Clancestry, A Celebration of Country

Clancestry, A Celebration of Country returns to Brisbane’s cultural precinct next month to celebrate the arts and cultural practices of the world’s First Nations Peoples.

After a strong launch in 2013 that saw over ten thousand people attend, not only braving but relishing what is becoming ‘unpredictable February’ on the Brisbane weather scene, Clancestry 2014 (18-24 February) will present an entirely outdoors and completely free-of-charge festival for the local community. Organisers this year are excited to announce the main-event concert where internationally acclaimed local Bernard Fanning will take to the stage with twelve early career artists whom he will have mentored through The Pathways Project.

Clancestry focuses on capacity building in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts community and The Pathways Project is just one of a number of strategies developed to offer up-and-coming artists a chance to hone their craft, network and increase their profile, as well as perform in a major venue in front of a big crowd. Applications for the 2014 Pathways Project are still open and will close on Friday January 24.

The Pathways Concert will be a major full stop at the end of a massive week of cultural celebrations that will see three lively conversations on fascinating topics as well as workshops, presentations and demonstrations. There will be activities for youngsters, an Elders’ Kitchen for the not-so-young, and some never-before-seen concerts set against the beautiful backdrop of the Brisbane River: Song Circle – Yarns in Song brings together Troy Cassar-Daly, Archie Roach, Warren H Williams and Shane Howard.

Getano Bann and David Dow are pulling together a stellar line-up of musicians and artists to perform popular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music from the 1920’s to the present day. Two of Australia’s best known Indigenous Gospel songbirds Robyn Green and Pat Morgan will perform with the Belle Flowers Choir while Jazz legend Mr Johnny Nicol will sing through to dusk on the Sunday afternoon. A major highlight of the weekend will be in the Courier Mail Piazza where Traditional Owners, Elders, dancers and song-men from our region will come together for a spectacular closing event.

Clancestry, A Celebration of Country will be presented by the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) between February 18 and 24 at locations throughout the QPAC performing arts precinct and more information can be found online at www.qpac.com.au/clancestry.

Applications for The Pathways Project can be found at www.qpac.com.au/clancestry/clancestry-pathways-entry.html

After Clancestry 2013 Associate Director of Programming and weather-watcher Deborah Murphy became a little obsessed with contingency planning for wet weather. In contrast she recommends you prepare for the heat in 2014; and she’s not just talking about the red-hot acts.