Festival
Map
Festival Program
Saltwater Freshwater
Stage
Feel the rhythm of culture and community on the Saltwater Freshwater Stage, featuring an electrifying mix of emerging and acclaimed Aboriginal artists from across NSW and beyond. Music, movement, and stories that celebrate the heartbeat of Country.
Set times and lineup will be announced soon — stay tuned for the full program of music and storytelling.
11:30am
Welcome Ceremony & Smoking Ceremony
12:30pm
Greenstone Band
1:30pm
Gunganbu Band
02:30pm
Birren
03:30pm
Roger Knox
4:30pm
Emily Wurramara
Dance
Stage
Feel the heartbeat of Country at the Dance Stage, where traditional and contemporary dance come together in a powerful celebration of culture and story. Experience performances by Gumbaynggirr, Dunghutti, Biripi, and Worimi dance groups, along with regional performers. The space will open with the Festival Opening Ceremony and close with a late-afternoon campfire circle for community connection and reflection.
Performance schedule and dance group lineup to be confirmed — more details coming soon.
12:00pm
Jalay Jalay Dance Troupe
Gumbaynggirr
12:15pm
Southern Gumbaynggirr Dance Group
Gumbaynggirr
1:15pm
Figtree Dancers
Dunghutti
2:15pm
Kinship Doobai Dancers
Bundjalung
3:15pm
Yapun Yapun Dancers
Birpai
4:15pm
Mitji Djiyagan Dance Group
Birpai
5:15pm
Didj Off
Australian Live Theatre present Griffin Theatres Whitefella Yella Tree and Blaque Showgirls
Australian Theatre Live & Griffin Theatre Present two First Nation theatre productions on the SAWTELL big cinema screen.
Filmed “live” with the audience and with 10 cameras!
Followed by a Q&A with creatives.
The award winning WHITEFELLA YELLA TREE. Screened internationally to great acclaim. And the laugh out loud BLAQUE SHOWGIRLS screened last month in New York.
Held at Sawtell Cinema, First Avenue, Sawtell
Tickets 15+ – Blaque Showgirls >>
Tickets 8+ – Whitefella Yella Tree >>
4pm Sat 24 Jan
Whitefella Yella Tree
4pm Sun 25 Jan
Blaque Showgirls
Birrpai: Dancing Beyond The Lens of Thomas Dick
Imagine seeing photos of your ancestors in museums, taken by people documenting an ‘exotic’ sighting.
From whose lens do we view memory, history, and culture?
Birrpai is a talk, performance, and exhibition refocusing the lens on the UNESCO-listed Thomas Dick Birrpai Photograph Collection. This collection of historical photos was taken from 1910 by non-Indigenous Port Macquarie oyster farmer Thomas Dick and to portray pre-contact Birrpai life and people.
Birrpai is a thought-provoking celebration and remembrance of family by the descendants of the photos: Birrpai Traditional Owner, historian and father John Heath; and his daughter, dancer and choreographer Ngioka Bunda-Heath.
Have a look: Extract from original performance 2019
Held at The Gallery, Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance, 6 Park Avenue Coffs Harbour
Book Tickets >>
$25 Full Price | $20 Concession | $15 Mob