Mura Wakay
Celebrating Australia - Rich in Culture and Song
Starring - Deni Hines, Melinda Schneider, Paulini and Emma Donovan
Spectacular Headline Performers
5 February | Garema Place | 7:35pm-8:50pm
Four contemporary Australian singing stars will come together for the first time in a spectacular opening night performance at the National Multicultural Festival 2010.
Deni Hines, Melinda Schneider, Paulini and Emma Donovan will unite in Mura Wakay (meaning “One Voice” in the Kalaw Lagaw Ya language from the Torres Strait Islands).
It will be a uniquely Australian show celebrating Australia’s cultural diversity in song.
Like all major festival events, the opening night concert is a free event and will be held in Garema Place.
Mura Wakay was created by Jason Williamson and iconic Indigenous entertainer Christine Anu for Stylin Up Entertainment Pty Ltd.
Download the Mura Wakay Poster 
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Deni Hines
Deni Hines is without a doubt considered one of Australia’s foremost entertainers. From hit singles and albums, to lead roles in musicals & television, Hines has grown up in front of audiences from an enthusiastic young performer to a mature, sophisticated all round entertainer.
Hines has sold over 1.3 million albums, received an ARIA Award, topped the Charts in France and Japan and Top 10 chart positions in Australia and the UK with her hits such as Aint No Sunshine, That Word Love, It’s Alright, I’m Not In Love, I Like The Way and many more.
Hines has hosted her own music show Soul Kitchen on Channel V, appeared in numerous TV light entertainment programs and lead roles in musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Big River and Dusty The Original Diva. Hines has penned songs for the likes of Beyonce Knowles and her songs have appeared in films such as Luc Beeson’s Taxi, The Wogboy and The Strip. In 2007, Hines recorded a stunningly successful Jazz classics album, The Other Woman with maestro James Morrison and more recently made her film debut in Bruce Beresford’s forthcoming cinema release Mao’s Last Dancer.
Melinda Schneider
Melinda Schneider has been a leading light of the ‘new-breed’ of Australia Country artists both in Australia and the US.
In a career which began with a stage debut at the age of three, (appearing with her mother, the Legendary Mary Schneider) Schneider has kept her family tradition alive by becoming one of Australia’s most sublime singers and popular live performers.
But it is through her assured and accomplished song writing that she has really discovered her true voice. Five albums and eight years on, she has won numerous awards, including six CMAA Golden Guitars and APRA Song Of The Year.
Schneider’s songs have been recorded by artists as diverse as John Farnham, Billy Thorpe, Jimmy Little, Olivia Newton-John and Paul Kelly.
2008 brought with it an exciting new phase in Schneider’s career, the launch of her independent record label, Be Music. Schneider released her fifth studio album Be Yourself on July 5th 2008 which earned her second ARIA nomination for Best Country Album.
Paulini
Paulini is one of Australia’s most promising performers and vocalists of current times.
Paulini has won two ARIA #1 Chart Awards, been nominated for an ARIA Award for Highest Selling Single for Angel Eyes and won two Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards through her work with Young Divas.
Paulini has also become a household name via her television work, appearing in It Takes Two and Celebrity Overhaul. She has toured Australia with Young Divas and as a support act on national tours with the likes of Guy Sebastian, Tina Arena and Human Nature. Along with Guy Sebastian and Damien Leith, Paulini recently showcased her music on the world stage, performing live at World Youth Day 2008 celebrations.
With multiple double Platinum albums and singles under this soul diva’s belt, multi-award-winning pop/soul music sensation Paulini is presently in the studio preparing for her most anticipated third solo album release. This Fijian born singer’s unmatched vocal ability has won the hearts of the nation along with her warm and down-to-earth personality - a true ambassador of female solidarity, youth and strength.
Emma Donovan
Emma Donovan has established herself as one of Australia’s finest Indigenous singer/songwriters. With the inclusion of her own traditional language, Gumbayngirr in her songs, she is committed to educating the global community about the depth of Aboriginal culture and spirituality.
Her vast concert experiences include performances in The Royal Concert Hall London, Musee de Quai Branli Paris, Benaki Museum Athens, Tjibaou Cultural Centre New Caledonia, 10th Festival of Pacific Arts Palau, Treaty Grounds of Waitangi New Zealand to the Concert Hall in the Sydney Opera House.
Donovan’s current release entitled Ngarraanga (Remember) or Ngarraanga Ngiinundi Yuludarra (Remember Your Dreaming) is her tribute to the Stolen Generations. The songs include traditional language and are intercepted with spoken word by Uncle Harry Buchanan. The video features the extraordinary talent of Torres Strait Islander dancer Albert David inter-woven with archival footage.
Donovan departs mid February to perform for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver with the Black Arm Band. Her new singleCHANGES is released on February 5th and will be supported by Commercial Radio Networks rights across Australia.
Other Opening Concert Performers
The opening ‘Global Concert’ and Night Markets also includes a dazzling array of performers from home and abroad, including Lachlan Coventry and Anton Wurzer, Clankenstein, Queen Juanita and the Zydeco Cowboys, The Beez (Germany), The Rhythm Hunters, Italmania, DJ Gosper and the KarismaKatz and Sol Nation.
