Qld Music Trails Announces Brand-New Event for the Tropics Trail: Shine On Gimuy
Qld Music Trails Announces Brand-New Event for the Tropics Trail: Shine On Gimuy
An Incredible Light and Art Display in the heart of Gimuy/Cairns
Presented by QLD Music Trails & Shine On Productions
After the lightning-fast sell-out of Yarrabah Music and Cultural Festival, the Tropics leg of Qld Music Trails has another one for the calendar, with this new First Nations event.
The Queensland Music Trails adventure will continue all the way up to the state’s Far North this October. With Yarrabah Music & Cultural Festival having already reached full capacity, the Tropics Trail has added another stellar event to its itinerary! Shine On Gimuy is a major new First Nations event, led by Indigenous Creative and Cultural Guides who will bring a stunning art display to the Cairns waterfront on October 5 through 15.
A journey of immersion, exploration and connection to the world's oldest culture, Shine On Gimuy will be a multi-artform event that illuminates the streets with light shows, soundscapes, art installations, programmed talks and music performances that capture 60,000 years of history, science, tradition and stories untold.
Shine On Gimuy Creative Director, Rhoda Roberts OA, says, “The Yidindji of Cairns host ‘Shine on Gimuy,’ a new festival that is the illumination of ideas, knowledge, AND country. Staged on the Cairns Esplanade, highlighting the magnificent tree canopies with artworks by celebrated local artists Paul Bong and Michelle Yeatman leading to the events space on Cairns Waterfront where music, dance, stories reflect the philosophy of land, waterways and sky country.”
“Come and join us and meet the locals, our elders will make you feel like you’re visiting like family, as the sunset provides a magical backdrop of singular beauty for our music, song and dance.”
Minister for the Arts, Leeanne Enoch MP, said that the inaugural Shine on Gimuy First Nations arts and cultural festival in 2023 is an exciting addition to Queensland’s cultural calendar that will strengthen the region’s reputation as a destination for exceptional live music and visual arts events.
“The Queensland Government is proud to invest in the Shine on Gimuy Festival with support of more than $460,000 over three years through Arts Queensland’s Strategic Partnerships Fund, and $80,000 from the First Nations Commissioning Fund for the event’s opening ceremony.
“We are also supporting arts sector employment and capacity building through the festival with an investment of $125,000 over two years enabling two industry placements that will grow marketing and partnerships expertise and production coordination.
“Importantly Shine on Gimuy will employ more than 70 local artists and arts workers, generate social, cultural and economic benefits, and share the region’s powerful First Nations stories, arts and cultures ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games when Queensland will be showcased on the global stage.”
Shine On Productions Producers Merryn Hughes and Julie Brooks, say, “Shine on Productions are thrilled to be staging the inaugural First Nations Shine on Gimuy Festival creating a new opportunity to build sustainable economic development in Tropical North Queensland.
“With the support of the Queensland Government, QMF, the local community and our commercial partners, Shine on Gimuy will help to raise the profile of Queensland arts, provide ongoing employment opportunities for Queenslanders and establish TNQ as the premier First Nations cultural tourism destination.
“We look forward to establishing Shine on Gimuy as a major key event on the Queensland Major Events calendar.”
Tourism Minister and Ministerial Champion for Yarrabah, Stirling Hinchliffe, said that “The evidence shows us that there is a real desire for more authentic Indigenous cultural visitor experiences and events like Shine On Gimuy will help draw them to the far north.
“The sell-out success of the Yarrabah Music & Cultural Festival tells us unique indigenous music and art performers are in demand while helping to build on Queensland’s reputation as Australia’s cultural tourism destination of choice.
“The Tropics Trail provides a terrific opportunity to immerse yourself in one of the world’s oldest living cultures while supporting good jobs and the local visitor economy."
Deputy Mayor Cr Terry James, proclaimed that, “We are immensely proud to partner with Shine on Gimuy, a celebration of our First Nations arts and culture.”
“With breathtaking art, stunning light, music displays, this event promises to be a vivid journey, showcasing the rich tapestry of First Nations history, traditions, and stories.
“As well as promoting Cairns as the arts and cultural capital of Northern Australia, this event will also provide a platform to increase the knowledge and understanding of First Nations culture.”
The artworks, elevated by the evocative soundscapes, will feature the language, stories, chants, and songs that have culminated from the rich Indigenous oral history of the region, offering a unique and poignant experience of the First Nations people of Gimuy/Cairns.
Held on the same weekend as Yarrabah Music and Cultural Festival, it rounds out the stunning musical road trip itinerary for the Tropics Trail. Surrounded by the stunning rainforest-to-beach landscape and unbeatable travel spots - including one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World, the Great Barrier Reef - this visit to Far North Queensland is unmissable.
The unique event offers roadtrippers, locals and punters alike the chance to experience an authentic connection to Indigenous culture, as told by the local First Nations people, who are the custodians of ancient connections to Gimuy land, culture and nature.
Among the most enriching experiences offered across the ten days, some of the highlights are sure to be the Gimuy Art Story Walk (which will include installations of Shields and Swords, Fever of Stingrays, Saltwater, Blaktivation, Country Ceremony Opening Ceremony and The Blak Markets).
As a part of the festivities, Salt House will host music makers live music performances from some of Australia’s best known First Nations talent and the ‘Deep Wisdom’ talk series featuring cultural knowledge holders who will explore a range of topics including; sea migration, story of origin/creation, land, sea and sky stories, songlines across country, fire management, First Nations inventors.
Shine On Gimuy is designed to bring to the world a resource for cultural information, understanding and enjoyment of First Nations culture.
Shine on Gimuy is proudly supported by the Queensland Government, and through Tourism and Events Queensland, and is a feature of the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.
Shine On Gimuy is presented by QLD Music Trails and Shine On Productions and supported by Cairns Regional Council, Tourism Tropical North Queensland, James Cook University, and Salt House. Tickets and information can be found at shineongimuy.au
Shields and Swords
Paul Bong
Saltwater
Michelle Yeatman
Fever of Stingrays
QUEENSLAND MUSIC TRAILS 2023
BRISBANE TRAIL: SEPTEMBER 1-23
SWEET RELIEF!
Brisbane, September 16
Groove Armada (DJ Set - Aus Exclusive), The Avalanches (Aus Exclusive), Ladyhawke, Cut Copy DJ Set, Nina Las Vegas, Latifa Tee, Yo! Mafia, Poof Doof Pride Patrol feat. Jimi the Kween & more.
TROPICS TRAIL: OCTOBER 7
SHINE ON GIMUY
Cairns/Gimuy, October 5 - 15
YARRABAH MUSIC & CULTURAL FESTIVAL
Yarrabah, October 7
Jessica Mauboy, Electric Fields, Jessie Lloyd, Yarrabah Brass Band
Hon. Leeanne Enoch MP
“It was a pleasure to meet with the team and hear about their successful funding through Arts Queensland's Strategic Partnerships Fund”
Source: Facebook
"The Gimuy (Cairns) waterfront will soon be illuminated by lightshows, soundscapes, art installations, programmed talks and music performance at SHINE ON GIMUY.
"It was a pleasure to meet with the team while in Cairns and hear about their successful funding through Arts Queensland's Strategic Partnerships Fund. The incredible opening event has received a grant through First Nations Commissioning Fund
"This major new First Nations event led by Indigenous Creatives and Cultural Guides will be a journey of immersion, exploration and connection to the world's oldest culture."