A musical revolution…
Sometimes a musical revolution can explode from the most unlikely of places, as ARIA Hall of Fame inductees Yothu Yindi have proven time and time again.
Since bursting onto the scene in the late 1980s with their album Homeland Movement, Yothu Yindi – the pioneering band of blackfellas and whitefellas from far northern Australia – continues to break boundaries with their music.
With sounds stretching from tribal Yolngu beats and vocals to contemporary electronica and thumping rock ‘n’ roll, a political heart is beating throughout it all.
Still touring tirelessly with original members and fresh talent from the next generation, audiences know Yothu Yindi for their legendary stage shows and for injecting new fire into classic songs.
Where it all started
Yothu Yindi’s career has spanned multiple decades, with hit albums and singles including Treaty, Djapana (Sunset Dreaming), Tribal Voice, Timeless Land, World Turning and more.
They’ve been nominated for 12 ARIA Awards and won eight.
Stalwarts of the Indigenous music scene in Australia, Yothu Yindi have toured the globe, winning fans across the US, Europe and the Pacific, and performing all across Australia in between, including with Midnight Oil, Paul Kelly, Neil Young and Santana.
In 2012 they were inducted alongside the greats of Australian music into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
Where it’s at today
Today, in 2019, the classic band continues to evolve.
In the last couple of years alone, the band has played packed out shows at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre, Melbourne’s Hamer Hall, Byron Bay Bluesfest’s Crossroads stage and the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
On the flipside to their ability to play to some of the most prestigious venues in the nation, Yothu Yindi have never forgotten their roots, and can still be found playing in the remote heart of northeast Arnhem Land where they hail from.
In 2018, Yothu Yindi paid tribute to late founding singer Dr Mandawuy Yunupingu, a former Australian of the Year, with a special ceremony and concert in the community of Biranybirany.
Despite losing Dr Yunupingu in 2013, the band carries his legacy proudly with talented new frontman Yirringa Yunupingu walking tall in his uncle’s footsteps.
Proving the lasting power of Yothu Yindi, the band has recently released a new single, Mabo, which both critics and audiences have been praising for its infectious groove and political message.
Yothu Yindi continues to tour, so watch this space, and make sure to see them in a town near you.