Troy Cassar-Daley, Christine Anu lead BLAKSOUND 2021 lineup

Two weeks out from launch, First Nations youth music conference BLAKSOUND has announced its full lineup for 2021.

Curated by a panel of emerging Indigenous artists, this year’s inaugural conference will take place online from September 6 – 8 and will consist of discussion panels, workshops, yarns and live performances.

Artists on this year’s lineup include Christine Anu, Baker Boy and Troy Cassar-Daley, as well as Ziggy Ramo, Alice Skye, DMRNGNOW and Jimblah.

Other acts to join the conference are Marlene Cummins, Kobie Dee, GLVES, Shaun Allen (Shal),  SOVBLKPSSY (Juanita Sumner) and Tishiko King (Seed Mob), while community leader Fred Leone, Australia Council culture director Patrica Adjei and journalist Rachael Hocking will also appear as panelists.

Keynote speaker and celebrated artist Naomi Wenitong will also launch the conference with an introductory address on the healing power of music and the work of her Indigenous youth initiative Naytive Mentorship.

To accompany the artist announcement, BLAKSOUND has also detailed a number of conference panels including ‘F#$K the System, We Own Our Stories’, ‘Turning Our Backs to the State’, ‘From One Generation To The Next’ and ‘What Does It Mean To Be The Youngest Generation Of The Oldest Surviving Culture In The World?’

BLAKSOUND will also feature an Amnesty-led discussion panel about anti-racism frameworks in the workplace, a Still Here panel regarding pathways in the music industry and the screening of a Digi Youth Arts short film Losing It, a “Blak teen movie” featuring Brisbane rockers Beddy Rays.

The final night will see a 4SYDNEY FESTIVAL showcase hosted by Matty Mills, with Nooky, Bow and Arrow, Becca Hatch and Kobie Dee delivering a live performance to close the curtain on the conference.

First Nations rapper DOBBY, who assisted in curating the program, said that BLAKSOUND would act as a resource for young First Nations artists to connect and learn more about navigating the music industry.

“Having a dedicated space for Mob to showcase and learn within our own circle is so powerful and necessary for artistic direction in our community. I’m most keen for young mob who will be taking notes and finding inspiration from our showcasing and Legacy artists,” DOBBY said.

View the full BLAKSOUND 2021 program here.

Registration for the event is free.