Songs From the River, Macquarie Arms Hotel, Windsor, Nov 2nd 2024

This concert reimagined Darug and settler music from the early nineteenth century, with a focus on song and instrumental music that was performed around the Hawkesbury/Dyarubbin river. It also featured new songs composed by Darug people that speak to that area and to the past. It took place in a pub in Windsor, on the banks of the river, built in 1815, and some of the music we performed may have been played in the same building 200 years ago. It was a concert that showcased the diversity of music making that has occurred in this area of Sydney, but also recognised the violence and dispossession against Darug people that enabled and was the backdrop to this music making. 

The material here includes original lyrics by Rev John McGarvie, published in the Sydney Gazette and set to popular tunes of  the day, topical comedy songs, English folk songs and jigs, traditional Darug songs, notated by Europeans and re-sung by Darug people today, and new songs by Jacinta Tobin. It also includes a reimagined 'jam session' between Aboriginal and Irish musicians.

Photos and video by Lyndal Irons.

 Performers: Jacinta Tobin (vocals, guitar, clapsticks) Stacy-Jane Etal (vocals, clapsticks)  Laura Case (violin) Toby Martin (vocals, guitar) Mahesh Radhakrishan-White (vocals, guitar, tambura, percussion) Kathryn Roberts-Parker (vocals, violin, harmonium) Julia Russoniello (violin) Suze Pratten (vocals)

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