Big Name, No Blankets
Image: Big Names, No Blankets. Image: Sydney Festival
The Warumpi Band were formed in 1980 in the artistically rich Northern Territory Aboriginal community of Papunya, 240 kms north of Alice Springs.
Their core over many years included white school teacher Neil Murray and local brothers Gordon and Sammy Butcher, along with Elcho Islander George Burrawanga, their charismatic frontman.
Warumpi were the first band to sing in Aboriginal languages with their songs Jailanguru Pakurnu, My Island Home and Blackfella/Whitefella forming our first modern Black Anthems.
Despite this success, and the touring support of many white bands, including Midnight Oil, finial financial security evaded them, hence the title Big Name, No Blankets for this production.
Joining forces with original band member Sammy Butcher in this piece of rock and roll theatre is his sister Anyupa Butcher and Andrea James, a Yorta/Gunaikurnai women with Polish ancestry.
This trio reprise the rise and fall of Warumpi in a musical packed with humour, their powerful songs and rock star performances.
The onstage band of four musicians will include two Butcher brothers while another Butcher is doing sound arrangements and composition for the show, making it a true mob production.
Most importantly is the message that Warumpi Band always played by and that is that music can unite all cultures, and why not have some fun in telling the story.
January 10 – 14
Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay
