Ilbijerri Theatre Company | Big Name, No Blankets

"You might think we're flash up here on this big stage, with big lights and big hair but we come from a little place with a big heart and a big story...

"Big Name, No Blankets cranks up the amps and plugs into the heart of Papunya (Warumpi), where for the first time, we hear the stories of the Warumpi Band through founding lead guitarist Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher's perspective.

ILBIJERRI Theatre Company Big Name, No Blankets By Andrea James with Anuypa Butcher and Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher

Warumpi Band is the original First Peoples rock band to sing in language, known for their anthems' Blackfella/Whitefella', 'My Island Home' and 'Jailanguru Pakurnu'. Big Name, No Blankets is inspired by their rise to the top through their politics, presence, and potent rock 'n' roll riffs.

Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher - played by Baykali Ganambarr- is our charismatic narrator, who weaves intimate storytelling with big rock 'n' roll songs. He takes us on a journey from Warumpi Band's beginnings in the 1970s, where Sammy, with his two younger brothers, Gordon (drummer) and Brian (bass), — learnt music by jamming on a flour drum in Papunya—through to their wild nights conquering pub rock and touring the world.

As the first band to sing rock 'n' roll in Aboriginal languages, they greatly influenced the likes of Yothu Yindi and Coloured Stone. True to their roots, the show weaves in culture from Central Australia and North East Arnhem Land and two ancestral languages—Luritja and Gumatj (Yolngu Matha)—as the band navigates divides between bush and city, white and black, fame and family.

You're invited into the world of these central desert legends. Stomp your feet, clap your hands and sing along as you get swept away by this big-hearted story.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government's Major Festivals Initiative, managed by Creative Australia, its Arts Funding and Advisory Body, in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals Inc., commissioned by RISING, Sydney Festival, Darwin Festival, Brisbane Festival, Adelaide Festival and Perth Festival.ILBIJERRI is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, and Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.