All Pasts lead to Now

Curating artists Neil Morris, Mellisa Silaga, Aaron Stephanus, Ree Peric, Madi Colville Walker and Vincent Kitungano, connect us to a wealth of cultural practices and experiences and a vast amount of talent in our community.

Over 6 months they have led a challenging and unique collaboration of art, knowledge and culture to curate All Pasts Lead to Now, a unique concert series that will draw on the artists’ diverse perspectives and connections to Yorta Yorta country and that will feature an inspiring program of music, dance, visuals and spoken word.

Project artist, traditional custodian, Kaieltheban man, Neil Morris says, “All Pasts Lead to Now is a collaboration with custodians of the land, leading the way in supporting our extended family of Pasifika and African diaspora community and the Kaieltheban country. Through art, song and cultural practice, the program will honour our people’s past connection to the land and provide an exchange with Pasifika and African communities. Ultimately, it’s about supporting communities who have shared similar experiences in finding a home and a safe space on our custodial lands by sharing our song and culture and supporting their expression of art and culture within an exchange context.”

The project culminates with three free concerts to be held outdoors under the early evening summer skies in the courtyard at Riverlinks Eastbank on 21 February, 6 March and 20 March from 6–9pm. This is a free event. No bookings required.

The concerts are family friendly, open to people of all ages and backgrounds, and alcohol free.

This project is supported by Creative Victoria’s Regional Partnership program.

CONCERT #1 will feature:

Host, Neil Morris, is a Yorta Yorta yiyirr artist, entrepreneur, radio host, raised in Mooroopna, on Kaieltheban land, and his connection to country and culture has always been strong. His sound and approach, grounded in strong cultural and values, fuses a striking interdisciplinary approach to his art as an MC, Instrumentalist and poet with a searing decolonial and culturally engrossing message. As an artist his work is underpinned by Indigenous peoples advocacy, self-determined business and cultural development with his Yorta Yorta people.

Lillie Walker is a gifted young Aboriginal singer born and raised in Shepparton, and is well known on local stages and in Melbourne performing with the Dungala Children’s Choir and as a solo artist

Allara Briggs Pattison is a Yorta Yorta, musician, composer, filmmaker, Wayapa Wuurrk-er and climate justice activist. Allara creates a sweet tangle of double bass and looped tones, her emotive compositions resonating with dark frequencies and soaring melodies. Reflecting on a journey through her own deepest passions instrumentally and via her word smith skills and smooth earthy vocals, there is an empowering thematic exploration of culture, spirituality, and the environment.

Bricky B is a local Yorta Yorta man and hip hop and spoken word artist, born and raised in Goulburn Valley, Shepparton, his art is a reflection of his reality.

DRMNGNOW is a Yorta Yorta, independent artist based in Naarm (Melbourne). With his roots as a cultural performer, DRMNGNOW brings a striking interdisciplinary approach to his art and is known for crafting a dynamic intersection of sounds fusing Indigenous singing and language, live instrumentation, hip hop, paradigm challenging poetry and ambient electronic textures. An electrifying artist, DRMNGNOW is without doubt one of the most thought provoking artists in the land at the moment.

CONCERT #2 will feature:

Host, Ree Peric was born in Australia to parents of Fijian and Croation heritage and raised in Uganda, and her creativity and beautiful voice combine to bring original and uplifting expressions that fuse gospel, hip hop, rnb and soul influences.

Hailing from a musical family, Moama based, Madi Colville Walker, is a young Yorta Yorta country/ indie singer, songwriter and musician that is a rising talent to watch.

For Vince the Kid, the talented young writer and rapper, music has been a staple as he has grown up in Shepparton in Australia surrounded by his Congolese family and community. This is obvious when you hear his natural rhythm and flow and see him grace the stages around the nation with touring acts such as Baker Boy, Kian and Ruel.

Silao is a young singer and songwriter living in Melbourne’s south east and traces his roots back to the Pacific Islands Samoa and Niue. When he sings he captures the heart, soul and musical essence of the Pacific with contemporary vocals and lyrics that simply melt away the words.

Titan Debirioun, a Melbourne hip hop artist, is a social-activist, rapper and music curator, producing fierce boom-bap and trap offerings. Working within the Sudanese and communities at large, Titan creates funky political conscious Hip Hop, paving the way for black and indigenous artists in Australia.

Fipe & Peti gather on Yorta Yorta country to offer ‘IPU TI’ – an exchange of seeds. Weaving classical and contemporary music with traditional Pacific Island and Maori Storytelling**.**
Fipe Preuss is a proud Samoan/German (NZ) Artist, Entrepreneur, Storyteller through movement, Festival Director, Community Cultural Development Practitioner, Scuba Diving Instructor and Chocolate maker and Irihipeti Waretini is an Artist, Creative Therapist, Business Mentor, Entrepreneur and Co-producer of Awa Wahine. They gather on Yorta Yorta country to offer ‘IPU TI’ – an exchange of seeds. Weaving classical and contemporary music with traditional Pacific Island and Maori Storytelling.

DUE TO THE CURRENT SITUATION OF THE COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS), THE ALL PASTS LEAD TO NOW CONCERT ON 20 MARCH IS CANCELLED.

CONCERT #3 will feature:

Australian born, Namibian raised rapper, vocalist, producer, songwriter, workshop facilitator, model and performing artist Aaron Stephanus aka 1/6, Host, has been honing his craft since 2005. As a well established member of the Melbourne music scene, he has travelled extensively around Australia with numerous groups and bands, including The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, Black Jesus Experience, the now defunct hip hop band Illzilla and The Four Aces (Mata and Must, Flu) amongst others, while also performing solo material at various festivals and venues countrywide.

Ree Peric was born in Australia to parents of Fijian and Croation heritage and raised in Uganda, and her creativity and beautiful voice combine to bring original and uplifting expressions that fuse gospel, hip hop, rnb and soul influences.

With a good dose of straight up swagga and self-produced beats, rhymes and lyrics, Heard Instinct Collective is a 13 strong crew of young artists hailing from Shepparton and will take you on a journey from their roots in Yorta Yorta country, to African inspired hip hop and gospel and the smooth vocals and soul of the Pacific Islands.

Established in 2004, SUGA (sunga) is a collaboration between three Samoan women exploring the musical essence of Polynesia. Their deep respect for each other and for the music of their ancestors has brought them together to explore and create a new sound in Pacific music. Over 15 years they have performed all around Australia and the globe including the Pacific Undergrounds TORU Pacific Arts Festivals in Christchurch NZ, Pasifika Festival in Auckland, Film NZ at the Cannes Film Festival in France and Femme Funk Festival in New Caledonia. They have Australian shared stages with legendary blues guitarist Bob Brozman, double billed with legendary Indigenous artist Archie Roach, supported Zimbabwe’s Queen of Mbira, Stella Chiweshe, and performed at Melbourne International Festival of the Arts backed by the three hundred strong Boite choir. They continue to evolve and create a powerful new dynamic weaving together oratory, dance, rhythm, sound and song. The result is contemporary, healing and uplifting.

HALO Vocal Ensemble is a collaborative group of Melbourne’s leading singers and musicians, performing live arrangements of classic & modern RnB, Soul and Hip Hop songs. The ensemble is lead by powerhouse vocalist Liona Tatafu. Birthed from a love of American Gospel music and Contemporary RnB, HALO puts a modern spin on the definition of a choir, bringing a new sound to the masses. HALO is being recognised in Melbourne for putting on memorable shows, as seen in their collaboration with Let’s Vibe, at iconic venues such as The Gasometer Hotel & Whitehart Bar.