Hand in Hand ~ Kidogo Irish Aboriginal Festival is back with an incredible lineup for 2023!
For the first time, revered Irish Artists and Poets are flying in to Fremantle specially for this festival.
Join us and celebrate the deep connection between Irish and Aboriginal people through storytelling, poetry, music, art and more at the beautiful Kidogo Arthouse and surrounds.
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) & more!
2:00 pm | DOORS / Playlist Music / Bar Open |
2:15 pm | Acknowledgement of Country (with Sharyn Egan & Joanna Robertson) + Joanna Introduces Festival & Artists |
2:30 pm | Tony Curtis (Sculpture Weaving Workshop with Sharyn Egan until 5pm – Gallery) |
3:00 pm | STANO Introduces his project (3:15pm – 4:45pm Screening + Q&A – White Gallery) |
3:10 pm | Brian Finn |
3:50 pm | Manchán Magan – Speech |
4:15 pm | Nigel & Cormac Healy (Manchán Magan – 20 min Q&A – Gallery) |
4:55 pm | Kankawa Nagarra – Olive Knight |
5:30 pm | Chris McMullan Irish Uilleann Piper |
5:45 pm | Rob Zielinski & Manuela Centanni |
6:25 pm | Reuben De Melo |
7:00 pm | Natalie Gillespie |
7:40 pm | Boox Kid |
8:30 pm | William Hayward |
8:45 pm | The Rattling Kind (Eddie Sherlock) + Projections / Full Band (8:45pm Session in Large Gallery – Donough O Donovan Trad) |
10:00 pm | Impromptu Singalong on Deck / Trad in Gallery |
3:00 pm | DOORS / Playlist Music / Bar Open |
3:15 pm | STANO inside White Gallery (70 min screening + 20 min Q&A) |
4:30 pm | Joanna Robertson Introduces Festival & Artists |
4:40 pm | Manchán Magan – (Bread Demo + Irish Language) |
5:05 pm | Lois Olney + Dave Johnson (Sculpture Weaving Workshop with Sharyn Egan until 8pm – Gallery) |
5:45 pm | Tony Curtis (Gallery) |
6:15 pm | Kenneth Dawson |
6:25 pm | Kenneth Dawson + John Barrett |
6:30 pm | John Barett |
7:00 pm | Fiona Rea |
7:40 pm | Máirtín O Dubhlaigh – Spoken Word |
8:00 pm | David Milroy (Full Band) |
9:15 pm | The Rattling Kind (Eddie Sherlock) + Projections / Full Band |
9:55 pm | Impromptu Singalong on Deck |
10:30 am | Doors / Playlist / Big Irish Breakfast (Friendly GAA on the Beach 11am – 1pm) |
10:45 am | Big Irish Breakfast + Bryan Dalton (Sculpture Weaving Workshop with Sharyn Egan from 11:30am – 1:30pm – Gallery) |
11:40 am | Big Irish Breakfast + Ciaran O Sullivan & Brian Finnemore |
12:25 pm | Welcome to Country / Smoking Ceremony |
12:55 pm | Joanna Robertson Introduces Festival & Artists |
1:05 pm | STANO Introduces his project |
1:15 pm | Irish Choir Perth (STANO inside Gallery 1:15pm – 2:45pm (70 min screening+ 20 min Q&A)) |
1:30 pm | Della Rae Morrison + George Walley + Walyalup Kannajil + Madjitil Moorna + Rholea |
1:55 pm | Kenneth Dawson + Kavisha Mazzella |
2:10 pm | Tony Curtis (Gallery) |
2:25 pm | Djoogan Keeninyirra Dance Troupe |
2:35 pm | Flash Mob Dance with Gooniyandi Artist Kenneth Dawson |
3:05 pm | Crowd assemble for Ceili (STANO inside Gallery 3:20pm – 4:50pm (70 min screening+ 20 min Q&A)) |
3:35 pm | Ceili by Hilary McKenna & Caroline McCarthy with Torc Ceili (Donough O Donovan Trad) |
4:35 pm | Return to Kidogo (4:50pm Donough O Donovan Trad Session in Large Gallery) |
5:05 pm | Manchán Magan |
5:25 pm | Lucy Arnall + Josh Plichta + The McGuires Family Band |
5:55 pm | Tony Curtis + Meg McGuire |
6:05 pm | Máirtín O Dubhlaigh – Spoken Word |
6:25 pm | The Rattling Kind (Eddie Sherlock) + Friends / Projections |
7:20 pm | The Struggling Kings |
8:30 pm | The Healys |
9:30 pm | Impromptu Singalong on 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 between the Aboriginal and Irish people in Western Australia.
And so… The Kidogo Irish Aboriginal Festival was born!
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.
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)
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
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