Big Name, No Blankets Explores the Journey of the Warumpi Band
Follow the journey of the Warumpi Band from humble beginnings to touring rock stars with this electrifying musical theatre production.
Image by James Henry
If you’re looking for a fresh and exciting musical theatre show at this year’s Adelaide Festival, look no further than Big Name, No Blankets.
Created by Andrea James with Anyupa Butcher and Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher and presented in conjunction with ILBIJERRI Theatre Company, Big Name, No Blankets tells the inspiring story of the iconic Warumpi Band, the first successful rock band to sing in Aboriginal languages.
Trailblazers for the likes of Yothu Yindi, Coloured Stone and King Stingray, Warumpi Band released three albums across two decades and are known for their hit songs Blackfella/Whitefella, My Island Home and Jailanguru Pakarnu.
Big Name, No Blankets, which is named after the band’s first album, stars Baykali Ganambarr as Warumpi Band's founding member Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher. It follows guitarist Butcher’s journey as he and his two younger brothers, drummer Gordon (Jack Hickey) and bassist Brian (Corey Saylor-Brunskill), go from playing pubs in the ‘70s to becoming one of Australia’s biggest acts in the ‘80s.
Big Name, No Blankets weaves the band’s music and culture into the performance and features Warumpi Band’s two ancestral languages – Luritja and Gumatj (Yolngu Matha). A humorous and heartfelt tale, the production will have you singing and clapping along.
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Big Name, No Blankets has received rave reviews from critics across the country, with Sydney Arts Guide awarding the performance five stars and saying it was “Filled with laughter, iconic songs and rockstar performances,” and The Guardian writing, “It is transformative [...] The band is hot and unstoppable, the cast a joyful expression of music and story.”
With only three performances locked in for Adelaide, tickets are sure to sell fast, so be sure to grab yours before they’re all gone.
Big Name, No Blankets takes place at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Friday, March 14, Saturday, March 15 and Sunday, March 16. Tickets on sale now via adelaidefestival.com.au.
