Andrew Gurruwiwi Band at Phoenix Central Park

Andrew Gurruwiwi Band is a high-energy, 8-piece funk band who have honed their chops on the beach at Birrtjimi and in the dirt of Yirrkala, a remote NT community in North East Arnhem Land. Led by Andrew Gurruwiwi, a shy-but-extravagant, blind, keytar-wielding Yolngu elder with a passion to make people dance while sharing his culture, the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band write real funk jams in their native tongue, Yolngu Matha.

Their sound is truly fresh – Yolngu funk – a style only hinted at previously on the impossible-to-find pair of 7-inches cut by George Rrurrambu & Birdwave, that now go for hundreds of dollars on Discogs.

In July 2024, Andrew Gurruwiwi Band released their highly anticipated debut album, 'Sing Your Own Song'.

The Andrew Gurruwiwi Band has been playing together for around four years, having earned a loyal following for their vibrant live shows and booty-shaking songs like 2023’s Gatjumak. Sing Your Own Song is also something of an extended family affair – recorded in Sydney’s Parliament Studios, the sessions in late 2023 saw the band joined by acclaimed guitarist Frances Diatschenko (Gurrumul/The Sheikhs), the horn section from Kiwi dub fusionists Sub-Tribe, founding Yothu Yindi bassist Stu Kellaway, the exemplary stylings from Mali’s guitar maestro Moussa Diakite, violinist QVLN and production wizardry by global instrumentalist Julian Belbachir. Guitarist and co-producer Andrew Grimes said the band was incredibly excited for the world to finally hear what’s destined to be one of the most impressive debut albums of the year.

“To get to a point where we’re now putting this body of work out, where every song is so different, but you can tell it’s from the same band – we love that,” Grimes says. “It’s our own, and we’re very proud. In our hearts, we knew the answer lay along this path, by going our own way. Singing our own song.”

In 2023 Andrew Gurruwiwi Band performed their dynamic live show to VIVID Sydney, Garrmalang, Parrtjima, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Golden Plains, SXSW Sydney and QPAC’s Clancestry Festival where they captivated crowds and had them on their feet dancing the night away instantly. In 2024 they made legendary appearances at Barunga Festival, East Arnhem Live, Garma, and a powerful headline performance at QPAC’s Clancestry Festival.

Tickets are free, available via ballot only.