Sámi joik and Indigenous Australian singing come together in a soulful dialogue

Hand to Earth, photo credits Emma Luker

Two Rivers is a remarkable collaboration between the acclaimed Sámi musician Ánnámáret and the renowned Australian intercultural ensemble Hand to Earth. In this group, 'songkeepers' David and Daniel Wilfred breathe life into the ancient oral singing tradition of the Yolgnu manikay, together with Korean-Australian singer Sunny Kim, trumpeter and composer Peter Knight, and clarinettist Aviva Endean.

Daniel and David live in the remote, subtropical north of Australia, in the hamlet of Ngukurr, close to the Roper River. They are cultural leaders in their community and guardians of the songs, dances, and stories of the Wagiläk language. Ánnámáret, on the other hand, hails from a traditional family of reindeer herders. She lives near the village of Nuorgam in the far north of Finland, close to the River Deatnu, in the tundra region high above the Arctic Circle.

Two Rivers seeks out connections that transcend the boundaries which typically divide us. The environments of Ánnámáret and the Wilfred brothers are vastly different, yet what they share is an intense bond with their land and cultural traditions that have existed for thousands of years. Two Rivers dives deeper into these points of convergence within a bold contemporary setting, where the unique musical perspectives of both Ánnámáret and Hand to Earth converge to create an unforgettable and transcendent sonic experience for the audience.

Ánnámáret, photo credits Maija Astikainen

Concert at De Singel, Antwerpen, Belgium at 8 pm on 17th of September.

More information: https://desingel.be/en/programme/music/hand-to-earth-annamaret-two-rivers