Yolngu Funk from Arnhem Land

Artist: Andrew Gurruwiwi Band
Song: Gatjumak
Release Date: 25/3/22
Label: Independent release

Just like King Stingray and Baker Boy before
them, the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band are the next
hot musical act to burst out of Arnhem Land, NT.
The band is led by the one and only Andrew
Gurruwiwi – a shy-but-extravagant, blind,
keytar-wielding Yolngu elder with a passion to
make people dance while sharing his culture.
A high-energy, 8-piece funk band who have honed their chops on the beach at Birrtjimi and
in the dirt of Yirrkala, 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.
Gatjumak features a very special guest – King Stingray guitarist Dimathaya Burrarwanga
plays drums on the track – a truly multi-talented musician.

• THE SONG –

Gatjumak means ‘GO FOR IT!’ in Yolngu Matha.

It’s the band’s debut single, a song spawned out of the absolute mayhem of Arnhem Land
community festivals. When Andrew Gurruwiwi shouts ‘Gatjumak’, it’s nothing short of a direct
challenge to the audience, to the dancers, to the other musicians. ‘Show me your style…
Show me what you got…Go for it!’
And it delivers. Fierce dancing and craziness have erupted on the dirt dancefloors all across
Arnhem Land, from Galiwin’ku to Milingimbi, with the band ready to now take their unique
sound to all of Australia, and hopefully, the world.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUYC3UdvE3I

• THE BIZ –

Recorded in Arnhem Land by the band.
Mixed & mastered in Arnhem Land by Kris Keogh (King Stingray, Yothu Yindi, Daniel
Johns, Birdz, Tasman Keith)
Andrew Gurruwiwi Band are currently unsigned. Send the labels our way please!
Contact the band direct: English and Yolngu Matha – OK / Manymak!

Andrew Grimes

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