South West Multicultural Festival brings the world to the mainstage

A festival is just not a festival without music, and there couldn’t be a better way to celebrate the region’s diversity.

This year’s South West Multicultural Festival will feature performances from Aboriginal, Fijian and Maori dance groups, before the incredibly talented and fun Oompah Band.

These will be followed by a headline performance of Six Seasons, a collection of original songs paying homage to the Noongar seasons of Makuru, Djilba, Kambarang, Birak, Bunuru and Djeran.

Developed under the guidance of Noongar Elder Dr Richard Walley, the songs use different musical genres to tell the story of each season.

Dr Walley uses blues, choral, jazz, reggae, funk, rock and hip-hop to portray the unique story characteristics of each of the six seasons.

“This unique performance is a celebration of our place in the world and the knowledge and culture that has existed here for tens of thousands of years,” festival coordinator Jo O’Dea said.

Leading musicians Olman Walley, Natasha Eldridge, MC Flewnt, Tani Walker, Jarred Wall and Malachi Humphries will perform this headline act, supported by the Junkadelic Orchestra.

“We have such a huge pool of talent here in the South West,” Mrs O’Dea said.

“It is amazing to be able to use the region’s diverse voices — from both First Nations and international artists — to bring this region and its seasons to life on stage.”

The festival will be held on Saturday at Bunbury’s Bicentennial Square from 3pm.