#barkaa

[figomagazine]

Heading to Meredith Music Festival 2024? These are the artists you cannot miss

Meredith Music Festival is a transcendent adventure, like a trip through the musical cosmos where genre barely exists and inclusivity and positivity are the ultimate goal.

And aside from the general vibe being one unlike any other music festival on the planet, they lineup is always top notch – every year music fans can expect an eclectic assortment of genre benders and heavy hitters, alongside must-see up and comers and the newest, hottest acts on the block.

The best part is, with only one stage, punters never have to pick because set clashes don't exist here, but the lineup is still a beast, and these are the artists you most definitely want to make your way down the front for.

Angie McMahon

Okay, we know this is almost a redundant way to start this list because of course you're going to be front and centre for the angelic, sometimes-heartbreaking-always-heartwarming sounds of Angie McMahon – but please allow us a moment to wax lyrical about Angie. The way she bottles up ferocity and raw energy with tenderness and vulnerability and pure wholesomeness already makes her live show unmissable, but then layer that with exceptional songwriting and a voice that carries as much power as it does emotion, and you have (what is sure to be) a performance ready-made for boot raising.

Angie McMahon takes the Meredith Music Festival Stage on Saturday at 7.50pm

Barkaa

There's a reason why Malyangapa Barkindji rapper Barkaa is going to need a bigger mantle to showcase all the accolades she is sure to keep receiving, she has well and truly earned her status as one of Australia's most celebrated rappers. On record she is bold, cheeky, resilient, tender, and above all else 100 percent herself – on full display, and never hiding from any part of her past or present. On stage, she is an undeniable force, whether she is shining the spotlight on society at large or right back at herself, audiences will surely be swept up in her magic. Expect bangers and celebration and hard-earned truths when the Blak matriarch takes over.

Barkaa takes the Meredith Music Festival Stage on Saturday at 6.40pm

Genesis Owusu

We mentioned genre-bending ear feasts as a hallmark of a Meredith weekend, and no one in this country is doing it better than Genesis Owusu. His 2023 album STRUGGLER is an exquisitely complex mash of sounds from raw punk to smooth R&B and a whole gamut of things we aren't going to do the disservice of trying to pindown, and on the live stage his defying of genre and musical constraints is fully realised. An electrifying perfomer, harnessing confidence and charisma with vulnerability and authenticity, if you want to witness true musical brilliance, look no further.

Genesis Owusu takes the Meredith Music Festival Stage on Friday at 12.05am

Glass Beams

Glass Beams are hands down one of the most exciting acts to come out of Australia in recent years. As mysterious and enigmatic as their music is captivating and refreshing, the live stage might just be their greatest frontier. They've spent a large chunk of 2024 (and are set to spend a huge amount of 2025) treating audiences in every corner of the globe to their hypnotic, pyschedelic fusion of spacious instrumentals, glittering synths, jazz, disco, pop, twangy guitars and traditional Indian music. Theirs is a melding of sounds, a melting pot of melody, and on the live stage it expands and grows, as if taking in breath. Prepare to be swept up in a hypnotic wonderland of "east-meets-west" brilliance.

Glass Beams take the Meredith Music Festival Stage on Friday at 10.55pm

Maple Glider

Potent, delicate, and empowering as just some of the words used to describe Maple Glider's 2023 album I Get Into Trouble. Across its 35-odd minutes, she speaks truth to power, sharing personal, often painful memories of her life and paints a picture of what it means to exist as a woman in the world. Hurting and joy collide in a glorious record, an emotional landscape that is only amplified when Tori Zietsch – the face behind the Maple Glider moniker – takes the stage, guitar in hand. The sonic palette of her performances, much like her album, is usually little more than some gently, fingerpicked guitar, maybe some piano, a gentle beat – the perfect setting for her voice to soar across the 'Sup.

Maple Glider takes the Meredith Music Festival Stage on Saturday at 11am

[nekojamas]

Including Barkaa here too, she is absolutely killing it on the scene in Australia at the moment. King Brown is such a slayer of a track, highly recommend!!

bro i LOVE indigenous fusion music i love it when indigenous people take traditional practices and language and apply them in new cool ways i love the slow decay and decolonisation of the modern music industry

[blakpearlsss]

Classic Barkaa 🖤

[warmestshrine]

HEY. Go stream Preach by Barkaa RN!!!!

[akajustmerry]

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians featured in this post: DENNI, Craig Everett, Thelma Plum, Miss Kaninna, Barkaa, Miiesha, JK-47, DOBBY, Sycco, Emily Wurramara, Baker Boy, and Kaiit.

Happy NAIDOC week! Go listen to Blak artists ❤️💛🖤💙🤍💚

[bakuraryxu]

waiting for Barkaa to release a music video for Boujee & Brown

[xbabydollxxo]

This goes hard, straight from down under!!! 🔥🔥🔥

[thugamerica]

🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵

[luciochaves]

Barkaa - Division (Official Video)

[taylors-a-goblin]

Here are some lyrics about Jan 26 and all it represents, to remind you why we hate it:

"How you wanna raise a flag with a rifle to make us want to celebrate anything but survival?" (From Jan 26 by A.B. Original)

"Why you crying for if it's just only a date? It's a date where all my women got beaten and raped." (From 22 Clan by Mackridge x Barkaa)

"Well, they say that they came in peace, but our blood still stains the beach." (From Bagi-la-m bargan by Birdz)

"Fuck celebrating days made on misery. White Aus still got the black history." (From Jan 26 by A.B. Original)

"Can't colonise my blak mind, I'm from the Dreamtime, I go back. The committed genocide through my tracks, they raped our mothers lessened my black. They brought the violence when they attacked." (From Blak Matriarchy by Barkaa)

"One dark day on Framingham, came and didn't give a damn. My mother cried go get their dad. He came running, fighting mad. Mothers tears were falling down, Dad shaped up and stood his ground. He said "you touch my kids, and you fight me." And they took us from our family. Took us away. They took us away. Snatched from our mothers Brest, said this was for the best, took us away." (From Took the Children Away by Archie Roach)

"Patiently waiting for someone I ain't ever seen before. They say he's the captain of men but don't believe in our law. From the land of the white skin, he's self riteous, a murder without license." (From Bagi-la-m Bargan by Birdz)

If you can listen to all of these songs with an honest and open mind, and you still don't get it, then I'm sorry, but I don't think you've got a functioning heart.

[duotheism]

When thelma plum said I’m so sick a these woke blokes and barkaa said ian cryin over budoo unless that budoo makes me money

[blakpearlsss]

This is for blak matriarchs This for my sisters who lived in the dark This for my sisters who carry our past on their shoulders This is for blak matriarchs This is for all of our women This for all of our children, Couldn't care less 'bout the monarch Ima set fire to the kingdom I'm coming for them All hail to blak matriarchs

[justmaghookit]

Just went on wiki and saw Barkaa is 1. same age as me 2. grew up a few suburbs away from me and its like ooooh thats why all the places your music videos are filmed are so familiar.

I've probably seen them.

[akajustmerry]

my absolute favourite new songs of the year (wrapped be damned) were:

Blak Britney by Miss Kaninna / Butchered Tongue by Hozier / Division by Barkaa / Dog Rose by Arlo Parks / Extinguish The Sun by Slave To Sirens / Hater's Anthem by Infinity Song / i wanna be your right hand by nemahsis / Let Them by Boudicca / Newsreader by Alex Lahey / RELAX AFTER WORK WITH A DRINK by lilyisthatyou / Therapy by Budjerah / Watching The Credits by The Beths / We Don't Talk About It by Thelma Plum / (more in playlist) (happy new year ❤️)

[bakuraryxu]

Barkaa was like this is a song about killing cops and the whole crowd went WILD

[warmestshrine]

Oh we are on 24hr Barkaa lockdown btw!!!