Eastern Arrernte Band – Reggae Dancer
About
Listen to Eastern Arrernte Band members Wesley and Tyrone chat with Steven from First Nations Radio about the tour:
Artback NT presents: Eastern Arrernte Band NT Regional Tour – Reggae Dancer
Eastern Arrernte Band are a young desert reggae band emerging from the community of Ltyentye Apurte/Santa Teresa, 80 km from Alice Springs. Singing in both English and Eastern Arrernte their songs revolve around place and country with a strong sense of self and personal identity, tackling issues of loneliness, incarceration, and youth issues. With deep vocals and great riffs combined with a classic double keyboard reggae vibe this band are one to watch as the future of desert reggae.
Made up of Wesley Oliver and Tyrone Hayes who are both on keys & vocals; Barney Conway on drums; Kerry Bird on lead guitar; Brandon Hayes on rhythm guitar and Baxter Alice on bass, Eastern Arrernte Band have been playing together since high school.
On country, the band members (aged from 25-35) work as youth workers, assistant teachers, school bus drivers and night patrol men. By contributing their skills to their land and community, they are inspired to create their unique brand of music. Singing in both English and eastern Arrernte, their songs revolve around place and country with a strong sense of self and personal identity. Their lyrics tackle issues of loneliness, incarceration, and issues pertaining to youth and their experiences as young people living on country.
Their lyrical expression is supported by their strong epic and cinematic desert reggae sound made up of deep vocals, catchy riffs and double keyboards. Performing live, the Eastern Arrernte Band are known to bring people to the dance floor and keep them there!
In 2021, this young band took time to record and release their debut full length album titled Reggae Dancer. A huge milestone for the band who crafted their sound by performing at multiple festivals and celebrations since 2016.
The below video was created by big Eastern Arrernte Band fans VAMPtv, NT Music School, Department of Education
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Artists
Wesley Oliver – keys & vocals
Tyrone Hayes – keys & vocals
Barney Conway – drums
Gordon Mulladad – lead
Brandon Hayes – rhythm
Baxter Alice – bass
Resources
Video: VAMPtv, NT Music School, Department of Education
Reviews
Bloody beautiful music. The notes soar from between the bars
Edmund Weir
Smooth, deep vocals, catchy riffs and the classic reggae double keyboard all come together beautifully to capture the crowd and take them on a storytelling journey together.
Australian Music Radio Airplay Project
Eastern Arrernte Band’s music brings people together where they’re playing live, making us dance up a sweat!
Jasmyn Sheppard
They’re a talented group with great voices and musicianship. Sunday’s album launch was such a fun gig to attend for Desert Fest 2021 in Mpartnwe.