Jungaji + River Girl release w/Moving Parts & Gling - Mt Nebo Hall
Event description
Gugu Yalanji songman JUNGAJI and his band are heading to the heights of Mt Nebo (in the hills west of Brisbane and Moreton Bay. Jungaji has just launched his fourth new single River Girl, a harmonious vocal song different to his previous soulful RnB flavoured releases that dropped last year (‘Wakka Wakka Woman’ and ‘Pilbara Man’ singles) and the more rockier ‘Renaissance Rambler’ release 1st of March.
Supporting JUNGAJI and his rockin’ band on the night are MOVING PARTS, an intercultural funk, roots & reggae outfit and the spellbinding solo groove of GLING HUNT.
The new song by Jungaji, RIVER GIRL, is released on 12th of April and is available on all streaming platforms. https://gyro.to/RiverGirl
This Mt Nebo show with JUNGAJI and Special Guests, Moving Parts and GLING has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body
BIO - JUNGAJI
Jungaji is a First Nations songman, visual artist, playwright, and activist who has been renowned in the Australian music industry for three decades. First appearing on the scene as a teenager with Aim4More in the 90s, he has now embarked on a new creative path fusing Soul and R&B to create a unique and authentic sound that showcases his cultural roots.
Formerly known as Troy Brady, Jungaji has undergone a deep cultural transformation and found a profound understanding of his identity and is dedicated to sharing his authentic voice and artistic testimony with the world. One of only a small group of fluent Gugu Yalanji speakers left today, maintaining his ancient songlines & stories is of utmost importance in terms of co-existence between two sovereignties.
A proud Western Gugu Yalanji & Birri Gubba man, Jungaji (pronounced Jun-gah-jee) is continuing ancient law by documenting the stories of his people through art, theatre, music, and storytelling having learned these traditions from his elders, and particularly from his last ancient connection to a 106-year-old bush man with whom Jungaji had a life-changing spiritual initiation, and he is passionate about preserving these traditions for future generations. He has forged a reputation based on integrity and has been delving deep into the language and culture of his ancestral lands, talking to elders, and creating art both visually and aurally.
Jungaji was part of a moving opening ceremony performance at Bigsound 2023 alongside son Dean Brady. “Having my son creating his own musical and cultural journey is the continuation of the cultural spears”, he said.
The inspirational intergenerational musical connections continue within Jungaji’s band which includes 14yo drummer Mone Hunt-Feagai who is the son of Jungaji’s keyboard-player/musical- director Jimmy Jam AKA James Feagai.
“It honestly feels like a 30-year apprenticeship. It’s a rebirth, I really feel like a musical chameleon within the many creative changes and more lows than highs but the ancient fires within were always burning strong and to be still standing is nothing short of a miracle. I’m grateful and humbled and to empower others within the musical and broader communities is truly a blessing”, Jungaji said.
Jungaji is also an advocate for those living with Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that he has battled for 23 years. “Living with Lupus is like going 10 rounds with Mike Tyson” he said, having survived two strokes, two heart attacks, and multiple open-heart surgeries. Jungaji’s holistic and therapeutic approach to his art, music, theatre, cultural workshops, and social activism is his spiritual medicine and he hopes to inspire others to live a full and purposeful life despite the setbacks. Jungaji also passionately speaks to the mental health space, with personal experience of impacts on his own family.
In addition to his cultural and personal pursuits, Jungaji is also the Chair of the Dhadjowa Foundation, a national grassroots organisation that provides support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families whose loved ones have died in custody, to which he represents his beloved “Aunty Sherry” lost in 2020 at the Brisbane Watch house. The Dhadjowa Foundation is a not-for- profit organisation that is independent from government funding and relies on donations, fundraising, and philanthropy. It offers peer support, financial assistance, and campaign capacity building, all of which are family-led and based on self-determination.
Across three decades, along with Aim 4 More, he has been part of the incredible Banawurun (Running Water) Band, Java, the Black Arm Band, and the family group ‘Troy’n’Trevelyn & The Tribe’.
In 2013, Aim 4 More reformed for a special performance at Stylin’ Up, Australia’s largest First Nations Hip Hop festival in his hometown suburb of Inala, Brisbane, to great acclaim and excitement. In 2023 their 30 Year Reunion delighted a sold-out audience at Judith Wright Centre in Fortitude Valley.
Jungaji is sought out for dynamic live performances with his band, as well as his gifts as a storyteller, workshop facilitator, actor (award-winning Barbara and the Campdogs at Belvoir Street Theatre in Sydney) and arts practitioner mentoring youth and adults around healing and cultural ways.
Jungaji has rebirthed into his new creative skin and is now dedicated to sharing his passionate voice and artistry with the world.
BIO - MOVING PARTS
A creatively and culturally diverse six piece band inspired by funk, roots and reggae traditions playing a dance-oriented repertoire of original tunes. Intricate percussion and funky bass combine with guitar, brass and keys to get audiences on their feet. Original compositions that weave imaginative and insightful lyrics into powerful and uplifting stories that explore culture, society and the environment.
BIO - GLING
Gling Hunt is a seasoned musician based in Brisbane, with an impressive musical journey spanning over 20 years. With a diverse background performing at a wide range of events, from large-scale festivals to intimate gigs, Gling has honed his ability to seamlessly connect with the atmosphere of any occasion. Notably, Gling’s musical talents extend beyond the stage. He's not only skilled both as a frontman and musician, but has also demonstrated his versatility in the world of composition. During a significant period of lockdown, he delved into the realm of film scoring, contributing his creative energy to the composition team for two compelling full-length documentaries, the first being "Alick and Albert," a documentary that earned official selections at prestigious events such as the Cannes Film Festival, Brisbane International Film Festival, and St Tropez Film Festival. His second composition credit came with Logie award winning documentary "Incarceration Nation," that received widespread recognition. It was selected as part of the esteemed Sydney Film Festival and was a finalist in the Walkley Awards. A significant achievement for this documentary was winning the coveted Best Documentary award at The ASIN Awards, cementing Glen's impact on the intersection of music and visual storytelling. This accomplishment reflects Gling’s ability to infuse his musical sensibilities into powerful visual storytelling, with his musical journey being one of continuous growth and innovation. Gling is also the bass player/vocals within the Jungaji band.