Wildfire Manwurrk
Australia
A melting pot of ancient songlines, thrashing rock guitars and the stories men face in a world of culture, chaos and change. From Arnhem Land, the members of Wildfire Manwurrk live between Maningrida Community and their ancestral home, Korlorbidahdah, eight hours drive from Darwin. Their music is like ’80s garage rock anthems sung in age-old endangered languages and comes from a place where a tidal wave of change is meeting the oldest culture on earth. Their music looks at both worlds, “We’re telling our honest story using balanda (whitefella) and bininj (blackfella) music together,” they say. “Kunborrk (ceremony songlines) with modern instruments are our double tools.” In 2023, the six-piece took out the prestigious Archie Roach Foundation Award and Community Clip of the Year at the National Indigenous Music Awards, and their recordings gained airplay across Australia, including on Triple J, MTV and Rage.