The LTB comes from Lajamanu, NT which is situated at the top of the Tanami desert.

Teenage Band music is deeply entwined with traditional ways of life, simplistic expressions of Aboriginality, cleverly designed, fusing together traditional and contemporary original compositions. Their musicianship combined with an innovated approach possesses a demonstrative ability and art-form to utilize effectively “Music” the universal language, empowering the band to communicate art and music are essential elements that assist in the maintenance of cultures similarly their evocative approach is indicative to the Australian way of life.

The Teenage Band is so named because their fans are almost exclusively teenagers. No other band in Central Australia commands such a big following of youths, from both bush and towns. No other band in Australia has the particular sound they developed to show their pride in country and Aboriginality.

The songs sing of the echo voices of their ancestors, the harsh but irresistible climate, the big rains and long roads. They talk directly to youth as in Wiyapi Wanti Jalu with a dancey, ska beat but a real; serious message in English and their own Warlpiri language…..don’t drink and drive. Their sound is influencing other young bush bands and it is uniquely Australian with its syncopated feel. How come their sound is so original….we found out they write a lot of their songs while driving dirt tracks with the corrugated bumps which sets up that unrelenting beat…..every song comes to life, jumping from speakers.

The Teenage Band is fresh, fast and furiously fun; singing about the life of young Aboriginals in the outback from the people who know that country the best.

BAND MEMBERS
Alfred Rose -  Lead Voxs/Rhythm Guitar
Kenneth Martin -  Lead Voxs
Terry Banjo -  Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Darren Penn -  Bass/Guitar
Manual Herbert - Drums

ALBUMS RELEASED

Dreamtime Hero (available on CD)

Echo Voices (available on Cass)

Vision (available on CD)

Prisoner (available on CD - New)

Live in Katherine (available on CD - New)

Warlpiri Woman (available on CD - New)

Coloured Stone are from the Mirning Tribe of South Australia’s Nullabor Plains region. They formed around 1978 playing at parties and football carnivals and slowly began building up their collection of original songs.

In 1984 they released their first record – a single called ‘Black Boy’. It was No.1 on the Alice Springs radio request list for 9 months and topped Radio Australia’s play list in the Pacific Islands. Later that year they recorded their first LP and named it ‘Koonibba Rock’ after the sacred rockhole corroboree ground at Koonibba Mission in South Australia.

Coloured Stone in the year 2000, have just released their single ‘Australia’ which encompasses their pride to be part of this modern nation as members of the oldest race of this nation.

Since Koonibba Rock, Coloured Stone have released the following albums:

1984 Koonibba Rock
1985 Island of Greed
1985 Black Rock from the Red Centre
1986 Human Love
1988 Wild Desert Rose
1989 Crazy Mind
1991 Inma Juju
1997 Best of Coloured Stone Vol. 1
1998 Rhythm of Nature
2000 Australia (single)

After twenty years and seven albums Coloured Stone have become the longest surviving aboriginal band in Australia. They have toured all over the country from the major cities to tiny communities. They have travelled in old cars on rough dirt roads usually only passable in 4 wheel drives. They’ve squeezed their instruments and P.A. along with their swags into their small vehicles and camped on dance floors or out in the scrub after shows.

The music of Coloured Stone reflects their passion for land rights and environment issues and justice for the aboriginal people of Australia. They continue to sing out for their people and tell the world the importance of reconciliation for Australia’s future. They also hope to continue to be role models for young aboriginal bands encouraging self-esteem and respect for the planet.

Coloured Stones blend of rock, reggae, country, ska, funk and disco has been heard all over Australia and the world. They have played Stompem Ground festival in Broome, WOMAD in Adelaide, Survival & most recently Corrobboree 2000 in Sydney, Livid in Brisbane and hundreds of bush community shows in between. They have performed at the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, the Austrade Expo in Indonesia, and the world music festival in Scotland and also toured New Zealand.

The band was awarded Best Indigenous Album at the ARIA Awards in 1986 for Human Love (the first year this category was included) and has reached final nominations in three other years.

In 1995 the Australia Arts Council presented Bunna Lawrie with the Brian Syron Scholarship Award for his contribution to Aboriginal music. This award enabled him to do a 12-month Ausmusic Industry Skills Course in Canberra along with 14 other aboriginal music students including his band

Buna Lawrie returned to live at Koonibba with his family after touring and living throughout Australia. In 1994 and 1996 Buna was elected as Chairman for his community and in 1998 stepped down to concentrate more on his work with Coloured Stone and his song writing. 1998 was looking like a very big year for the band with major festivals to attend and the release of 2 albums imminent.

As singer, songwriter and multi-instumentalist in the band, Buna Lawrie was awarded the Don Banks Music Award in 1999 for his outstanding contribution to Australian Music – the first time this award has ever gone to a rock musician or an indigenous musician. This award, supplied by the Australia Council Music Fund, has enabled Bunna to further develop his technical production and computer skills culminating in the production of the new video clip ‘Australia’

Coloured Stone are looking forward to many more years filled with sharing their music with the world. They are still committed as ever to social justice causes and healing the planet and hope they can encourage others to feel the same way through the message of their music. After 20 years Coloured Stone are still going strong.

Warren H Williams first started playing guitar with his father, the legendary Gus Williams, at the age of six. He was brought up on country music but also pursued the pleasures of  rock and roll, developing his guitar skills. Country music was in his blood however and Warren soon went back  to country as a songwriter and recording artist and talented multi-instrumentalist.

Born at the remote community of Hermannsburg about 120kms west of Alice Springs, Warren  H Williams is now the biggest name on the country music scene in the Centre. His second album (Country Friends & Me) featuring duets with some of Australia’s highest profile country singers launched Warren well into mainstream media throughout Australia.

Places In Between is the latest album (May 2002) of original rocking country songs, influenced by the time spent touring during 2001 to promote his previous album. A grant from the Australia Council to complete this album has ensured a top quality production team working to produce this great album.

Where My Heart Is (Deadly Sounds Album of the Year winner for 2001) is Warren’s third album of original country ballads, the sounds of which cross readily into mainstream listening. The focus is on his unique vocal style, where rocking calypso feels intersperse the romantic stories of remembered loves and homeland yearnings.

He shares this 1998 released album, Country Friends & Me, with invited guests John Williamson, Greg Champian, Jimmy Little, Johnny Chester & Ted Egan . The duet, Raining on the Rock, with John Williamson is one of Australia’s most recognised country songs ever. This 18 track CD features many of Warren’s original songs and several co-productions with other famous artists who dropped by CAAMA studios during the recording.

Western Wind was Warren’s first album, recorded at CAAMA in 1995 using many top quality Territory musicians. The full band rocks this album along with some great up tempo songs, the best of which were also rerecorded on Country Friends . He is a prolific songwriter and will go to great lengths to perform and promote his music live – touring the remote communities of Central Australia and all the  way across to the big city stages.

Warren H Williams received a standing ovation when performing at Tamworth festival in 1998 with John Williamson and has since toured all over Australia including regular appearances at Tamworth & other Country Music festivals. Corrobboree 2000 in Sydney, Yeperenye Federation Festival in Alice Springs, Royal Melbourne Show, Stompem Ground in Broome have all been in the tour diary recently.

Warren is a regular DJ on CAAMA Radio playing all his favourite country tunes and encourages many of
the newer artists of all musical genres in the area.  He is in high demand for his guitar skills and can often be seen helping out on stage, in recording studios or penning songs for his many friends and talented family in the music industry in the Northern Territory.

ALBUMS RELEASED

Be Like Home (available on CD - New)

Country Friends & Me (available on CD)

Places in Between (available on CD and Cass)

Where My Heart Is (available on CD and Cass)

True veterans of Aboriginal music, BLEKBALA MUJIK were formed in 1986 and have built a loyal following with their dynamic mix of traditional and original songs. Following the belief that music is all about exploration, Blekbala Mujik are not afraid to cross musical boundaries. As a result, their style is a unique fusion of rock, dance, and ambient music, using traditional Top End instruments and sounds to punctuate frontman Apaak’s outstanding lyrics and give their songs a world music edge.

Singing in Top End Kriol and English, Blekbala Mujik carry a message of reconciliation and cultural unity.  They have remained firmly based on their traditional country, Gulin Gulin, in central Arnhem Land, Australia while touring Australia and beyond.

Front person and writer Peter Miller sings in Kriol language, a pan Aboriginal dialect of the top end. This he says is so all people can understand the songs and take them into their hearts and minds. Peter is a very highly respected speaker for his people and serves on many regional bodies.

BAND MEMBERS
Apaak Miller (Apaak Jupurrula) - Lead Voxs/Guitar
Lachlan Lawrence (Banyarn Gela) - Bass
Lazarus (Gulindirriy) Murray Yidaki (Didgeridu) - Support Voxs
Shang Dharmina Miller  - Lead Guitar

RECENT GIGS
Blekbala Mujik has toured extensively throughout Australia and Europe.

THE MEDIA SAYS……….

BRUCE ELDER, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD ” this CD is the most artistically successful and commercial recording released by CAAMA. Blekbala Mujik have sophistication, diversity and innovation which pushes them beyond the. usual recipes with interesting and successful mixtures of synth washes, traditional singing, raw vocals, sharp riffs and dabs of reggae…some songs with no observable mainstream antecedents”

MICHAEL SMITH DRUM MEDIA a gentle warm earthiness in the music, a mix of dance, pop and traditional that is persuasive in its buoyant optimistic message ”

KATHY McCABE, SYDNEY TELEGRAPH ” Legendary band Blekbala left 6000 screaming fans demanding six encores    singer songwriter Peter Miller pushes the boundaries of musical fusion…Blekbala Mujik are in tune with the times”

BEAT MAGAZINE CD OF THE WEEK another indigenous Australian group
has risen to challenge the old white rock tradition    we feel like we are under the
stars with them, dancing with painted faces…musically dynamic, unique, highly danceable music which reflects their exciting live performances”

KOORI MAIL ‘Blekbala Mujik has been appointed by their Elders to implement aspects of their culture in their live performances… their song Walking Together’ captures the reconciliation message for all Australians”

COURIER MAIL ALISON MASON with 25,000 diehard fans in the Northern Territory urban Australia is just catching on and the rest of the world is in their sights”.

RADIO has also responded well with LAWRENCE BOSWELL of THE BIG BACKYARD this is a brilliant record….we will playlist Mimi and One More Story as well as run a special on the band in February for national broadcast on the MMM Network .
Also on the east coast interviews and airplay/play listing on TRIPLE J, 2 BBB, 2 NCR, BAY FM, 2 SER, NATIONAL DEADLY SOUNDS, KOORI RADIO, Saturday morning feature on ABC RADIO NATIONAL, 4AAA, 4ZZZ and more.

TELEVISION has programmed some Blekbala Mujik during news programs covering Survival and ABC Four Corners program will use Blekbala Mujik singing ‘Rise Up’ during story on Keating this week.

TOUR presented by Triple J will continue with dates for Melbourne confirmed around Easter and offers for the band to perform in Austria (confirmed) Switzerland and Indonesia. A return gig in Sydney will be confirmed for March 22 as the band return from Austria.

USE OF MUSIC
ABC has been using Blekbala Mujik as sound bed material for various news stories, i.e., Speaking Out and Review. Australian for Reconciliation has licensed the material for use in a media campaign and University of Sydney will use material on a CD Rom production.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Bill Davis
Music Manager
PH: (08) 89519730/0407 527 706
FX: (08) 89519 717
Email: b.davis@caama.com.au

Liz McAdam
Office Manager
PH: (08) 89519 743
FX: (08) 89519717
Email: l.mcadam@caama.com.au

Frank Yamma is blessed with a rich and powerful voice, great instrumental skills and a unique musical heritage. He is a Pitjantjatjara man and son of the indomitable pioneer of contemporary music in Central Australia, Isaac (Kunmanara) Yamma. As a child Frank traversed the vast hinterland of Australia performing with his father and brothers in the Pitjantjatjara Country Band playing all instruments, singing and eventually writing and performing his own songs. His father was a powerful influence on his cultural and artistic view of the world, for Isaac Yamma was a truly exceptional figure; he was the first Aboriginal musician to write and record songs in his native language, for many years he was the principal announcer on CAAMA Radio 8KIN FM leading the way with dash and flair into the world of broadcasting. However it was, forever, his powerful voice, his soaring melodies and famous laugh that come to mind when thinking of Isaac Yamma and listening to Frank – a likeness at once awesome, eerie and inspiring.

ALBUMS RELEASED

Released

Released 2006

Letterstick take their name from one of the most remarkable tools in Aboriginal culture, the ‘message’ or ‘letterstick’. This is a piece of wood with a single or set of messages carved into it, which could then be handed down from father to son or from place to place. They are still used to pass on knowledge between clans today.

The Letterstick Band are from the small An-Barra Clan on the coast near Maningrida in Northeast Arnhem Land. They occasionally leave their home to play in Darwin and the surrounding communities and have built a large faithful following over many years of live shows in their region as their touring circuit continues to grow. They rocked at the famous Barunga Festival in 1997, then played in Sydney at Survival in 1998. 1999 saw them in Queensland at Laura Festival and a short tour of Melbourne. More recently the band have wowed audiences at the 2000 Adelaide Festival and a 2001 tour of Perth plus local Northern Territory festival appearances. It is still a rare occasion that the band does leave its top end home so consider yourself privileged if you do manage to catch them live.

Letterstick feature in the 1999 ABC TV special Saltwater Rock, (billed as featuring the 4 tenors) an outdoor concert filmed live in Darwin. One of the songs from this joint performance closes their album in fine celebration of the sharing of music. Letterstick also have songs on various compilation albums such as the brilliant Meinmuk, which uncovered so many previously unrecorded top end bands. They also have a song on CAAMA’s Strong Culture traditional language album and share the Demurru Hits album with fellow legends from Maningrida – Sunrize Band. It was their stand out contributions to Meinmuk, (produced by Chris Thompson of JJJ and Allen Murphy), that brought them to the attention of a wider audience and a demand for a solo album. When you hear their album, An Barra Clan, you’ll know why!

Their solo album, An Barra Clan is a thirteen track gem which mixes reggae and rock music with traditional singing, clapstick and didgeridoo. It presents a strikingly original sound, highlighted by the most unusual vocals and rare language. Every song has been worked up over years of live performances to be the best version possible. These musicians truly understand the technique of focusing on the mesmerising quality of their vocals by leaving plenty of space within the music.

BAND MEMBERS

Colin Maxwell - Voxs/Rythm Guitar

David Maxwell - Drums

Terence Wilson - Acoustic Guitar/Voxs

Tim Wilson - Keyboards/Voxs/Guitar

Roly Milak - Bass

The vocal styles of the brothers are similar allowing great interchanging of vocals and harmonies within songs.

ALBUMS RELEASED

Diyama 2003

An-Barra Clan 2004

Yatulu Yatulu are the hottest new band from that fertile breeding ground of desert music – Lajamanu, in the North Tanami region of Northern Territory. Yatulu Yatulu burst onto the scene last year with their debut album Tjukurrpa, an infectious blend of high energy reggae rock with a message. The band sings their all- original songs in Warlpiri language, featuring topics such as Lands Rights, the importance of family, keeping the old Dreaming stories strong, and the dangers of drinking.

Stand-out songs include the title song Tjukurrpa Tjukurrpa, an upbeat song about a young man asking his elders to give him back his lost ‘tjukurrpa’, or Dreaming. Mt Coniston Massacre is a mournful country ballad remembering one of the most recent massacres of Aboriginal people that happened in 1928 on Warlpiri country.

Yatulu Yatulu have played regularly around the desert community circuit in the last year, including performing to a packed crowd of 400 at their CD launch in Alice Springs in October 2007, and sharing the stage with reggae legends Luciano, Mikey General and Jack Scorpio at the Roots Nation Yuendumu Concert in May this year.

In recognition of the quality of their music, Yatulu Yatulu have been nominated as finalists for three categories in the Northern Territory Indigenous Music Awards this year:

Emerging Act of the Year

Album of the Year - Tjukurrpa

Song of the Year – Tjukurrpa Tjukurrpa

The album is released through CAAMA Music, with Martin Rotsey from Midnight Oil producing the guitars.

BAND MEMBERS:

Brendan Simons - Rhythm/Lead/Lead Locals

Gregory Simons -  Rhythm/Lead/ Backing Vocals

Anton Simons - Bass

Shaun Simons - Drums

Jeff Simons - Backing Vocals

Floyd Rose -  Keyboard/Backing Vocals

Mathias Walker -  Lead Vocals/ Backing Vocals (Coniston Massacre)

ALBUMS RELEASED

Released 2007

Sunshine Reggae Band comes from Haasts Bluff approximately 250km west of Alice Springs. The Band formed in 2002 and has played regularly at surrounding communities concerts. Sunshine Reggae Band recorded their debut  album ‘Watjilarrinyi (Home sick) with CAAMA in 2004, and after a few years break, have reformed in 2008 bigger and better than ever.
Highlights of the year include participating in the Roots Nation CAAMA Music reggae workshop with Jamaican reggae legends Luciano, Mikey General and Jack Scorpio in May. Sunshine Reggae took the stage after the reggae masters, and were spontaneously joined on stage by them for their last songs.
Other recent performances by Sunshine Reggae:
•    CAAMA NAIDOC week radio broadcast recorded in CAAMA studios and broadcast on CAAMA Radio
•    Music for Life, a free daytime concert in central Alice Springs
•    Batchelor College Graduation ceremony in Alice Springs
•    Bush Bands Bash as part of the Alice Desert Festival
Sunshine Reggae play their desert reggae-driven songs in both Luritja and English, whose themes are often about their homeland and country, Dreamtime, staying healthy and keeping off the grog.
The fellas like to play music because its fun, but also to send a message out to their people.

BAND MEMBERS

Keiran Multa - Drums
George Butcher - Bass
Jeffrey Zimran - Lead Guitar
Terry Marshall - Rhythm Guitar
Joseph Zimran - Keyboard
Terry Marshall / Jeffrey Zimran/ Herbert Multa - Main Voxs

ALBUMS RELEASED

Watjilarrinyi Homesick - 2004

The NTB come from Lajamanu about 900k north of Alice Springs. They songs they write and perform are expressed in their native Warlpiri language. Warlpiri people are culturally very strong and confident; they are also probably the most populous of Aboriginal people in Central Australia.
NTB, as an entity, have been a CAAMA Music band since the early 90’s. The fathers and uncles of the first NTB originally recorded in the old CAAMA Music studios at Little Sisters Camp on the southern outskirts of Alice Springs. The present generation, in every way, represent the contemporary indigenous music of Central Australia; their songs, sung in Warlpiri, reflect concerns with the social fabric of their lives, the strength of family and culture, Land and Law.

BAND MEMBERS

Zac Patterson Jakamarrra - Guitar/Lead Voxs

Matthew Craig Patterson Jakamarra - Keys

Hector Patterson Jupurrula - Lead Guitar/Voxs

Roderick Herbert Japaljarri - Guitar

Alistair Jigili Jampijimpa - Bass

Bradley Rockman Jakamarra - Drums

Dion Petterson Jakamarra - Voxs

Michael McDonald Jampijimpa - Voxs

Peter Jigili Jangala - Manager

ALBUMS RELEASED

This Land

Walpiri Tribe (2005)

Desert People (2008)

Tjupi (Honey Ant) come from the Papunya region 250 – 300k north west of Alice Springs. Tjupi Band members are made up of fellas with strong country and family ties right across the region including Mt Leibig, Kintore, Haasts Bluff, Kiwikurra communities. The main language spoken in this area is Luritja and this is the language used to perform their songs.

Papunya is the main base for Tjupi Band activity; Papunya is place with a rich music tradition. It is the home community of Sammy Butcher, mentor for musicians throughout the region. Sammy, who is famous as lead guitar for the Warumpi Band, has been a major influence in the development of contemporary indigenous music; his skill as a guitarist has been emulated by many but not matched, by any. He has encouraged the establishment of a recording studio in Papunya which has led to various independent productions and contributed generally to the fertile music environment of Papunya.

The sound of Tjupi, in many ways epitomizes Central Australia desert reggae – sparse upbeat, driving kick and snare, in-language; the songs are about loneliness for country, love lost, listening to elders, following tradition, social issues, skin pride, tribal unity.

The Tjupi line up is variable, it depends on who is ‘on the road’, ‘in town’, ‘playing football’; mainly,  Tjupi includes a preponderance of members of the Butcher family. A typical set up includes Barnabus Daniels (vox, keys, rhythm), Sammy Butcher (lead, keyboards, bass, drums), Jeremiah Butcher (drums), Jason Butcher (drums).

BAND MEMBERS:
Jason Butcher           Lead Guitar
Malcolm Karpa         Rhythm Guitar
Jeremiah Butcher      Keyboard
Dwayne Abbott        Vocals
Barnabus Danials     Vocals
Ethan McDonald       Vocals
Samual Inkamala      Drums
George Butcher         Bass Guitar

ALBUMS RELEASED

Kuunyi - Released 2004

Kutju Ngarala - Released 2008