Media Release

1 April 2010

Australia’s Ganga Giri Collaborates with I Nyoman Windha at Bali Spirit Festival

Australian Consul General to Bali, Lex Bartlem, will proudly introduce Australia’s contribution to World Music through Australian ensemble Ganga Giri’s collaboration with I Nyoman Windha at the Bali Spirit Festival in Ubud, Bali on Saturday 3 April 2010.

Ganga Giri, whose visit to Bali has been sponsored by the Australia-Indonesia Institute, will be performing with leading Balinese gamelan musician and contemporary composer, I Nyoman Windha, at the festival and will also present a workshop on playing the didgeridoo (an Australian indigenous instrument) on Sunday 4 April 2010.

Ganga Giri personifies the sound of traditional Australia by mixing percussive didgeridoo with tribal beats and funky bass lines to create a unique tribal technological dance experience. Representing key elements of Australia, Ganga Giri’s performances are a multicultural celebration, bringing audiences a combination of ancient instrumentation with modern production.

Ganga Giri has performed not only in Indonesia but also in Japan, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and New Zealand and has carved a niche in the world of dance music through their energy and innovation.

In addition to the musical talents of Ganga Giri, his ensemble includes other talented Australian artists including percussionist Yeshe Reiners, on drums and samples Dan Pearson, didgeridoo player and dancer Gumaroy, Wakka Wakka nations indigenous singer Gumilaroi and reggae vocalist Jornick Joe Lick, originally from French Guyana.

The six month collaboration with I Nyoman Windha based in Ubud has aimed to create music which fuses the cutting-edge Australian didgeridoo-based dance music of Ganga Giri with various forms of Balinese gamelan and instrumentation including jegog and slonding.

The Australia-Indonesia Institute, an initiative of the Australian Government, aims to further strengthen and promote mutual understanding and people to people links between both countries. The Institute supports a large number of projects in a wide range of areas including arts and culture, education, youth, civil society and media, interfaith, and Australian studies.

Further information on Ganga Giri’s performance and workshop at the Bali Spirit Festival is available from +628123 7798 582 or at the website www.balispiritfestival.com

Media Enquiries:
Sanchi Davis, Cultural Attaché tel. (021) 2550 5260 mob. 0811 936 302