Entertainers
Mura Wakay
Celebrating Australia - Rich in culture and song
5 February | Garema Place | 7:35pm-8:50pm
Deni Hines, Melinda Schneider and Paulini have been wooing Australian audiences with great music, signature tunes and diva-style vocals, now they unite in Mura Wakay, a uniquely Australian show celebrating a country diverse in culture and song.
Joining these incredible artists will be one of Australia’s finest Indigenous singer/songwriters Emma Donovan.
Mura Wakay (meaning “One Voice’’ in the Kalaw Lagaw Ya language from the Torres Strait Islands) is a 90 minute contemporary cultural performance, showcasing traditional dance and song with contemporary classic hits and anthems Australia identify as ‘their own’
This fine cast will perform songs in languages from Aboriginal Australia, Fiji, Africa, Spain and more.
Mura Wakay was created by Jason Williamson and iconic Indigenous entertainer Christine Anu for Stylin Up Entertainment Pty Ltd.
Anton Wurzer and Lachlan Coventry
5 February | 6:10pm-6:35pm
Be prepared for new and exciting music!
“LandA”, Anton Wurzer and Lachlan Coventry are graduates of The Canberra School of Music Jazz Department. Performing original compositions of varying styles, their musical virtuosity encompasses rhythm, melody and improvisation. Their compositions echo traditions as diverse as European and South American, and can be at times improvisational and jazzy, as well as classically lyrical.
Anton on piano accordion and Lachlan on guitars and bass.
You’ll have a chance to sample a range of music from introspective to danceable. This duo is home-grown in Canberra, and brewing with talent. You won’t want to miss them!
Clankenstein
5 February | 5:40pm-6:05pm
Zippy Balkan honky-tonk featuring the mighty Cimbalom – the Eastern Euro offspring of xyplophone and piano abounds with Clankenstein. Described as Romanian instrumentals in the style of the gypsy ghetto, with a detour via Memphis.
Take a ramble in the jangle with oddball two-steps to delight your inner horse-trader!
DJ Gosper and The KarismaKatz
5 February | 5pm-5:30pm
DJ Gosper has been singing the blues after she fell helplessly in love with the Harmonica. She has since developed a reputation as one of the tastiest blues-harp players in Australia.
DJ formed the KarismaKatz in 2004 with Christo Carlsen and a number of other very talented musicians. Her second CD “Spirit on the Rise” was described by Phil Birch-Marston of Artsound FM as: “… something special, superb performances, lyrically powerful and thought provoking…”
In the last three years, DJ has won numerous Canberra Blues Society Awards including Best Female Blues Vocalist, Blues Album of the Year and Best Original Blues Song.
DJ and The KarismaKatz always serve up a powerful helping of blues and roots and shouldn’t be missed!
Queen Juanita and the Zydeco Cowboys
5 February | 6:45pm-7:15pm
Queen Juanita and the Zydeco Cowboys is a zydeco swing dance band featuring Queen Juanita on vocals and piano accordion and Dr Zot on guitar.
This band looks like it’s stepped right out of the 1950s with rockabilly fashions, upright bass, hot rhythms and a dangerously danceable attitude.
Queen Juanita and her band celebrate the exquisite melting pot of sounds of Louisiana covering Zydeco, Cajun, Country, Western Swing, Swing Blues, Jazz, Rockabilly and Reggae. Be ready to dance and to party!
The Rhythm Hunters
5 February | Garema Stage | 9pm-9:35pm
6 February | Garema Stage | 3:15pm-3:45pm
The Rhythm Hunters are a charismatic group of young musicians that have been taking the Australian festival scene by storm. With up to 14 members onstage, they are a visual spectacle and undoubtedly one of the most exciting upcoming forces in Australian world music.
It’s the physicality of Taiko Drumming with music from Indonesia and fast irresistible Indo - Pacific Groove.
The Rhythm Hunters have ‘wow factor’ radiating in every direction. The joyfully executed compositions feature soaring melodies with soprano saxophone, sweet ethereal tones of shakuhachi and an obscure range of ‘truly obnoxious’ horns from West Sumatra, Indonesia.
The Rhythm Hunters come fully equipped to knock you out of your hemisphere with a myriad of drums, bells, cymbals, gongs and marimbas from Japan, Indonesia and beyond. You will also get didgeridoo, Indian harmonium, frenetic island log drumming and hints of West Africa.
Italmania
5 February | Garema Stage | 10:30pm-11:10pm
6 February | Garema Stage | 1:05pm-1:30pm
Italmania was founded by acclaimed singer/songwriter, Andy Ciccone and Musical Director Franky D. Italmania is a very versatile band with material ranging from traditional Italian folk to contemporary rock. They have thrilled audiences across the world with their tremendous energy and their proven ability to entertain audiences of all ages.
With a full band of dancers to accompany them Italmania will be giving an exciting performance at this year's National Multicultural Festival.
The Beez
5 February | Garema Stage | 9:45pm-10:20pm
6 February | Garema Stage | 2:10pm-2:40pm
The Beez have furnished their house with musical bric-a-brac from around the world – a potpourri of moving, silly, deep and sometimes meaningless pop and rock songs. These songs are, however, anything but common or garden variety. The four tonal interior decorators from the Beez rearrange and craft a song until a certain stylistically unmistakable Beez Feng Shui emerges.
The Beez are at home on any stage and travel light-four voices, two acoustic guitars, an acoustic bass and an accordion and, it has to be said, more than a few costumes…The Beez are renowned as excellent hosts, serving lavish lashings of humour and musicality guaranteed to charm every audience.
Their programme ‘’In the House” is (with or without electricity) like a luxury penthouse on the roof of pop and rock history in which everyone finds a sunny room with a view.
Sol Nation
5 February | Garema Stage | 11:20pm-midnight
Sol Nation is more than a band, it’s a meeting of nations and cultures - East Timorese, Indigenous and Australian. Drawing some of its members from the Dili Allstars, Sol Nation embodies Melbourne’s multiculturalism and is a living testament to what can be achieved through music - bridging cultures, languages and borders.
To perform their music live, Sol Nation have brought together a seven piece mixing superb musicianship with a charismatic stage presence that creates an exuberant, colourful and exciting live show. Stylistically the music draws its influences from Indigenous and Jamaican reggae, traditional East Timorese folksong, and African dance music.
With a strong global conscience and a commitment to presenting high energy and infectious music to audiences around the world, Sol Nation is a unique Australian musical experience.
Nasser Palangi
Nasser Palangi is a local visual artist who is a member of the Persian Artists Group in Australia (PAGA). During the 2010 National Multicultural Festival Nasser will be producing a live painting on a large canvas to commemorate and capture the spirit of the event. Stop by Nasser’s live painting and become part of the spirit of this piece of art as it’s being created!
Riverbank Band
6 February | Garema Stage | 11am - 11:25am
Dale Robert Huddleston & the Riverbank Band established in Canberra 1994 as a country Covers Rock Band, have produced two albums of original music “Simple Things” 1999 and Dale Releasing Solo Album” Home is where the heart is” in 2005.
Dale & Band are a very experienced band supporting the likes of Jessica Maubouy, Blue King Brown, Casey Donnovan, Yothu Yindi, Russell Morris, Shane Howard & the Goanna Band, Jimmy Little, Archie Roache & Troy Cassa Daley.
Dale Robert Huddleston & the Riverbank Band will be performing all original material from their two albums.
Cossack Brothers
6 February | Garema Stage | 3:45pm-4pm
6 February | Petrie Stage | 5:25pm-5:35pm
The Cossack Brothers were formed in 1996 by Artistic Director and Choreographer Taras Galas. A dancer for over 30 years he has performed in many Ukrainian dance ensembles and cabaret groups within Australia and overseas with performances in such places as Disney World Florida and Las Vegas. Along with dancers Alex Dechnicz and Greg Huzij, they together formed a powerful trio. Newcomers Justin & Adam Semciw, Peter Kloczko Andrij Huzij & Paul Shermerewich have further strengthened the troupe adding depth and excitement to the already spectacular show.
This Ukrainian Cossack Cabaret group has captivated many audiences, performing a traditional song and dance routine consisting of death defying sabre routines, acrobatic tumbles, breathtaking spins and leaps and the infamous cossack kicks! The Cossack Brothers performed in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Opening Ceremony, the AFL Footy Show Live in 2003 and Renovations Rescue Channel 9 Celebrity Performance 2004. The group will be performing traditional Ukrainian Cossack Dancing in an exciting and spectacular cabaret style, which they are well known for. For further information or bookings please visit their website www.cossackbrothers.com 
Workshops
6 February | Petrie Plaza Art Zone
In 2010 the National Multicultural Festival is proud to offer workshops to Festival-goers in the areas of singing, drumming and dancing.
Workshops will be held in our Petrie Plaza Art Zone, at London Circuit, and will accommodate a limited number of participants based on Occupational Health & Safety requirements for the size of the staging platform.
|
Workshop |
Details |
|---|---|
|
Bush Dancing Workshop with the Monaro Folk Society |
11am-11:50am |
| Panta Rei fusion dancing including Spanish, Gypsy, African, Asian and Middle Eastern | 4pm-4:50pm |
| Chinese Lion Dance | 12noon-12:20pm |
| Fire Dragon Martial Arts | 12:30-12:50pm |
| Drumming workshop with Drum Effect | 1pm-1:50pm |
| Taiko and Australasian drumming with The Rhythm Hunters | 2pm-2:50pm |
| Tango Workshop |
6:30pm-7:00pm |
| Tango Cafe | 7pm-Midnight |
| Bollywood | 3pm-3:50pm |
| Bellydance | 5pm-5:50pm |
Flamenco
7 February | Art Zone 1 (Petrie Plaza) | 1:10pm-1:30pm
Flamenco is a highly specialised and intensely emotional form of Spanish dance that connects rhythm, movement and personal depth to deliver a powerful individual statement about being human, and about being who you are. It is a solo dance form and is practiced by men and women of all levels of ability.
Bring to surface your deepest emotions through proud postures and upper body work, stunning arms and hands, and the driving rhythms of percussive footwork.
You can learn this amazing dance form at The Flamenco Centre at the Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen. The teacher, Tomás Dietz is renowned for his ability to teach the distinct male and female styles with great attention to detail.
The Flamenco Centre is now taking enrolments for the next Entry Level class which starts 15 February. To enrol or for more information please contact Tomás Dietz, Director of The Flamenco Centre:
Tel 0408 299 747, Email info@theflamencocentre.com.au, or www.theflamencocentre.com.au
