Becca Hatch to Headline Free Concert
City of Newcastle (CN) has unveiled details for This Land, Global Gathering and Ngiarrenumba Burrai (Our Country) as part of the final program for the flagship New Annual festival, which will deliver ten days of art, culture, and creativity across the city from 22 September.
Music fans will be in for a treat when rising Kamilaroi-Samoan singer-songwriter Becca Hatch takes to the Museum Park stage on Friday, 29 September, to headline This Land, a musical showcase of nationally renowned and local First Nations artists presented by the University of Newcastle.
The Sydney performer rose to prominence after winning Triple J Unearthed High’s Indigenous Initiative in 2017 and has gone on to carve out a name for herself in Australia's R&B scene, including a solo headline show at this year's Vivid LIVE and 2022 tours in support of Spacey Jane and Vera Blue.
“City of Newcastle is committed to developing a deeper local connection with, and understanding of, the people, practices and stories of the traditional custodians of our land and the diversity of cultures that make up our community today," said Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes.
The Minister for Multiculturalism, Steve Kamper, said the NSW Government was proud to provide $400,000 to the City of Newcastle under Multicultural NSW Festival and Event Grants to support the festival.
"The NSW Government is supporting more than 80 festivals and events through the latest round of Multicultural NSW grant funding, including Newcastle's diverse and eclectic New Annual festival," Minister Kamper said.
"Through this grant funding, City of Newcastle has been able to significantly expand this year's festivities to further celebrate the city's rich local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and multicultural fabric."
Hatch will be joined on the bill by Truwulway woman and hip hop artist Denni, Wiradjuri singer-songwriter Blanche and Maanyung, a proud Gumbaynggirr and Yaegl singer-songwriter who performed at the opening and closing of the First Nations Runway at the Melbourne Fashion Festival in 2022. Acoustic duo Chain Daisy from the University of Newcastle will round out the bill.
Visit www.newannual.com for more details about the full New Annual program and to secure your tickets.
