THE Quandamooka
Music & Cultural Festival
is about to burst back to
life, offering two days of
vibrant First Nations arts,
music, food and culture.
Following its Wynnum
Fringe showcase last year,
the beloved festival is set
to return to Minjerribah
on August 30 and 31,
marking its first full-scale
celebration since 2022.
Set against the stunning
island paradise of Minjerribah
(North Stradbroke
Island), this multi-artform
festival offers a unique
opportunity to immerse
yourself in the living
culture of the Nughi, Nunukul,
and Goenpul clans
of Quandamooka.
Kicking off with a traditional
smoking ceremony
and Welcome to Country,
the annual winter festival
celebrates the yalingila
(whale) migration season
and features a vibrant
line-up of cultural activities,
including Kunjiel
(corroborees), music performances,
guided tours,
weaving, arts and crafts,
First Nations’ film, panel
discussions, and more.
Co-headlining Friday
night’s music lineup
is Meanjin’s own Jem
Cassar-Daley, fresh off
her QMA 2024 Song of
the Year win for King of
Disappointment.
She’ll share the stage
with the legendary Uncle
Joe Geia and Quandamooka
musician Sachem,
adding to her already
impressive accolades,
including the NIMA
New Talent of the Year
in 2022, QMA Indigenous
Artist of the Year in
2022, and being hailed
as a rising star to watch
in 2023 by Queensland’s
Sunday Mail.
Saturday will bring the
highly anticipated return
of the Kunjiel program,
where traditional dance
groups will share their
cultural heritage with
locals and visitors.
As the sun sets over
Minjerribah, attendees
will make history as the
first to experience the
Quandamooka Film Festival,
a unique drive-in
movie event showcasing
films by local creatives
that seamlessly blend
cultural celebration with
cinematic storytelling.
QYAC chair Cameron
Costello expressed
his enthusiasm for the
upcoming festival.
“Quandamooka Festival
is a great opportunity
to bring the whole
community and visitors
together to celebrate
culture and the arts, and
learn more about Quandamooka
country; the
sands, seas, sacred lakes,
creeks, catchments and
creatures found across the
Redlands/Moreton Bay
islands from the Quandamooka
People’s perspective,”
Mr Costello said.
The Quandamooka
Festival is a free-entry
event with mandatory
registration, taking place
at the QYAC campus
Minjerribah Gunaba, 100
East Coast Rd.
Festival gates open at
4pm on Friday, August
Registration is at
quandamookafestival.
com.au, with all registrants
entering a draw for
travel and accommodation
prizes.
