First Nations musician BARKAA has announced her upcoming national tour, BIG TIDDA.
Set to entertain audiences across seven shows, the announcement of the the tour comes ahead of the rapper's highly anticipated new EP, set for release on Friday 30 August.
Commencing at the Darwin Festival on Friday 23 August, the tour will then see BARKAA make make her way to Boorloo/Perth on Saturday 21 September, The Rechabite and Lutruwita/Hobart's Altar on Sunday 28 September, the Lion Arts Factory in Kaurna/Adelaide on Friday 4 October, Meanjin/Brisbane's The Brightside on Friday 11 October and The Corner Hotel in Naarm/Melbourne on Friday 18 October.
To close out the tour, BARKAA will also perform a hometown show at Eora/Sydney's Oxford Arts Factory on Saturday 2 November.
Taking the EP to audiences for the first time, th new music from the talented musician marks a new chapter in both her personal and professional career.
Over seven tracks, BARKAA embraces growth and finds beauty in the unknown - drawing from her childhood in Eora/Sydney to the trials and tribulations of a young, Blak mother.
The EP's recently released singles "Preach" and "We Up" are just a glimpse into the record's unapologetic and vulnerable storytelling.
"Big Tidda is a celebration of blak joy, the importance of blak love and just feeling yourself. I showcased my culture with Blak Matriarchy, but with Big Tidda, I am taking you for a walk through the streets where I grew up - the Housing Commission estates of Southwest Sydney. The message behind the record is to have fun," BARKAA said.
"We're not just blakfellas who make blak music. We're blakfellas. We make great music and we are taking over. It's take-over season. I create music for everybody, but mostly with my sister girls in mind. I want people to connect to my music and be like: 'that's my track. That's my story. I can relate to that. I feel that. I'm going to big-note myself today. I'm going to be confident today. I'm going to make amends to my family today. I'm going to take accountability today.' That's what Big Tidda is about. I want all my tiddas to feel like they are ~that Tidda. They're that Big Tidda."
In addition to the hype surrounding her upcoming tour, BARKAA has been making recent headlines following a series of awards, accolades and electrifying performances.
In 2023 she made an impressive debut at SXSW Sydney, performed her hit single "King Brown" at the ARIA Awards and launched an exclusive kids tee with Haus of Dizzy, before capping off the year with a standout Sydney NYE performance alongside 3%.
So far this year BARKAA has been awarded the Artist of the Year at the 2024 National Indigenous Music Award and took home Film Clip of the Year BARKAA, 'We Up' as well as taking home Game Changer of the Year at the inaugural Pedestrian Television Awards, with the talented artist showing no signs of slowing down.
She also concluded a sold-out run of live shows, including a performance at Sydney Opera House during VIVID Live in addition to headline dates including Eora's The Lansdowne and two nights at Naarm's The Curtin.
As she cements her reign as a leading voice in Australia's hip-hop scene, BARKAA continues to assert her role as the new matriarch of Australian rap.
Her down-to-earth personality, passion for storytelling and powerful voice is set to see the singer continue break new ground as a proud First Nations artist.
BARKAA - BIG TIDDA national tour
Friday 23 August - Darwin Festival, Larrakia/Darwin NT with Kobie Dee
Saturday 21 September – The Rechabite, Boorloo/Perth WA
Sunday 28 September – Altar, Lutruwita/Hobart TAS
Friday 4 October - Lion Arts Factory, Kaurna/Adelaide SA
Friday 11 October – The Brightside, Meanjin/Brisbane QLD
Friday 18 October – The Corner Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne VIC
Saturday 2 November - Oxford Arts Factory, Eora/Sydney NSW
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