After 20,000 years, waiting a few months for festival is no big deal
The much-loved Quandamooka Festival on Minjerribah/Stradbroke Island will return as a three day event in August, giving visitors the chance to immerse themselves in one of the oldest living cultures on earth.
Quandamooka Festival will return next month after an absence caused by Covid disruptions. (file image).
Overcoming two years of pandemic disruptions with one of its strongest line-ups, It’s hoped this year’s festival will be the first of many to return to its usual annual format.
CEO Damian Miley said the gathering offers the privilege to all to experience first-hand the continuing 20,000 year old culture of the Nughi, Nunukul and Goenpul clans.
“QYAC is excited to be holding the Quandamooka Festival again for the first time since 2019,” Miley said.
“We are looking forward to welcoming our community and visitors to country to celebrate Quandamooka art, culture, music and people.”
An array of big name First Nations artists feature in the event from August 26, including Electric Fields, Joe Geia, Emma Donovan and the Putbacks, Roger Knox, and Shakaya.
Other well known Quandamooka artists such as Sachem, Nix Grose and Maibre Grenfell will also take part.
Sachem Parkin-Owens is a powerful poet, orator and rapper singer-songwriter, while Nix is a respected storyteller driven by connection to culture and country. Maibre will bring soulful guttural vocals in a punchy acoustic set, ensuring a variety of musical genres on offer over the three days.
Saturday’s opening act is Benny Maza and Georgia Corowa from fresh Black music label JMZ, followed by artists Keely and CKNU delivering music from the soul.
The Quandamooka Festival showcases the beautiful coastal region east of Brisbane, highlighting the local people, culture, music, and connection to place, as well as become engaged in Caring for Country by experiencing a variety of local wildlife in their natural environment.
The program will immerse visitors in Quandamooka culture through music, with events such as Kunjiel (corroboree) featuring dance groups coming from across south-east Queensland and northern NSW, as well as food stalls and storytelling giving insights into cultural heritage and caring for Country.
Organisers hope many people may visit the island for the first time by taking the short ferry ride to Minjerribah to learn more about the Country, sands, seas, sacred lakes, creeks, catchments and creatures found across the Redlands region from an Indigenous people’s perspective.
The music program will run from Friday August 26 from 5-9pm, Saturday August 27 from noon to 10pm and Sunday from 11am-4pm.
