Songs of the South
State Library of Western Australia
Set under the stars in the State Library's forecourt, this one-night-only live concert draws together a stacked lineup of leading WA songwriters who share a connection to Kinjarling/Albany or the Great Southern region. The songs and stories performed on the night have all been inspired by this special part of world.
Enjoy a pop-up bar and plenty of room to sit or stand and drift along to the sounds of leading WA musicians, including ThornBird (Vikki Thorn from The Waifs), Sam Carmody and Maatakitj. The night will also include a reading by 2026 Western Australian Premier's Book Award Winner Mabel Gibson.
The State Library's exhibition Kinjarling Djinning Ngalak: Country Sees Us will form the backdrop to this special songwriting showcase, giving the audience members the chance to experience this extraordinary exhibition before, during and after the show.
Kinjarling Djinning Ngalak is a Menang-led exhibition which shines a spotlight on the rocky, dramatic, evocative Kinjarling landscape which has long served as an inspiration for artists. At its centre are six newly commissioned video oral histories featuring Menang Elders, which visitors are invited to experience in an immersive kornt / mia-ma structure. This exhibition was developed as part of the State Library's Dialogues 2029 program as a response to the bicentenary of Kinjarling's colonisation.
