Saltwater Band are an Indigenous roots band from Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island, around 560 kilometres from Darwin. The members are Yolngu and they sing mostly in Yolngu languages. Their songs are a mixture of traditional songs and reggae/ska influenced pop.Skinnyfish Music Saltwater Band - Gapu Damurrun' One member of the band, the late Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, is a close relative of Mandawuy Yunupingu of Yothu Yindi and was a past member of Yothu Yindi.Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Listen Up - Music of Black Australia
Saltwater Band's first album, Gapu Damurrun, sold more than 10,000 copies, a then record for an independent Northern Territory act.National Indigenous Times - Issue 68 Deadly times for Saltwater Their album Djarridjarri was nominated for the ARIA Award for Best World Music Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2004.Aria Awards Saltwater Band awards history The album also received a Deadly Award for Album Release of the Year.Deadly Vibe Issue 93 November 2004 Saltwater snaps up Deadly
Discography Title Details Gapu Damurrun Released: 1999 Label: Skinny Fish (SB 001) Format: CD Djarridjarri Released: 2004 Label: Skinny Fish (SFSW040102) Format: CD Malk Released: 2009 Label: Skinny Fish (SFSW100904) Format: CD digital download
Awards and nominations APRA Awards The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters".
| 2012 || "Compass" (Charlie Yunupingu, David Yunupingu) || Blues & Roots Work of the Year ||
ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.
| 2004 | Djarridjarri: Blue Flag | Best World Music Album
| 2011 | Malk | Best World Music Album
The Deadly Awards The Deadly Awards, commonly known simply as The Deadlys, was an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. They ran from 1996 to 2013.
| 2004 | Djarridjarri | Album of the Year
| 2009 | themselves | Band of the Year
National Indigenous Music Awards The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. They commenced in 2004.
| 2004 | themselves | People's Choice Award
| 2005 | themselves | People's Choice Award
| 2008 | Saltwater Band Live | DVD/Film Clip of the Year
| 2011 | Malk | Album of the Year
| 2026 | Saltwater Band | Hall of Fame
References