Local songman Uncle Magpie’s long-held dream of creating a global indigenous festival on the sunrise songline is set to come to fruition this weekend, with the launch of the inaugural Fields of Healing event at the North Byron Parklands in Yelgun.
It will feature wisdom keepers, musicians, speakers and facilitators from across the world.
The site itself is steeped with significance, explained Uncle Magpie.
‘It’s the beginning of the pathway that leads from the east coast through Uluru and right over to Western Australia,’ he said.
‘That pathway was last used in 1830, so today, to have a festival there – it’s a good feeling, sitting with those ancient footsteps.
‘I get tingles to walk across it – it still has that power,’ he added.
Local favourites Wild Marmalade, Indigenoise, Áine Tyrell, Tommy Franklin and Happy Africa are also on board for the gathering, coming together in celebration for the family-friendly grand finale on Sunday.
Kids 15 and under are free and will be entertained with everything from special guest and TV star Dirtgirl, sustainable crafts, live looping and Indigenous song and dance.
Community invitation
Fields of Healing begins with an official Welcoming Ceremony at 10am on Saturday November 24 and wraps up with a community concert and dance party on Sunday afternoon from 1pm till 4pm.
The community concert event on Sunday afternoon invites entry by donation, with 50 per cent of the proceeds going to support Liberation Larder.
Full program and tickets are available at www.fieldsofhealing.com.au.
