with one under-17 free per paying adult. Additional under-17s are just $5 each.
BLAK COUNTRY TOUR DATES & VENUES
Renmark
Where: Chaffey Theatre (Erawirung Country) – Seventeenth Street, Renmark
When: Wednesday August 6, 7:00pm
Free drinks and nibbles from 6:00pm
WhyallaÂ
Where: Middleback Arts Centre (Barngala Country) – 141a Nicolson Avenue, Whyalla
When: Saturday August 9, 7:00pm
Free drinks and nibbles from 6:00pm
Port PirieÂ
Where: Northern Festival Centre (Nukunu Country) – 106 Gertrude Street, Port Pirie
When: Wednesday August 13, 7:00pm
Free return bus from Port Augusta available.
Just add it at checkout or call 1300 072 849 to book. Bus departs from 6 Beauchamp Ln at 5:30pm and returns after the show.
CLICK HERE for more information and to purchase tickets
