Hand in Hand ~ Kidogo Irish Aboriginal Festival is back with an intimate mini fest for 2024!
Join us and celebrate the deep connection between Irish and Aboriginal people through storytelling, poetry, music, art and more at the beautiful Kidogo Arthouse.
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
KIAF 2024 LINEUP
FRI 15 MAR
SAT 16 MAR
SUN 17 MAR
KIAF 2024 LINEUP
Archie Weller • Greg Conway • Declan O’Rourke (IRE – Virtual Q&A) • Eddie Sherlock (IRE – Virtual) • David Milroy • The Wilarra Band • Kenneth Dawson • Kankawa Nagarra – Olive Knight • Lucky Oceans • Mary G • Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony by Walter McGuire • Bryan Dalton • Jason Snook • Jessie Woodward • Nigel Healy • Cormac Healy • Natalie Gillespie • Kenneth Dawson • John Clare • Paul Cox • Ken Hayward • Dave Brewer • John Barrett • Ailish Barrett • Karl Florisson • Rick Eastman • Máirtín O Dubhlaigh • Meg McGuire • Donough O’ Donovan Irish Trad • Kevin Giang • Lucy Hosking • Jennifer Doyle • Gavin Fernie • Ceili Dancing by Scoil Rince Ni Bhaird • Traditional Irish Soda-bread & Damper Bread Making Demonstration • Dart Throwing with George Hayden • Friendly Footy with GAA WA • Solo Art Exhibition by Kenneth Dawson & more!
FRI 15 MAR
|
4:30 pm |
Doors Open |
|
5:00 pm |
Acknowledgement of Country + Festival Intro by Joanna Robertson |
|
5:10 pm |
John Barrett + Ailish Barrett |
|
6:00 pm |
Mary G Comedian |
|
7:05 pm |
Kankawa Nagarra – Olive Knight with Dave Brewer and Arvis |
|
7:50 pm |
Natalie Gillespie with Dave Brewer, Karl Florisson and Rick Eastman |
|
10:00 pm |
Jam Session on the Deck |
SAT 16 MAR
|
5:00 pm |
Doors Open |
|
5:15 pm |
Author Archie Weller book reading and interview with Greg Conway (Large Gallery) |
|
5:30 pm |
Nigel Healy + Cormac Healy |
|
7:10 pm |
Declan O Rourke – Virtual Q&A + Book Launch (Large Gallery) |
|
7:55 pm |
Eddie Sherlock – Virtual Screening (Large Gallery) |
|
8:25 pm |
Maírtin O Dubhlaigh Storytelling |
|
8:35 pm |
Dave Milroy and The Wilarra Band with Lucky Oceans |
|
10:30 pm |
Jam Session on the Deck |
SUN 17 MAR
2:00 pm | Bar Open (FREE entry until 5:30pm) |
2:30 pm | GAA WA Friendly Beach Footy |
2:45 pm | Dart Throwing with George Hayden |
3:30 pm | Bread Making Demo with Joanna Robertson (Irish Soda-bread) & Meg McGuire (Damper) |
4:30 pm | Author Archie Weller book reading and interview with Greg Conway |
5:00 pm | TICKETED EVENT BEGINS |
5:30 pm | Welcome to Country + Smoking Ceremony by Walter McGuire |
6:00 pm | Donough O’ Donovan Trad (+ Ceili Dance Demo by Scoil Rince Ni Bhaird) |
7:15 pm | Kenneth Dawson with John Clare, Paul Cox and Ken Hayward |
8:00 pm | Bryan Dalton with Jason Snook and Jessie Woodward |
10:00 pm | Jam Session on the Deck |
Fremantle Shipping News https://fremantleshippingnews.com.au/2023/02/02/freos-active-citizen-of-the-year/
ABC Radio National AWAYE https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/awaye/olive-knight-is-a-hidden-gem/102079182
Studio 10 https://fb.watch/jmbPeyTn4U/
Sue Myc Morning Show 89.7fm https://soundcloud.com/suemycon897fm/sue-myc-in-conversation-on-2023038-with-joanna-robertson?
The Other Others Podcast by Tyson Yunkaporta https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tyson-yunkaporta/episodes/Yarning-with-Celts-e1vk3oo/a-a5nnu0c
Moorditj Mag on RTR fm https://rtrfm.com.au/story/moorditj-mag-podcast-ep-100/
Vision Australia Radio – Behind the Scenes https://omny.fm/shows/behind-the-scenes-vision-australia-radio/behind-the-scenes-6th-march-2023
Seesaw Mag https://www.seesawmag.com.au/2023/03/what-to-see-march-gig-guide
Arts Collage on Radio Fremantle – Thu 16 Feb https://radiofremantle.com.au/shows/arts-collage
City of Fremantle – Citizen of the Year Article https://www.fremantle.wa.gov.au/news-and-media/youth-mental-health-advocate-named-freo%E2%80%99s-citizen-year
Irish Scene Article (Pg.44) https://issuu.com/irishsceneperth/docs/irish_scene_vol_25_-_issue_2_online_
Near fm (IRE) https://nearfm.ie/podcast/lifeline-eddie-sherlock/
IMRO (IRE) https://imro.ie/news/hand-in-hand-kidogo-irish-aboriginal-festival-takes-place-next-month/
RTÉ (IRE) https://www.rte.ie/player/series/today/SI0000000197?epguid=IH10000997-23-00372023″
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Hand in Hand – Kidogo Irish Aboriginal Festival is a boutique, grassroots festival run by Artist and Director of Kidogo Arthouse, Joanna Robertson.
As an Irish woman working closely with Aboriginal artists in Fremantle for over 30 years, Joanna was inspired by the many stories of the history, familial connections & friendships as well as the remarkable cultural similarities between the Aboriginal and Irish people in Western Australia.
As so many of these beautiful stories were not well known and there was no platform to share them on, Joanna established the Kidogo Irish Aboriginal Festival as a way to celebrate these stories through the arts.
In March 2021, this unique and relatively unknown connection was embraced for the first time in a program that included live music connecting Irish and Western Australian performers, poetry, book launches and readings, exhibitions, dance, friendly AFL and GAA football, an Irish soda-bread versus damper cook-off as well as A 10 metre-high mega projection wall that featured virtual performances by internationally renowned Irish musicians.
ARTISTS
David Milroy • Daoiri Farrell • SON (Susan O’Neill) • Luka Bloom • Steve Cooney • The Rogues • Djoogan Keeninyirra (Dancing Sisters) • Ciaran O’Sullivan • Fieldsy & The Corrberries • The Yabu Band • Patrick Woodley • Ilona McGuire • Kenneth Dawson • Bryan Rice Dalton • Olive Knight Kankawa Nagarra • Danilo da Paz • Wayne Freer • Maitland Schnaars • John Bennett • David Hyams • Lucky Oceans • Kavisha Mazzella • John Barrett • Fiona Doyle • John Reed • Lauralee Faith • Giri Mazzella • Tommy O’Brien • Brian Finnemore • Sharyn Egan • Fiona Rea • Nigel Healy • Dan Ablett • Donough O’Donovan • Comhaltas Traditional Irish Music – Sean Doherty • Fenian Festival Readings • The Perth Irish Choir • Máirtín O’Dubhlaigh • Peter Murphy • Warlayirti Artists (Balgo, WA)
PAST FESTIVALS
FENIANS FESTIVAL 2018
FENIANS FESTIVAL ANNOUNCEMENT
FENIANS FESTIVAL ON TODAY TONIGHT
PAST KIDOGO IRISH ABORIGINAL FESTIVALS
The third annual Hand in Hand ~ Kidogo Irish Aboriginal Festival was held at Kidogo Arthouse Fremantle in Western Australia over St. Patrick’s Day weekend from 17 to 19 March 2023.
This year’s theme “celebrating ancient and contemporary Irish Culture and Aboriginal Culture, Hand in Hand” was brought to life through the changes in programming this year to expand past storytelling through mostly music by adding more dance, spoken word, poetry, art, children’s cultural activities and more.
This year’s festival provided meaningful work opportunities for a diverse team of over 135 staff and artists from over 18 different countries, this year’s festival surpassed the success of the previous festivals.
KIAF 2023 Lineup
The Rattling Kind – Eddie Sherlock (IRE) • David Milroy • The Wilarra band • Boox Kid • Della Rae Morrison • Kenneth Dawson • The Healys • George Walley • Fiona Rea • Tony Curtis (IRE) • Kankawa Nagarra – Olive Knight • John Barrett • “In Between Silence” by STANO (IRE) • The Struggling Kings • Lucky Oceans • Meg McGuire • Manchán Magan (IRE) • Lucy Arnall • Walter McGuire • Josh Plichta • McGuire Family Band • Djoogan Keeninyirra • Lois Olney • Charlotte Geoghegan • Dave Johnson • Brian Finn • David Johnston • Jim Green • Rob Zielinski • Bryan Dalton • Manuela Centanni • Nigel Healy • Cormac Healy • Kavisha Mazzella • Chris McMullan • Ciaran O Sullivan • Brian Finnemore • Natalie Gillespie • Dave Brewer • Harry Mitchell • Lauralee Faith • Rholea • Wayne Freer • Irish Choir Perth • Walyalup Kannajil • John Clare • Madjitil Moorna • Donough O’ Donovan • Gavin Fernie • Jennifer Doyle • Reuben de Melo • John Reed • GAA WA • Ceili by Hilary McKenna & Caroline McCarthy with Torc Ceili (FREE Event) • Flash Mob • Traditionally Woven Sculptures by Janine McAullay Bott • Weaving workshop with Sharyn Egan • Irish Breakfast • Friendly AFL vs GAA (FREE Event)
After the highly successful inaugural festival in 2021, Kidogo Arthouse proudly hosted, “Hand in Hand Festival 2022”. As Perth hunkered down for the peak of our pandemic experience, we were determined to follow through with our mission to create a safe music festival experience for all and give these incredible musicians a much needed platform where they could perform freely.
This year’s festival was an intimate 2 day gathering, held by the ocean on Kidogo’s beautiful deck and included performances by David Milroy, Lucky Oceans, Danilo da Paz, Wayne Freer, Maitland Schnaars, Kenneth Dawson, Bryan Rice Dalton, Kavisha Mazzella, John Reed, Brian Finnemore, Fiona Rea, John Clare, Donough O’Donovan & Poetry by Máirtín Ó Dubhlaigh. It also featured the very special “Hand in Hand” Art Exhibition by two very important West Australian Artists, Kenneth Dawson (Gooniyandi) and Ilona McGuire (Whadjuk Nyoongar) as well as a projection wall featuring virtual performances by legendary Irish stars – Musician Luka Bloom & Poet Tony Curtis.
“This festival is a grass-roots, boutique festival run by a small group of friends with a shared love for the arts in Western Australia and we welcome you to join us and be part of this community. “
– KIAF Team
KIAF 2022 Lineup
Kenneth Dawson • Bryan Rice Dalton • Kavisha Mazzella • Ilona McGuire • Fiona Rea • John Clare • David Milroy • Lucky Oceans • Danilo da Paz • Wayne Freer • Maitland Schnaars • Donough O’Donovan • Máirtín Ó Dubhlaigh • Art Exhibition • Projection Wall • Virtual performances by Irish legends Luka Bloom & Tony Curtis
In March 2021, this unique and relatively unknown connection was embraced for the first time in a program that included live music connecting Irish and Western Australian performers, poetry, book launches and readings, exhibitions, dance, friendly AFL and GAA football, an Irish soda-bread versus damper cook-off as well as A 10 metre-high mega projection wall that featured virtual performances by internationally renowned Irish musicians.
Legendary Irish folk singer-songwriter Luka Bloom performed a brand new song virtually on the 10-metre high mega projection wall, as will award winning folk artist Daoiri Farrell, critically acclaimed singer songwriters SON (Susan O’Neill) and Steve Cooney as well as Irish poet Tony Curtis. Aboriginal performers include Olive Knight Kankawa Nagarra, the world-travelled, legendary Blues singer from the Kimberley, The Yabu Band and Dave Milroy & The Wilarra Band. These notable musicians were joined by local legends such as double Grammy Award winner Lucky Oceans.
Producer and Artistic Director of Kidogo Arthouse, Joanna Robertson, originally from Dublin said, “This is a celebration of two cultures that has never been done before. There are long familial and friendship connections between the local aboriginal community and the Irish people that arrived in Australia. This festival is an opportunity to recognise them and create new and exciting creative collaborations between Ireland and Australia.”
“We have Irish and Aboriginal musicians songwriting together. Famous musicians in Ireland are delighted to perform virtually at this Festival as they love the idea behind the Festival.”
Joanna is a Fine Art graduate of the National College of Art in Dublin and established Kidogo Arthouse as an independent art centre 22 years ago. She has a 15 year history of running professional development courses with aboriginal artists at Kidogo Arthouse, which is how she first uncovered the stories of their Irish ancestry.
KIAF 2021 Lineup
The Yabu Band • Welcome to Country & Smoking Ceremony by Walter McGuire • The Rogues • Traditional Noongar Dance by Tjukan Keeninyirra (Dancing Sisters) • Ciaran O’Sullivan • Fieldsy & The Corrberries • Dave Milroy & The Wilarra Band • Patrick Woodley • Steve Cooney • Kenneth Dawson • Bryan Rice Dalton • Olive Knight Kankawa Nagarra • John Bennett • David Hyams • Lucky Oceans • Kavisha Mazzella • John Barrett • Fiona Doyle • John Reed • Lauralee Faith • Giri Mazzella • Tommy O’Brien • Brian Finnemore • Sharyn Egan • Fiona Rea • Nigel Healy • Dan Ablett • Donough O’Donovan • Comhaltas Traditional Irish Music – Sean Doherty • Fenian Festival Readings • The Perth Irish Choir • Poetry by Máirtín O’Dubhlaigh • Peter Murphy’s “Fenian 63” book launch • Friendly Footy GAA + AFL • Irish Soda-bread vs. Damper Cook-off • Warlayirti Artists Exhibition (Balgo, WA) • 10-Metre Mega Projection Wall • Virtual Performances by Daoiri Farrell, SON (Susan O’Neill), Luka Bloom, Steve Cooney & more big names in Irish music • Ciaran O’Sullivan – Pre single launch / music video screening
KIAF 2021: In the Media
Irish Examiner: St Patrick’s Day: A festival of friendship between Aboriginal and Irish people in Australia
ABC Saturday Breakfast with Roanna Edwards: The unique connection between Aboriginal and Irish Australians
Scenestr: Hand In Hand Celebrates Western Australia’s Aboriginal-Irish Cultural Connections
Cockburn Gazette: Page 3. Coming together of two cultures