Blak & Bright: Stories Behind the Songs

Dive into the profound narratives behind the melodies with Stories Beyond the Songs, featuring First Peoples singer/ songwriters and composers Allara Briggs, Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, Maylene Yinar and Monica Jasmine Karo (MpathSoul).

This captivating showcase features four extraordinary singer/ songwriters, each weaving a tapestry of inspiration behind their compositions.

These events will be AUSLAN interpreted.

About the Stories Behind The Songs speakers

Allara Briggs 

Allara Briggs, a Yorta Yorta woman, unfolds tales of Blak justice and climate justice through her unique blend of storytelling, music, bass guitar and looping. Having graced stages at the St Kilda Festival and Port Fairy Folk Festival this year, Allara transforms grief for past injustices into a cultural investigation and artistic statement.

Maylene Yinarr

Yinarr’s songs echo with themes of hope and healing, paying tribute to the frontier wars on Australia’s soil. The talented Naarm-based artist radiates poise and soul, delivering sonically lush and thematically intricate tunes, with a blend of indie and pop. Yinarr’s melodies invite listeners to connect on a deeper level.

Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO

A Yorta Yorta soprano, actor, composer and playwright, Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO has graced international stages, performing at prestigious events like the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Her opera, Pecan Summer, brought to life the 1939 Cummeragunja walk-off.

MpathSoul

A proud Gunnai/Kurnai, Gunditjamara and Mukjarwaint woman, MpathSoul infuses her spoken word artistry and soulful folk music with a deep spiritual connection to her ancestry. Her original works, resonating with themes of protest, healing and connection, have echoed across stages at St Kilda Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival and Yirramboi Festival.