By Andrea James
with Anuypa Butcher and Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher
“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.
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.
These central desert legends come back home to where the story began. Stomp your feet, clap your hands and sing along as you get swept away by this big-hearted story.
105 mins, no interval. Doors open 7pm.
Cover photo: Tibian Wyles. Credit: James Henry.
Top photo: (front)Taj Pigram,(L-R background) Baykali Ganambarr, Teangi Knox(drums), Jackson Peele. Credit: James Henry.
Middle photo (L-R): Cassandra Williams, Tibian Wyles, Teangi Knox, Baykali Ganambarr. Credit: James Henry.
Bottom photo: Taj Pigram. Credit: James Henry.
