Nabarlek are an Indigenous Roots band from Manmoyi, a tiny community in Arnhem Land, 215 kilometres from the remote community of Gunbalanya. The band formed in 1985 as a group of singers and dancers with a couple of busted guitars and flour tins for drums.DIG Internet radio Nabarlek Band Live. 26 August 2004 The members are Bininj (the indigenous people of West Arnhem Land) and they sing in the Kunwinjku language and in English, trying to reach across the culturesABC Darwin Nabarlek reach new heights and to pass their knowledge from one generation to another. Their songs are traditional songs of the Kunwinjku people of western Arnhem Land with a rock/reggae arrangement.Australian Music Online Arnhem Land band Nabarlek head to Brisbane... They call themselves the garage band that never had a garage.Queensland Arts Council Nabarlek. The garage band that never had a garage!
They have performed with the Darwin Symphony Orchestra and Yothu Yindi, supported Midnight Oil and played with Silverchair and Powderfinger on their Across the Great Divide national tour. They played at many music festivals, including several Darwin Festivals, the Adelaide Festival in 2000, and Womadelaide, the Port Fairy and Brunswick Music Festivals in 2001. They played for six weeks at the International World Expo in Hanover, Germany in 2000.The Music Council of Australia From Outstation to Out There. Nabarlek - a music industry case study
Their album Bininj Manborlh was nominated for the 2002 ARIA Award for Best World Music Album.Aria Awards Nabarlek awards history They also received a nominations for Deadlys in 2001, 2002 and 2007. They are the subject of From outstation to out there. Nabarlek a music industry case study a DVD created by Gillian Harrison.NLA From outstation to out there. Nabarlek a music industry case study
In 2001 the group featured in the Nganampa Anwernekenhe series, in an episode titled Nabarlek, produced by Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) Productions and directed by Beck Cole.
In 2011 and 2013 they participated in Regional Arts WA's First Nations contemporary music tour, Sand Tracks. They toured central Australia with supporting act the Sunshine Reggae Band (also known as Tjintu) from Ikuntji in the Northern Territory in 2013, and with Sandridge Band from Boroloola in 2013.
Discography Title Details Munwurrk Released: 1998 Label: Format: CD Bininj Manborlh Released: 2001 Label: SkinnyFish Music Format: CD Nabarlek Live Released: 2003 Label: SkinnyFish Music Format: CD Nabarlek Radio Released: 2007 Label: SkinnyFish Music Format: CD, DD Manmoyi Radio Released: 2010 Label: SkinnyFish Music Format: CD, DD
Awards and nominations ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony held by the Australian Recording Industry Association. They commenced in 1987.
! |- | 2002 | Bininj Manborlh / Blackfella Road | Best World Music Album | | ARIA Award previous winners.
National Indigenous Music Awards The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. It commenced in 2004.
| 2004 | Nabarlek | Excellence in Music Industry Training
| 2005 | Nabarlek | Band of the Year
| 2006 | Nabarlek - Nabarlek on Tour | Best DVD Release
| rowspan="4"| 2007 | rowspan="2"| Nabarlek - Manmoyi Radio | Album of the Year
| Artwork & Design of the Year
| Nabarlek - "Bushfire" | People's Choice - "Song for Country"
| DVD/Film Clip of the Year | Nabarlek - "Brownbird"
References