NAIDOC in the City, featuring Christine Anu
PRESENTED BY FED SQUARE AND CITY OF MELBOURNE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KOORIE HERITAGE TRUST AND MOTH DESIGN
Christine Anu headlines an incredible line-up of First Peoples talent, as part of the annual NAIDOC in the City festival and free concert.
An annual NAIDOC Week highlight, all are invited to this vibrant, community-led festival, featuring a First Peoples makers’ market, free workshops, live entertainment, food and family-friendly activities for all ages.
This year’s NAIDOC in the City free concert features a powerhouse line-up of First Peoples talent, including the incredible Christine Anu, Bumpy, Zipporah, Benny Walker and more.
Explore the vibrant KHT NAIDOC Week Market, featuring over 20 First Peoples stallholders with art, craft, design, fashion, jewellery and more. Alongside the market, KHT will host a variety of free workshops and activities for all ages, as well as a welcoming Elders Lounge and quiet space.
This year’s NAIDOC theme, ’50 Years of Deadly’, celebrates five decades of NAIDOC Week as a community-led movement – honouring Elders, leaders, artists and communities who have shaped its history, while building momentum for a strong, resilient future.
All welcome.
For more details on NAIDOC Week check out: https://www.naidoc.org.au/
Christine Anu is one of Australia’s most celebrated recording artists and live performers,renowned for her powerful voice, captivating stage presence. Beyond music, her diverse career has included acclaimed roles in theatre productions such Hadestown, film appearances and broadcasting with ABC Radio. Proudly Torres Strait Islander, Christine continues to use her platform to celebrate culture, inspire audiences, and advocate for unity and inclusion. In 2024, she released her critically acclaimed album Waku – Minaral A Minalay, widely regarded as her most significant and personal musical work to date.
Decorated Naarm/Melbourne-based artist and proud Noongar woman Bumpy is a captivating force with a voice that ripples stars. She creates a unique constellation of contemporary soul, funk, jazz and folk, brought to life on stages around the world alongside her commanding live band that take audiences on a “vibrant sonic journey” (The Music). Bumpy has enraptured audiences all around the world, and has collected a number of prestigious accolades. Her debut album Kanana was released October 3 via Astral People Recordings, claiming 11 feature album selections with 2SER calling it “[a] masterclass in studio recording… It’s as uplifting and honest an album as they come, beautifully produced and the true standout of Australian soul music this year.” Kanana was also listed in the top 10 of the best albums of 2025 for Rolling Stone and Double J.
A proud Samu and Suy woman from Saibai Island in the Torres Strait, Zipporah has walked between two worlds – embracing both sides of her Torres Strait / Australian heritage.
Her debut EP Naungu urui was released in February this year, showcasing a masterful blend of R&B, soul and jazz and positioning Zipporah as one of Australia’s exciting new voices.
A Yorta Yorta man from Echuca, Benny Walker is the real deal. His killer voice and epic tales are mixed with a deep groove and passion for the land. Recent offerings SAVE and Oh No You Don’t shot to No. 1 on the AMRAP charts; the latter earning him four NIMA 2016 nominations and the award for “Best Aboriginal Talent” at The Age Music Victoria Awards.
His latest songs produced by Jan Skubiszewski mix Blues and Roots with a contemporary guitar driven soul vibe. Benny Walker has performed alongside some of Australia’s finest, including Archie Roach, Alex Lloyd, Blue King Brown and Tim Rogers.
Crooked TP is a proud Mutthi Mutthi/Yorta Yorta and Tongan artist, and a devoted father of two. Born and raised in the small town of Robinvale in Victoria’s northwest, his upbringing between Robinvale and Mildura shaped his authentic perspective, late nights, street life and survival, full of lessons he chose to learn the hard way. All of this echoes through his music along with the gritty urban realism and raw masculinity imbued in his rhymes. Raised by a strong single mother and three older sisters, Crooked TP holds deep values around family and community. As he says, “It takes a community to raise Blakfullas,” and that truth carries through his journey and across his sound.
A proud Barkindji and Wiradjuri singer/ songwriter based in Naarm, Leonie Whyman is inspired by her own spiritual journey. Drawing on her experiences as a First Nations woman, her lyricism will take you on a journey of healing and empowerment.
Expect diverse genres, from blues to jazz, country to rock, and even hip hop in the mix. Whyman strives to make music to heal hurting hearts, make her audience think and feel deeply, and to use her voice as a platform to shed light on difficult topics.
Dungala Baimi (“River Spirit” in the Yorta Yorta language) is an up-and-coming band based in Naarm. They create a captivating blend of soul, blues and storytelling music. Committed to authenticity, Dungala Baimi draw from their own life experiences to explore the challenges of real modern life; as their evocative lyrics tackle themes of resilience, identity and connection, they invite listeners to reflect on the world around them. They are more than the sum of its parts, with all members bringing their unique experiences and sounds to create an experience rich in harmony and soul.