Artist Spotlight
Warangesda Festival Artist Spotlight
PHILLY
“Philly” (Phillip Murray) is an up and coming aboriginal rap artist from Mildura, VIC.
He has been writing, performing and recording his own music since he was 13. Philly's lyrics are creative, powerful, positive and motivational.
Philly also had what some friends say was “a challenging childhood.” He never met his father, was taken away from his mother and raised by an auntie before he was two, and lost his mum to cancer three years ago.
“I was taken off her when I was 18 months old because they said she was unfit to look after me because of mental health issues,” he says. “But I would see her on weekends. My life would have been a lot harder if I was living with her, but she always told me I could do whatever I wanted with my life. “I lived with Aunty Bev and she’s been very important in my life. She’s always been a hard worker, she’s looked after so many kids."
DIZZY DOOLAN
Dizzy is multi-talented with her rapping/singing, dancing and acting skills. She was involved in a powerful short film in Sydney called “Mah” playing the lead role which was written and directed by Danny Johnson.
Dizzy has also done her first international show in New Zealand late 2008, for a mixtape album launch. In 2016 Dizzy went on tour to South East Asia for a dance project called “Move for reconciliation” where she performed and facilitated workshops in Bali, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur.
Dizzy Doolan also had the honour and privilege of performing as the support opening act for international artists, Fatman Scoop and Omarion concert in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in July 2009.
Following that show, Dizzy as the opening act, supported international artists Akon and T-Pain in October 2009 in Sydney at the Acer Arena and most recently Doolan supported Kevin Lyttle in Cairns and Townsville in December 2016 followed by another support act for another Grammy Award Winning artist Mya in January 2017. Dizzy has been nominated twice for a Deadly award and also has presented and performed at the 2012 Deadly awards.
LAWRENCE BARLOW
Lawrence Barlow was born in Condobolin, son of William Barlow. His great-great grandfather Gilbert Barlow was born on Warangesda Mission.
Lawrence is a singer-songwriter, performing all around NSW, from Condobolin to Wilcannia, Cobar, Sydney, Mildura, Tamworth and up to the Gold Coast in QLD. Last year, Lawrence recorded an album titled ‘Hope Dem Bitin Tonight’.
Artist Highlights
DAMIEN "DOOKIE" THORNE
Damien "Dookie" Thorne is a proud Wiradjuri man who loves to sing, tell stories and keep the memories and traditions of the first nations alive.
Damien learned to sing sitting around a campfire between his uncles. He's lived the highs and lows of life as Indigenous man and channels his experiences through song.
Singing soul, pop and country in English and Indigenous dialects, Dookie believes that good music transcends language and prejudice.