Blak Powerhouse

Overview

Those looking for something meaningful to do on January 26 can head to the Powerhouse Museum, where Indigenous-run social advocacy group We Are Warriors is bringing together a lineup of First Nations musicians, dancers, filmmakers and artists from across the country for a day dubbed Blak Powerhouse. The goal? To share their art and push for action.

The free event will feature performances from a stacked lineup of artists ranging from hip hop to dance music. We Are Warrior's founder Nooky will be headlining the night with his new supergroup 3%. The trio sees Nooky link up with Dallas Woods and Angus Field, with the group releasing their debut single 'Our People' (a flip of the Presets classic 'My People') last year.

You can also expect sets from other big names including JK-47 and Becca Hatch, alongside Miss Kaninna, RONA, Mi-kaisha and Maanyung.

Powerhouse Up Late, Jordan Munns

Kicking off the Blak Powerhouse program will be a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony at 5pm, followed by a performance from Muggera Dance. Then at 6pm, there will be a panel on Blak power and excellence. Between sets, you can wander around the museum and discover artworks from Michael Cook and Tjukurpamaru, and the documentary film Through the First from We Are Warriors.

We Are Warriors was launched on January 26 in 2022 as an organisation dedicated to celebrating Blak excellence and fostering the next generation of First Nations creatives. In its first year, it delivered a feature presentation at Semi Permanent and launched WAW Fest as part of Vivid Sydney, before hosting the first Blak Powerhouse in 2023.

"Last year, we put on Blak Powerhouse, and the sense of Blak joy we created was so overwhelming for me, and I know all the mob who attended felt the same," says Nooky.

"There was so much power and resilience in the day, for me, it changed how I felt about January 26. If we can capture that same feeling this time around, in my eyes it's a win."

If you can't make it in person, this year's Blak Powerhouse is also being streamed on NITV.

Top image: Nikhil Ninan