Running 19-28 September, celebrated music program Guts Touring will feature live concerts and workshops throughout the Northern Territory.
Floodlights and Utju's James Range Band will be key elements of the program, continuing Guts Touring's mission of bringing live music to remote communities with a 10-date tour, supported by Bush Music Fund.
Kicking off in Alice Springs on Thursday 19 September, Floodlights and James Range Band will then travel to Mutitjulu on September 20, Docker River the following day, and Tjukurla on September 22.
For the second half of the tour, they will perform in Kintore on Tuesday the 24th, Mount Liebig on Wednesday the 25th, Papunya on Thursday 26, and Ltyentye Apurte/Santa Teresa on Friday the 27th, before finishing with a special final performance in James Range Band's hometown of Utju on Saturday, September 28.
In addition to these special performances, Guts Touring will further continue its tradition of collaborating with local artists. Each community visited will feature local performers on the lineup, fostering cross-cultural exchanges and supporting local talent. This year's offering will also include a new solar-powered PA system, allowing artists the access to perform in spectacular parts of the Country where live music set-ups aren't normally a possibility.
Founder of Guts Touring, Jack Parsons is excited to reveal the program's next installment.
"Guts takes so long to plan that the actual tour often feels so far away, so to be announcing the next installment of Guts - and within a month of being back out on the road is very, very exciting. I can't wait to get back on the road with two beaut bands in some beaut remote communities," he said.
Formed in Naarm in 2018, Floodlights have gained a cult following across the country for their dynamic performances and poignant lyricism. The band are gearing up to tour the EU and UK in support of their acclaimed 2023 album, Painting of My Time, which was named Album of the Week on RRR, RTRfm and 2SER.
"I remember hearing about bands like Amyl and Dumb Punts doing the Guts Tours and thinking how amazing it'd be to get to do it. We feel so lucky to have gotten the call up and are counting down the days now. It's going to be so special," said Floodlights member, Joe Draffen.
James Range Band are a proud family band from the Pitjantjatjara community of Utju with stories to share about family, culture and community. They are experiencing a breakout year, winning the Rock Award at the Northern Territory Music Awards and a nomination for New Talent of the Year at the National Indigenous Music Awards.
This year, they have been announced as one of the bands working alongside Bush Music Fund, a music pathway program providing long term career development for First Nations musicians living in remote areas.
"We're so excited to be going on the tour," said James Range Band member, Imran Poulson.
Founded in 2016 by Parsons and James Clarke, Guts Touring is an annual 10-day program that brings live music and creative workshops to remote and outer regional communities. Aiming to bring together bands from major cities and remote communities, the tour creates opportunities for artists to perform in areas that rarely host such events, fostering collaboration and cultural exchange.
From their debut in 2016 to their recent tours with artists like Amyl and the Sniffers, Bad//Dreems and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Guts Touring has continued to evolve and expand its vision. Guts Touring also conducts workshops in remote schools, aiming to inspire and educate young students about music and its positive impact, encouraging them to explore their own musical potential.
With a similar mission, Bush Music Fund encourages artists to develop their own career plan while working alongside them, before uniting industry stakeholders around the artist to achieve their designed goals.
As a conduit between artists, their family, community and the wider Australian contemporary music industry, Bush Music Fund is a registered charity that seeks to empower, nurture and foster collaboration between First Nations musicians living in remote areas – further ensuring their voices are heard, celebrated and their opportunities to reach their music goals are maximised.
The 2024 program, created in partnership with Bush Music Fund, reflects Guts Touring renewed focus on remote locations and a commitment to showcasing diverse talent.
For more fashion, beauty and lifestyle news subscribe for free to the Style Up newsletter.
