New location for Gulf Country Frontier Days

Queensland festival Gulf Country Frontier Days (August 16—19) is moving to a new location in its second year,

Gregory Downs is located four hours north of Mount Isa.

The festival brings together First Nation cultures from around Australia and the world – and includes the Indigenous rodeo championship.

The music program is headlined by Archie Roach, who will be joined by Australian and international artists including Yothu Yindi Treaty Project, Yirrmal, Shellie Morris, Jon Stevens, Graeme Connors, Micki Free (USA), Katchafire (NZ) Bennet Bowtell & Urquhart, Friends and Family play Warumpi Band, Digging Roots [Canada], Yirrmal Marika, The Flood, K Phillips [USA] and Kahl Wallis.

The festival most recently announced the dance program, with First Nations dancers from the US, Canada and NZ join those from Australia.

The program titled the Kabarrubi Wangkijbi Dance Spectacular will feature renowned dance troupe Indigenous Enterprise from the USA and Native Canadian actor/dancer Eugene Brave Rock largely known for his role in the 2017 version of Wonder Woman.  

They, along with several of the other dance troupes will join with local group, the Buminji Dancers, to present a powerfully evocative program of dance.

“The 2018 lineup we’ve assembled is a testament to the level of Indigenous talent both here in Australia and abroad,” says TGCFDF founder and creative director Alec Doomadgee.

“It’s so exciting to see this program come to fruition to bring a line-up like this to a community as remote as this area.

“It’s going to be one mighty celebration on country, that’s for sure.”