This year’s Amnesty Freedom Festival was one the best ones to date. As the organizers told us, the festival is there to celebrate our freedoms, deliver a night of quality music, while at the same time raising awareness of violence against women here in Australia. The highlight by far had to be Ursula Rucker’s spoken word/poetry set. However before we get to her we will start at the beginning….

...In the beginning there was the Word…

Local artist Somaya began the night with a unique set of atmospherics and low key electronics from her laptop which she coupled with a slide-show of beautiful photography from around the world. In addition she used her voice as an instrument; whispering snatches of lyrics into a microphone that then were echoed and distorted. The photography ranged from details of arabesque tiles and archways from the Middle East to the nighttime skyline of a modern Western city; from a panoramic view of a rainforest to close-ups of textured metallic sheets. It was nice to see something different – Somaya did her thing, and she did it well. The photography was a perfect accompaniment to the music, which was more background sounds and not something you can really sit down and pay attention to for extended periods of time.

Next up was locals Ashley Feraude and vocalist Cris Clucas. You might have seen them at the Hippo bar in Civic, or perhaps you may have seen Cris perform with an acoustic guitar around Canberra – either way, this was by far more interesting. For this gig she teamed up with Ashley Feraude to bring us a set filled with lounge grooves and laid back jazzy vocals. The combination worked very well as her vocal style suited the music and the venue more than an acoustic set would have. Reminiscent of a lot of the loungey/jazzy groups out there, they brought some chilled grooves to the night. While they performed they had loops from a black and white film playing which was a nice touch as well.

Next up came Ben Mono from Germany who played a straight DJ set consisting of again loungesque vibes with a more hiphop/electronica tinge. He was obviously a professional at his craft and it worked very well. He also utilized the video projection to show snippets and distorted loops of old black and white films which looked like they were from Eastern Europe, possibly before the Second World War, and consisted of scenes involving women.

At this stage in the night people had been enjoying themselves for a while, drinking and toasting to the next wave of social and political revolutions which seemed only just over the horizon as we sipped our cocktails and nodded our heads to the music. My only qualm is that perhaps the video set up could have been made more dynamic to ensure that a visual link with the audience was always kept, as during the set most members of the audience used the music as mere background to their conversations.

After Ben Mono the door prizes were given out, possibly the most exciting part of the evening for all involved.

Next up came Ursula Rucker and her band members, drummer Gintas Janusonis and guitarist Tim Montzer. When she walked on stage it was clear that this was what people had come to see; drinks were put on tables and conversation ceased with the first shuffling off-beat from Gintas’ drums and cow bells. Heart-beats increased a few BPM’s as Ursula began her set with an appeal to the revolutionary heroes of the pasts, present, and future in a percussion orientated invocation of their spirits. You could feel the vibe from the first note and feel that Ursula was a consummate poet and artist. Her first words…

“I feel the need in these days and times expressly to call on our ancestors, our forbearers, speak their names in thanks.”

Ursula is well known for her sharp political poetics and she has collaborated with such other artists as Jazzanova and The Roots. While being a vocal supporter of women’s rights she is also an accomplished poet and mother of four.

As she progressed through her set it was clear that this was serious. It was reality given back to us refracted through the brain of an artist. A moment in time shared with the common goal of advancing society towards a future unbound by the shackles of hypocrisy and selfishness or of greed and intellectual apartheid. When asked about the performance afterwards Ursula said that they ”...had an absolutely amazing, kind of religious experience. It was that kind of vibe.”

Canberra is known as a soul-less city to much of Australia, but if indeed any city can have a soul it was definitely in the room with us during Ursula’s performance. Over the next hour she graced us with her words and the music, both Gintas and Tim — exceptional musicians in their own right — worked in sync with Ursula as the perfect adjunct to her powerful and poignant words. Highlights included the appropriately titled track ‘What A Women Must Do” and the above mentioned opening invocation.

After this wonderful set local DJ Mikah Freeman and Bec Paton (Sydney) catered to the remaining crowd with excellent dance orientated sets, but it was clear that the highpoint of the night had passed.

Overall the night was amazing. All performers were very talented and they all brought something different to this event. Tilley’s as a venue is exceptional for this type of live music. But it was not just about the music. There was a message to get out and there was consciousness’ to expand. Check out Amnesty’s website for more details [www.amnesty.org.au/freedom].

 ”This freedom festival is to create awareness about the staggering that exists within domestic violence against women in Australia. It is also to encourage people to sign a petition to create a national plan of action.”

- Ursula Rucker