A group of celebrated Indigenous artists will go deep into their songcraft this Wednesday for a national round of Reconciliation Week forums, organized by APRA AMCOS.

Nancy Bates, Glenn Skuthorpe, Emily Wurramara, Luke Daniel Peacock and Leah Flanagan are among the guest speakers lined-up for the Songwriter Speaks sessions, which take place in Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne and Orange.

The Reconciliation Week events are an annual initiative to bring Australians together through music. APRA’s songwriter sessions promise a “unique opportunity” to learn about the music that flows through indigenous culture, a reps explain, and they’re free to the public.

“The songwriters involved all have very different stories to tell and experiences to speak to,” explains Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Representative Michael Hutchings said. The events “offer a unique opportunity to see and hear how the songwriters develop and nurture their craft.”

The participants will answer audience questions on the day and the rights body’s reps will be on hand to answer membership queries. APRA’s national project follows the organisation’s appointment of four new “Ambassadors” of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background, who will be tasked with promoting the importance of music creators’ rights and being engaging on key member issues.

Those incoming ambassadors are Cairns-based soul singer and 2014 X-Factor contestant Rochelle Pitt; Adelaide singer-songwriter Nancy Bates; Melbourne hip-hop and jazz artist Lady Lash; and Eleanor Dixon, an artist from remote NT community of Marlinja who performs with the family band Rayella and all-female group Kardajala Kirradara.

National Reconciliation Week runs May 27-June 3 and is an inclusive call to Australians to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories, to “share that knowledge and help us grow as a nation,” explains Reconciliation Australia, the national expert on reconciliation established in 2001.

This year’s songwriter sessions (details below) are programmed by APRA AMCOS’ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander National Office and the national writer services team.

SONGWRITER SPEAKS – EVENT DETAILS

ADELAIDE

Speakers: Nancy Bates & Glenn Skuthorpe

Host: Alana Jagt (APRA AMCOS)

Wednesday, 30 May, 6 PM

The Jade, Adelaide

BRISBANE

Speakers: Emily Wurramara & Luke Daniel Peacock

Host: Rihanna Patrick (ABC Radio)

Wednesday, 30 May, 6pm

Queensland Multicultural Centre, Kangaroo Point

DARWIN

Speakers: David Spry & Miranda Garling

Host: Philamena McKenzie (MusicNT)

Wednesday, 30 May, 6 PM

The SHAK, Casuarina, Darwin

MELBOURNE

Speaker: Kutcha Edwards

Host: Neda Rahmani

Thursday, 31 May, 8:30 PM

The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine

ORANGE, NSW

Speaker: Leah Flanagan

Host: Paul Kelly (JAM Orange)

Thursday, 31 May, 6pm

Orange Bowling Club

PLUS: Music Makers Connect – networking event with local industry professionals

Nancy Bates – Take You Home

The article was originally published on The Industry Observer