SongRites
First Nations voices through music, dance, film and conversation
SongRites is a new program showcasing First Nations voices from across Country.
Experience the living tradition of Songlines, expressed through music, dance, film and conversation. Held on Tubowgule, a place of deep cultural significance, SongRites brings artists from remote and regional communities into focus. You can also explore Country, culture and dreaming through Square Circles, a stunning blend of music and visual artistry on 5 - 6 September.
Witness dance works that share women’s stories, hear endangered languages sung, watch films that connect stories of place, identity and survival to the screen and more.
The Sydney Opera House thanks Event Sponsor Sydney Harbour Federation Trust and Idealist donors R O Albert Family and Dr Russell & Jane Kift for their generous support of SongRites.
Upcoming events
Song Spirals
4 & 6 Sep 2025
Song Spirals is an immersive journey into the language, culture and Country of celebrated creator Rosealee Pearson. Ancient Yolŋu rhythm and songs are brought to life through stunning movement in this powerful dance work performed in Sydney for the first time. With dance, music and mesmerising projections, this performance weaves together age-old tradition and bold contemporary artistry to transport you to the heart of Yolŋu Country.
Arrkula Yinbayarra (Together We Sing)
5 & 6 Sep 2025
Arrkula Yinbayarra (Together We Sing) is a powerful community-led project reviving critically endangered languages through music. Created by Marlene Timothy and co-led with renowned singer/songwriter and 2025 Red Ochre Award winner Dr Shellie Morris AO, they will perform their debut album Waralungku live. Featuring nine singers with a live band, the performance will showcase these original songs in Yanyuwa, Garrwa, Gudanji and Marra languages.
SongRites Short Films
3 Sep 2025
Experience four powerful First Nations short films by First Nations storytellers from regional communities, underpinned by their connection to Country and culture – Katele (Mudskipper), The Djarn Djarns, Bala and Jarda Bura, Gurri Bura, Jarda Ngarli, Gurri Ngarli. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that content from this event may contain images and voices of deceased persons. Katele (Mudskipper)Australia | 2022 | English | Drama | M
Wrong Side of the Road
4 Sep 2025
This documentary-style classic 80s drama follows the Indigenous bands Us Mob and No Fixed Address as they move from gig to gig. Blending dramatisation with real events, it captures the energy of life on tour while exposing the racism, hostility and harassment the musicians faced.
Crying the Land to Life: A Journey into Yolngu Women’s Song Spirals
5 Sep 2025
Join co-authors Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs and Djawandil Maymuru in conversation with Rosealee Pearson and Elizabeth Weiss for a powerful discussion on Song Spirals, the award-winning work by the Gay’wu Group of Women that received the 2020 Prime Minister's Award for Non-Fiction. Discover how this influential book has shaped Rosealee’s artistic practice and experience a rare glimpse into the deep connections between land, language, and identity.
Singing Up Country: Stories, Songlines & Sisterhood
6 Sep 2025
Step into the world of Arrkula Yinbayarra in this panel presentation blending storytelling, visuals, and live conversation. Through photos, video, and personal reflections, the women share the journey of creating their album Waralungku on Country in Borroloola, the legacy of the groundbreaking first recording by their grandmothers, mothers and aunties, and the inspiration and lived experiences that guide their songs.
