Out There is designed to increase the opportunity for young people in regional WA aged 12-26 to engage in arts projects within their own community. The program aims to increase the involvement of young people in the arts, build their sense of place and identity, develop new skills, strengthen community relationships, increase confidence and establish structures within communities that support young people and the arts.

Country Arts WA’s Youth Officer, Bec Cockram worked with a group of eight young men who identified music as their art form of choice for the program. Bec assisted the group to form a band called The Walkabout Boys.

The Walkabout Boys is Quinton Cox, John Quilty and Ashley Cox on vocals, James Hester on lead guitar, Trevor Wallaby on rhythm guitar, Leon Cox on bass, Donald Cox on guitar, Bruce Wallaby on keyboards, Joseph Quilty on drums and technician Anthony Dawson. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31909460822

During the two years that the program ran, Bec assisted the community to access a variety of professional development and networking opportunities, music skills and valuable contacts in the music industry through workshops and shows with visiting professional artists at Yiyili and in Perth. Additionally Kimberley TAFE was welcomed into the community to undertake accredited Music Industry Skills training with lecturer Belinda Skinner which has provided the band with professionalism and knowledge.

Valuable funding and support came from Country Arts WA, Healthway, Regional Arts Fund, Halls Creek Shire, Kimberley Land Council, Yiyili Aboriginal Community School and Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Corporation in Fitzroy Crossing.

Marra Worra Worra were an important contributor to the bands’ success. The corporation have contributed funds to workshops with Perth band Djiva. Djiva visited Yiyili on a regular basis to deliver music workshops to further develop their skills in performance and the playing of their instruments. Trips out to Gooniyandi Country for song writing workshops hatched original songs. Djiva offer the support role to the Walkabout Boys at many of their Kimberley gigs. "Conducting music workshops with The Walkabout Boys from Yiyili Aboriginal Community was an experience that will stay in my heart for a long time” Della said. “To see the interaction between Jessie Lloyd and the Djiva gang and The Walkabout Boys was very rewarding as they showed a lot of enthusiasm, excitement, talent and especially progress at the end of the workshop. http://www.myspace.com/djivamusic

Marra Worra Worra contributed funds to the band to attend the Kullarri NAIDOC Battle of the Artists at Goolarri Media Broome July 2008. Competing against six other talented acts, the band performed three original songs to a sell-out crowd to take out the title. Kimberley TAFE music lecturer Bel Skinner said the Boys rose to the occasion and by the end of their act, even the judges were on their feet! “Their energy and sheer talent is just amazing,” said Bel. “These boys only started studying music in August last year and some of them had never even played before. Now they’re rocking audiences every time they play!” The judges on the night were Stephen Baamba Albert, Susie Quicke and Paul Boon. BAMA chairperson, Cathy Watson, presented the band with a $2000 cheque and the Boys played a full set to finish the night off. In May 2009 Marra Worra Worra assisted the band to travel to Broome to perform at Kimberley Indigenous Performing Arts Showcase at Goolarri Media; an exciting evening of traditional and contemporary Indigenous music from around the Kimberley. http://www.gme.com.au/

In September 2008, the band travelled to Perth to perform at the Chocolate Martini, Australia’s premier Indigenous music showcase. In the past the event has hosted emerging Indigenous musicians alongside the country’s best known Indigenous acts. Performers who have played at the Chocolate Martini are Archie Roach (SA), Djiva (Perth), Lorrae Coffin (Broome), Kerrianne Cox (Beagle Bay), Stephen Gogos (Gnowangerup/Perth), Candice Lorrae (Darwin), George Walley & Knotwork (Pinjarra/Binjareb), Naomi Pigram and St Agnes (Broome), Bartlett Brothers (Geraldton), Joe Geia (Palm Island/NTH QLD)The Walkabout Boys played to a packed house in support of Peter Brandy and were filmed for NITV Foxtel. The episode will be screened this year. Marra Worra Worra assisted with travel costs for this opportunity. http://nitv.org.au/

The Walkabout Boys are thankful to Marra Worra Worra for supplying them with the funds to enable them to purchase their own gear. This will enable the band to grow in independence and practice their craft on a regular basis.

The band were successful in a funding application to the Indigenous panel at Department of Culture and the Arts to record an album with Skinny Fish Music. The recording will take place in mid 2009.

The band’s progress is developing beyond the life of the Out There program which is the key outcome for Country Arts WA. We are very proud of their success.

For more information about Out There visit the Country Arts WA website www.countryartswa.asn.au  

For The Walkabout Boys audio samples visit: 

www.countryartswa.asn.au/cms/cawa/pages/news/podcasts.html

For information on Kimberley TAFE (Broome Campus) music programs contact:

Bel Skinner at Bel.Skinner@kimtafe.wa.edu.au

Bec Cockram

Regional Arts Development Officer

08 9200 6208 or regional freecall 1800 811 883

rcockram@countryartswa.asn.au