Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu's new album: "Gurrumul"

ididjaustralia · **Posted:** Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:19 am

Did anyone in Holland see Geoffrey perform? I got a call last night from Geoffrey - actually, it was this morning, at 1.30 am! - saying that he's back home in Oz. It was cold he said, he was wearing not 1 but 2 jackets!

Gurrumul has a MySpace site where you can find where he's playing next:

http://www.myspace.com/gurrumul

Bita, looks like he'll be in Sydney at the Opera House in July. Wish I could be there! Don't miss that one, it'll be a treat I'm sure!

Guan

mahoran · **Posted:** Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:41 am

Damn it. Did not know he came to Holland

what miss that is.
did anybody mention that previously here?

ididjaustralia · **Posted:** Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:48 am

Hi Mahir,

No-one mentioned it, I only learnt about it when the plane was flying overhead and Yolngu families with me at the time were saying Gurrumul was on the plane on his way to Holland! It looks like it was a quick trip, just a few days there and he's back home.

Guan

Peter Lister · **Posted:** Fri Jun 27, 2008 4:11 pm

ididjaustralia wrote:

Bita, looks like he'll be in Sydney at the Opera House in July. Wish I could be there! Don't miss that one, it'll be a treat I'm sure!

Guan

I agree, but it's midweek !! - I'd never make in time. The SOH has been putting quite a few things on during the week this last year - whic may be a good idea from their perspective, but for those of us that 70 km (40 mile) away, it's just impossible. I've missed some good events this year because of it.

But, it's great he's off to Canberra and back in Sydney later - very pleased for him.

Peter Lister · **Posted:** Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:54 pm

My apologies to anyone in Sydney - I must have been looking at the dates in June rather than July. The 11th & 12th are in fact a Friday and Saturday. I just received some mail from the SOH - so he's in The Studio at 8:15 pm $25-35.

Also on at the moment;

Yolngu Guya Djamamirr
Director: Frank Djrrimbilpilwuy (spelt incorrectly in their flyer) Garawirritja - no doubt you'll recognise the name ex Chooky Dancers - this is the 5 minute film behind the dance + a Chooky performance
Sat 5th July 3:30 pm FREE

River of No Return
Director: Darlene Johnson 52 mins
The story of Frances Djulibing - star ex Ten Canoes
Sat 5th July 11 AM FREE

GALA RED CARPET PREMIERE & PARTY
Friday 4th July 8 PM
Limited number of seats at $50 to screen BOTH of the above films and see the Chooky's so better be quick.

Also the announcement of the Bob Maza Fellowship - sponsored by Screen Australia's Indigenous Branch - and awarded to an "established Indigenous actor to further their professional development, longevity in their career, and raise their profile internationally"

ididjaustralia · **Posted:** Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:56 pm

Hey Bita,

Sounds great, wish I could be there!

Guan

Peter Lister · **Posted:** Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:58 pm

Well come on then - it'll be just like old times mate

: )

ididjaustralia · **Posted:** Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:03 pm

I'm tempted mate, I really am, but I don't think I can swing it, not with the amount of work I need to do here, arrggghhhhh!

Give the guys my regards, Frank owes me a couple of DVDs which I had pre-purchased - you can remind him if you want :-)

Enjoy buddy!

Guan

Peter Lister · **Posted:** Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:08 pm

Actually I was forgetting how flat out you must be organizing the Yidaki Masterclass - so of course you can't make it. We'll tease the chics next time heh.

I'm not sure I can even make it - some arty friends have a local exhibition opening (paintings and drawings) and I already said I'd be along...so torn between the bright lights and glitz and the cool music and chics......

If I get there I'll have a chat to Frank for you, ma,

Dan · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:30 am **Posts:** 1

Hi Folks, thought id let you know that today I heard a part of Geoffrey Gurrumal Yunupingu "Wiyathul" on the BBC's Radio 2 on the Simon Mayo show ( sitting in for Chris Evans). Awesome, a quick search on Itunes and bingo downloaded . Id like to know what the words, or a rough translation as to the content. Wow, love it! Dan

stockie · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:50 am

Dan wrote:

Hi Folks, thought id let you know that today I heard a part of Geoffrey Gurrumal Yunupingu "Wiyathul" on the BBC's Radio 2 on the Simon Mayo show ( sitting in for Chris Evans). Awesome, a quick search on Itunes and bingo downloaded . Id like to know what the words, or a rough translation as to the content. Wow, love it! Dan

Hi Dan

heard it myself and you got hear before me he actually played some of it yesterday. Just as a radio anorach to put this into perspective for people outside the UK BBC Radio 2 is the most listened to radio station in the UK were talking millions and this particular show was drive time ie the 2nd largest time slot for listeners so Gurrumal has litereally been heard on prime time radio lets hope it does him some good and Guan it might be worth asking him for some comments for on here or anyone from Skinnyfish if they have had any reaction

ididjaustralia · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 10:47 am

Geoffrey is just going ballistic, everywhere he goes and whenever his songs get played on radio, listeners become fans :-)

Guan

ididjaustralia · **Posted:** Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:56 am

Gurrumul is getting more and more exposure!

Quote:

Aussie Star Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu Announces US Debut

03/10/2010
.
Singer-songwriter Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu will release his eponymous solo debut album Gurrumul via Dramatico Entertainment on June 15. Gurrumul is the first indigenous Australian solo artist to breakthrough to the mainstream with audiences and critics responding passionately to the album.

Gurrumul went double-platinum, earned exceptional reviews and four ARIA Award nominations (including the coveted Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year). A stunning collection of 12 songs, Gurrumul emphasizes the importance of ancestry, country and land.

The Northern Territory native, blind from birth, grew up as a member of the Gumatj clan on Elcho Island, off the coast of tropical North East Arnhem Land. In his culture, the elders are the spokespersons for the clan. But the self-effacing Gurrumul, as he likes to be known, doesn't have to say anything at all; the songs on his self-titled debut speak volumes. As the Sydney Morning Herald declared, when Gurrumul was first released in Australia, "There is something so timeless and so direct, it is impossible to remain unmoved. It is as though Yunupingu has reached into a wellspring so deep it transcends cultural barriers...This is not just a very good record, it is one of the greatest records ever made by a local indigenous musician."

In the United Kingdom, where the album was released last year, Gurrumul made his UK TV debut on Later with Jools Holland, claimed the top of the world music charts and graced the cover of Songlines Magazine. Three singles were added to the BBC Radio 2 playlist, "Bapa," a poignant lament for his late father, "Wiyathul" and "Gurrumul History (I Was Born Blind)"; only six non-English language tracks had previously been featured in the playlist in the last ten years. Gurrumul was also named one of the top ten world-music releases of 2009 by the BBC.

Mainland Europe was equally enthralled. Gurrumul's debut achieved best-selling world music status in Germany and Switzerland; he performed a gorgeous live acoustic duet of the Police's "Every Breath You Take" with Sting on French television, translating the lyrics into Gumatj and sweetly stealing the show. Elton John asked Gurrumul to open the veteran artist's dates at the Sydney Opera House.

A live show not to be missed, Gurrumul will be announcing US tour dates soon.

Source: Anti-Music

Guan

MT-Yidaki · **Joined:** Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:23 pm **Posts:** 9

Hey there! I have been a bit bussy cause I moved to our new house... Wow, central heating in the dutch winter...what luxury!!!
But to answer Guan's question: I was at the Amsterdam Gurrumul gig last november! I think I was the only didge player/ yidaki enthousiast there...
I played Gurrumul every night when I was in arnhemland last may... When I came back home my girlfriend asked me: 'How wast it?' 'Hold on', I said. I got into my backpack and put Gurrumul's cd in the cd player and started crying... 'This is exactly how it was', I replied... (Sorry but I can be an emotional boy sometimes)
At the concert in Amsterdam I was crying again...
My brother was also crying since we played Gurrumul constantly on repeat when we drove the Gurruwiwi family down to France last summer...

Very strong memories to Gurrumul's cd! The golden voice from Arnhemland!!!

Greetsss and rezzzzpect,
Michiel

ididjaustralia · **Posted:** Thu Mar 18, 2010 1:14 pm

Hi MT,

I'm glad you love Gurrumul's music, he is a very special talent indeed. I get emotional too listening to some of this, but the 2 that really gets me are Bakitju and Bangadi by Saltwater Band (Gapu Damurrung' CD) of which Gurrumul is also a member. When I've had a few too many beers or wines (been good these days so no more drinking), listening to these 2 songs gets the tears flowing... they're really sad songs but restrained at the same time, its that tension between utter despair tempered by imagery of paradise that does it to me.

Here's some more news about Gurrumul that might be of interest to our friends in the US, I'd love to go to his gigs over there!

Quote:

Yunupingu to strike a chord in US
Tue Mar 16, 2010

Indigenous singer-songwriter Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu has scored a US release for his platinum-selling debut album.

The self-titled record by the blind singer from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory picked up a string of awards following its release in 2008, including an ARIA for best independent album.

It will be released in the US on the Dramatico label in June.

Yunupingu will also go on a promotional concert tour taking in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Toronto, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

"We're very proud to partner with [Australian label] Skinnyfish and enthusiastically join the journey to make Gurrumul a global artist," said Josh Zieman, Dramatico's president of US operations.

A former Yothu Yindi and Saltwater Band member, Yunupingu sings almost exclusively in his Indigenous Yolngu language.

Source: ABC News

Gurrumul also has a MySpace page, check it out for gigs and other interesting things happening in his world:

http://www.myspace.com/gurrumul

Guan

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Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu's new album: "Gurrumul"

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