Gurrumul announces new album and Australian tour

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu returns home from a triumphant US tour to bring out a new record, The Gospel Album. Due to be released on July 31 through Skinnyfish Music/MGM, The Gospel Album is a tribute to Gurrumul’s mother and aunts, whose songs and stories he grew up with on Elcho Island. Ecclesiastic themes are strong through the album, harking back to his childhood church community. The 12-track album reworks the hymns and spiritual songs that came to his Arnhem Land community through the local Methodist church. Long-time collaborator and producer Michael Honen says the creation of the album was an “organic” process. “We entered the studios not knowing what would come out, but we did know that inside Gurrumul’s mind and memory was a body of work that had never been revealed before to mainstream audiences.” To recreate this live, Gurrumul will be joined on a six-date national tour by local choirs and an orchestra. The Gospel Songs event series will begin at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on Wednesday, July 29 and end in Perth on Wednesday, August 12. Gurrumul will be making is Melbourne appearance at Supersense Festival, which also boasts John Cale, Ariel Pink, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Chunky Move on the line-up. For full Gospel Songs tour dates, see below. Tickets are on sale now for Adelaide and Melbourne, with remaining shows going on general sale at 9am local time Friday, June 12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8-YMpYbRqY

Gurrumul, The Gospel Songs Australian tour dates 2015

All shows are all ages except Gurrumul’s appearance at Melbourne’s Supersense Festival. Wednesday, July 29 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney. Tickets Sunday, August 2 – QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane. Tickets Wednesday, August 5 – Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide. Tickets Saturday, August 8 – Supersense Festival, Melbourne. Tickets Monday, August 10 – Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra. Tickets Wednesday, August 12 – Perth Concert Hall, Perth. Tickets

The Gospel Album tracklist

1. Jesu
2. Trinity
3. Nhaku Limurr
4. The Sweetest Name
5. All God’s Children (Yo Djamarrkuli)
6. Baptism
7. Garray Jesu (My Lord)
8. Hallelujah
9. Walu (Time)
10. Saviour
11. Amazing Grace
12. Riyala (There Is A River)

  Photo: Nic Walker