Hear a performance by iconic Pitantjantjara and Mirning singer/songwriter Bart Willoughby as he plays live music inside exhibition Wurrdha Marra especially for the NAIDOC celebration.
About the musician
Pioneering Indigenous performer Bart Willoughby first came to prominence in the late 1970’s in the band, No Fixed Address. Born on the Koonibba Mission in Ceduna, South Australia, Willoughby is a Pitantjatjara man of the Kuthatha tribe on his father’s side and Mirning through his mother. Known for singing from behind his kit in No Fixed Address and penning such anthems as We Have Survived, Black Mans Rights, and Aboriginal Woman, he developed a unique style fusing reggae rock and pacific rhythms, creating his own place within the reggae music genre. Touring with Peter Tosh and The Clash, and performing with John Trudel, his lyrics giving a voice to the plight of, and fight for the rights of his people. No Fixed Address were the first Indigenous band to tour internationally and sign a record deal. In 1993, Willoughby received the Inaugural Aria Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Indigenous Music.
Over his 40 years in the music industry, Willoughby has continued to travel nationally and internationally, promoting his music and culture. More recently he has been playing with The Black Arm Band, performing at London’s Barbican Theatre and providing music for the Malthouse Theatre’s production of The Shadow King. He performs both as a solo artist and as band leader of The Bart Willoughby Band. In 2023, Willoughby was awarded an Order of Australia (OAM) medal in the General Division, for service to the performing arts, particularly through music.
