Big Name, No Blankets | Andrea James with Anyupa Butcher & Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher
All images: James Henry
Big Name, No Blankets is a rock concert/theatre show celebrating the phenomenal journey and impact of Warumpi Band through the eyes of one of its founding members, Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher. Even if you are not familiar with the history, activism, impact and music of the Warumpi Band, the first Indigenous rock 'n' roll band to sing in language, you are likely to recognise many of the band’s major hits—including ‘Blackfella/Whitefella’ (1985), ‘Sit Down Money’ (1986), ‘My Island Home’ (1987), ‘From the Bush’ (1987), and ‘No Fear’ (1987). Which means that you’ll find a lot to enjoy in this show.
Named after Warumpi Band’s debut album, Big Name, No Blankets is a clever theatrical event that follows the band’s growth and success—blending the public-facing rock-n-roll concerts with insights into the personal challenges of balancing commercial success with the call of Country and community (Andrea James, Writer, and co-Director Dr Rachael Maza AM). Co-Director Anyupa Butcher welcomed the Brisbane Festival audience to the opening night of Big Name, No Blankets with a heartfelt acknowledgement of the work of ILBIJERRI Theatre Company, when confirming that the show was developed on Country with Warumpi Band founding member, Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher (Story and Cultural Consultant).
As a show that is part rock concert and part theatrical performance, Big Name, No Blankets is well-served by a strong band and excellent cast. For the Brisbane Festival shows, the onstage band features Malcolm Beveridge, Jason Butcher, Angus McKean, and Music Director Gary Watling—who join performers Baykali Ganambarr (Sammy), Teangi Knox (Gordon & drums), Taj Pigram (George), Jackson Peele (Neil), Cassandra Williams (Suzina, Mum & Ensemble), and Aaron McGrath (Brian & Ensemble).
Each of the actors presented a compelling portrayal of the members of the band. Baykali Ganambarr’s Sammy was humble, modest, honest and a great narrator of the story. Definte highlights included the fantastic vocals and performances by Cassandra Williams (Suzina, Mum & Ensemble), and the superb stage presence and singing by Taj Pigram, as the Warumpi Band frontman.
From the opening ‘Stompen’ Ground,’ it was great to see the way in which the band and performers provided a seamless experience. Which meant I loved the piece where the band came together in the initial Northern Territory meeting of the Butcher boys with Neil—complete with the references to Neil’s ‘motor’ and the jamming session. Equally, the excellent ‘Gotta Be Strong’ was a great way of telling the story of their travels—evoking the fun and challenges of being part of a touring band, including the car journey on the corrugated road to Halls Creek, the funny comments about Peter Garrett’s performance style, and the memories of playing the digeridoo for a German border guard.
All images: James Henry
The QPAC Concert Hall offers a sizeable performance space, and I liked the way in which the set and lighting were used to try to establish the separate Country and stage areas (Emily Barrie [Set Designer], and Jenny Hector [Lighting Designer]). I loved the use of the on-stage projections—in particular the night sky imagery and animations, the footage of country (including the ‘island home’), and of course the poignant video of the original band (James Henry [Cinematographer & Sound Designer], Patricia McKean and Guck [Animation], and Sean Bacon [Video Content Designer]).
The rock concert vibe was certainly achieved, particularly in the closing Blackfella/Whitefella when everyone again stood up in response to the call to ‘stand up, stand up and be counted.’ Throughout the show, many members of the audience seemed to be reliving the concerts of their youth—joining in with the choruses for ‘Sitdown Money,’ ‘Blackfella/Whitefella,’ and ‘From the Bush.’ The sound levels were well judged in the musical numbers, as it’s always nice to come away from a concert without ringing in your ears, but there did appear to be some problems with the sound levels for the spoken word.
All of which means that the performers hold the full attention of the audience, and time just flies by in this 105-minute show with no interval.
Congratulations to the cast, band and creatives behind this excellent show, which first opened in January 2024 at the Roslyn Packer Theatre as part of the Sydney Festival. It is great to see that the production has now been staged at four festivals across Australia. However—and this is a big ‘but’—I question the selection of the QPAC Concert Hall for Big Name, No Blankets. I was fortunate to see the incredible 2014 Brisbane Festival Painted Ladies event at the Judith Wright Centre; another show which featured the work of influential indigenous artists, with reflections on the story and history of Vic Simms’ music. I walked out of Big Name, No Blankets wishing that the Brisbane Festival team had selected a more intimate or appropriate space for this show, as I’d much preferred to have seen Big Name, No Blankets in one of Brisbane’s many smaller performance spaces.
‘Big Name, No Blankets’ played 20-21 September at QPAC’s Concert Hall as part of the 2024 Bisbane Festival.
All images: James Henry
