Hidden Republic

An historic musical event that celebrates songs of hope and resistance from the open heart of Australia's contemporary Indigenous music

Since the stunning national response to murundak that had its world premiere as part of the 2006 Melbourne International Arts Festival, the Black Arm Band has experienced huge national acclaim. Uplifting and confronting, its music renders an intimate portrait of contemporary Indigenous life.

Hidden Republic delves deeply into the songbook of contemporary Aboriginal music to reflect the renewed promise of ‘post apology' Australia. This iconic music of national significance draws on the combined musical virtuosity and subtlety of 33 members of the symphony orchestra together with a blistering seven-piece jazz section to underscore the vocal artistry of The Black Arm Band.

Hidden Republic reveals the undiminished spirit in the music of Aboriginal Australia and songs which celebrate identity and understanding for all Australians.

The Black Arm Band's Hidden Republic has featured a line-up of exceptional soloists, including David Arden, Mark Atkins, Lou Bennett, Sally Dastey, Emma Donovan, Kutcha Edwards, Bevan Gapanbulu, Joe Geia, Shane Howard, Ruby Hunter, Bunna Lawrie, Jimmy Little, Rachael Maza Long, Shellie Morris, Stephen Pigram, Archie Roach, Amy Saunders, Dan Sultan, and Ursula Yovich working with members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Queensland Youth Symphony. Special Guests have included Genevieve Lacey, Gurrumul Yunupingu and Michael Hohnen.

"It was more than just a concert. It was . . . a ritual: a summoning of hope and possibility, a mourning and expiation, a gift of huge spiritual generosity, a Damn Good Time."
- Theatre Notes, 26 Oct 2008

Arts House, a City of Melbourne contemporary arts initiative

The Black Arm Band grew from a belief that contemporary Indigenous music captures an elusive, essential and powerful heart of Australia. This heart is brave, resilient, resourceful and full of hope where, logically, perhaps there is no place for hope. The Black Arm Band is determined to connect the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community in a way which gives voice and engages with intercultural social awareness, hope and change.

The Black Arm Band premiered Hidden Republic at the 2008 Melbourne International Arts Festival, as well as on Thursday Island as the opening performance of the 2009 Queensland Music Festival. The show has since received invitations to perform at the 2010 Sydney Festival, and internationally.

The Black Arm Band is committed to delivering the work into new contexts, such as education and mentoring in order to extend its impact, especially into the lives of other Indigenous people. The mission of the Black Arm Band is to perform, promote and celebrate contemporary Australian Indigenous music to the highest possible professional standard as a symbol of resilience and hope in the spirit and action of reconciliation.

"...we sing up the land, we sing up the sun as it rises over the horizon, we sing up our stories sothat we never forget, and we sing up our future so we are reminded we have one..."
- Excerpt from murundak

THE BLACK ARM BAND - www.blackarmband.com.au