2021 Sonus3 Tour to deliver intercultural celebration of music and dance across the Kimberley

Tura is embarking on the 2021 Sonus3 Tour from 10th – 23rd September bringing diverse and vibrant groups of artists together in celebration of culture and place performing concerts in Kununurra, Warmun, Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing, Broome, Kooljaman, One Arm Point, Djarindjin/Lombadina and Beagle Bay.

In addition to the concerts in each community, Sonus3 will host workshops in schools, engaging primary and secondary music students with content from the tour.

The evolving Sonus line-ups and collaborations, which feature songs of outback Australia and new commissioned music on each tour, pivots in a captivating new direction for Sonus3 with internationally renowned dance company Marrugeku joining the Tura Touring Program for the first time.

Artistic Director Tos Mahoney said Tura’s award-winning Regional Programs are committed to community engagement, drawing on a 20-year history of connection and shared learning.

Mahoney notes “from interactive school workshops to collaborations with local artists as well as cultural exchanges with Traditional Owners, the Sonus tours are very much a two-way process with touring artists being powerfully influenced by the people and places they meet and experience.

“The tours also make a significant contribution to the social, cultural, educational, and community lives of people living in regional centres and remote communities across the Kimberley through the community engagement program.

“Performing alongside dance groups such as Marrugeku and the Waringarri performers in Kununurra – this exchange of music and knowledge has formed a dialogue of artistic collaboration, providing a new platform for communities to celebrate the sounds of their country.”

Sonus3 will see Kimberley singer-songwriter Stephen Pigram, Iranian percussionist Esfandiar Shahmir, cellist Tristen Parr, and flautist Tos Mahoney collaborate with Marrugeku co-Artistic Director Dalisa Pigram, associate dancer Tara Gower and guest artists.

Tura and Marrugeku artists have been creatively exploring cross-cultural connections over the past two years and this is the first public showing of their music and dance collaboration.

Stephen Pigram has been working with Tura since 2006. Pigram has been described as the ‘king of Kimberley song’ for his over 35 years of composing and performing both solo and as part of the Pigram Brothers. A Yawuru singer/songwriter, Pigram has been paving the way for the ‘saltwater country’ genre, a distinct Broome sound that captures the multiculturalism of the area.  

Pigram will be joined by Iranian instrumentalist Esfandiar Shahmir who plays the Persian daf (frame drum) and other percussion interlacing his ancient and cross-disciplinary sounds with songs of country, along with cellist Tristen Parr and flautist Tos Mahoney.

Dalisa Pigram is a Yawuru/Bardi woman and dancer born and raised in Broome. She has worked with Marrugeku since their first production Mimi, has been Co-Artistic Director since 2008 and is a co-devising performer on all Marrugeku’s productions, touring extensively overseas and throughout Australia.

Tara Gower is a proud Yawuru woman from Broome who also has Spanish, Filipino and Irish ancestry. She returned home to the Kimberley after pursuing a successful career as a professional dancer spanning over 15 years, which included performing in New York, Paris, London. She was nominated in Dance Australia’s Critic Choice Awards as ‘Dancer to Watch’.

The Sonus3 Tour, 10th – 23rd September 2021 Full tour and booking details 

Sonus3 Concert Program  

Kununurra
Sunday 12th September 2021
Waringarri Aboriginal Arts and Culture Centre

Warmun
Monday 13th September 2021
Warmun Community

Fitzroy Crossing
Wednesday 15th September 2021
Tourist Information Centre Lawns

Broome
Saturday 18th September 2021
Sun Pictures
Ticketed performance

Kooljaman
Sunday 19th September 2021
Kooljaman

Djarindjin & Lombadina
Tuesday 21st September

One Arm Point
Wednesday 22nd September

Beagle Bay
Thursday 23rd September

Schools and Community Workshops
Beyond the concert program, the Sonus3 Tour will make a significant contribution to the social, cultural, educational, and community lives of people living in regional centres and remote communities across the Kimberley through the community engagement program. The Tour will engage with communities through a schools workshop/presentation program which will deliver primary and high school students content from the tour, the expertise of all the artists, interactive processes, and performance with music students. For full details click here.

Image L-R: Tristen Parr, Stephen Pigram, Tos Mahoney, Esfandiar Shahmir. Credi: Sarah Duguid