On Saturday October 13 Australian musicians and artists will add their voices to the growing opposition to the expansion of CSG mining in the northern rivers at the second Rock the Gate concert being held in the middle of the world-heritage Tweed Valley, at the Murwillumbah Showgrounds. The first Rock the Gate concert was in May 2012 in Lismore. Seven thousand people turned up to unite against CSG mining. All over the planet groups such as Artists against Fracking, founded by Yoko Ono in New York, are springing up as famous figures use their public profiles to help shine a light on this important and devastating issue.
The rally in Murwillumbah on October 13 has become the national focus of the Lock the Gate campaign for the National Day of Action against CSG mining. Sam McLean, national director of Get-Up!, Natalie Pa’apa’a (Blue King Brown) and Drew Hutton, president of Lock the Gate, will attend and speak along with a world-class lineup of entertainment.
Those musicians that cannot attend are sending video messages of support that will be played on a cinema screen throughout the day. Xavier Rudd, John Butler, Pete Murray, and retired Greens senator Bob Brown for good measure, are just some of the supporters sending messages and adding their voices to the campaign. The public will also have an opportunity to record a message for this campaign in our Interactive Booth. These messages may turn up on the cinema screen throughout the day.
The concert starts with Aboriginal activist and songwriter Kerrianne Cox leading a lineup that travels from 1967’s Summer of Love with the Songs of the Haight Ashbury Stage Show to the rootsy poetry and song of Natalie Pa’apa’a from Blue King Brown. Nathan Kaye adds his high-energy world fusion to the mix as well as the psychedelic theatre of dance diva Deya Dova. The Round Mountain Girls are always a huge hit with their galloping rock take on serious folk music. Get ready to dance! Add the humorous dramatic decadence of Ivy Lucille, the soulful groove of the Rogue Gene featuring Belle Hendrik, Luke Vassella with the Winsome Gospel Choir, Sounds from Earth, Shameless O’Hooligan, the Kellie Gang, plus a mix of MCs and comedians. This is a free family-friendly concert, no alcohol.
Rock the Gate, Murwillumbah Showgrounds – rally from 10am, concert from 1pm.
* Please note that Alan Jones (broadcaster) was advertised previously as attending this rally. Due to his recent offensive comments on the PM his appearance has been cancelled. Many local groups threatened to boycott the rally if he appeared.
