WOMAD 2009 Featured Artist: Gurrumul (Australia)

The Sydney Morning Herald recently ran said: “Listen to Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu and you will surrender to the greatest voice this continent has ever recorded.” Rich praise indeed but not without foundation. Gurrumul is former member of hit-making rock band Yothu Yindi, and more recently the Saltwater Band but he has emerged as the most revered and distinctive voice in modern Aboriginal music.

Blind from birth, Gurrumul is deep well of musical creativity and expression. With a sparse backing of acoustic guitar, piano, double bass and violin, he evokes rich images through the songs of his Gumatj country in his native Yolgnu tongue.

Gurrumul writes and performs songs in an almost classical music setting with just an acoustic guitar, grand piano, violin and double bass accompanying him. His songs are seen as the modern-day arias of North East Arnhem Land, and the combination of this instrumentation and setting take the audience on an intimate musical experience through many elements of his life and song.

Gurrumul recently received four ARIA Award (Australian music industry awards) nominations, plus one ARIA Artisan Award nomination for his stunning debut solo album. He won the ARIA Fine Arts Award for Best World Music album and also for Best Independent Release.

The ARIA Award voting academy has reinforced the high praise his solo album - Gurrumul - has received from music critics around Australia such as this stunning review from the Sydney Morning Herald http://www.smh.com.au/news/cd-reviews/gurrumul/2008/04/11/1207856814878.html. Gurrumul delivers an intimate concert of songs that lament, uplift, inspire and may even bring you to tears. His performances are a rare treat and should not be missed.

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