Ray Dimakarri Dixon –

Ray Dimakarri Dixon, a proud leader in Australia’s Indigenous music scene, grew up singing in one of the world’s oldest languages, Mudburra, now only spoken by 50 people.

Ray was originally a member of 80’s legends Kulimindini Band, and in 2012 he joined with his daughter Eleanor to form Rayella, a family music group singing in Mudburra and English. They went on to win national and international acclaim, performing at Music NT’s Bush Bands Bash in Alice Springs, Desert Harmony

Festival, Nannup Festival and The National Folk Festival. They also toured through remote Western Australia with Sand Tracks Tour in 2015. In 2016 Rayella supported American music legends The Violent Femmes on their Australian tour as well as collaborating with Opera Australia’s Chamber Orchestra, the Darwin Symphony Orchestra and Indigenous music legend Kutcha Edwards. Since 2015, Ray’s music has travelled the world, collaborating with internationally renowned theatre makers Finucane & Smith.

Ray, who writes and records music under his traditional name ‘Dimakarri’, is a passionate protector and custodian of Mudburra Country, channelling the fire that fuels him into a profound musical output. Ray has also produced the album Standing Strong and the recent EP Shadow Water. He is backed by Blue Mountains outfit The Standing Strong Band, who have worked with Ray since 2019 touring the NT. For this tour, the band welcomes back fiddle player Maizy Coombs, who, along with bassist Skye Evans and drummer Ian Morrison, are known for their part in Lime and Steel. The band also features Chet Miller on electric guitar, Terry Morgan on djembe and baritone uke, and vocals from Lulu Levins-Skehill. Now Ray and the Standing Strong Band are coming to NSW and the ACT, delivering songs, stories and ancient wisdom through an eclectic mix of contemporary music. Connect with the spirits of the land – Water is Life.

Stuart Joel Nugget

Stuart Joel Nugget is a Jingil and Mudbarra man from the remote Barkly region of the NT, currently based in Alice Springs. He is one of the new wave of younger Indigenous singer songwriters, he sings about the beauty and sanctity of his traditional country and culture, the threats to his world from mining and fracking and the joys and struggles of daily life in the remote outback. Many of Stuart’s songs are rendered in his ancient Jingili language in honour of his ancestors and as an example to younger people.