Fifty Years of Deadly marks a milestone. It’s a tribute to the people who built this movement. The Elders who stood firm, the organisers who made space, the artists who turned resistance into expression, and the communities who keep showing up, year after year. This Waverly Council and Awesome Black curation focuses on the enduring impact of First Nations culture alongside contemporary innovation and future artistic expression.

July 4th will feature a three-hour showcase of established and emerging First Nations artists curated by Awesome Black. An afternoon of live music and DJs celebrating contemporary culture including:

Performances by:

Lemonise

Gadigal-based psychedelic quartet Lemonise blends cosmic riffs and percussive rhythms into deep, enchanting grooves. Featuring guitarist Maya Riv, bassist Gene Griffin, drummer Morgan Monk, and First Nations vocalist Jake Magi on Yidaki, the band explores themes of bucolic bliss. Their music offers an elemental sonic journey inspired by the wild NSW South Coast.

Bow & Arrow

Bow and Arrow is a Contemporary First Nations (Wiradjuri/Gamilaraay/Walgalu/Ngunawal) electro-soul trio based on Gadigal land. They fuse modern and Traditional instruments which create a unique sound and notable rare live experience.

More artists to be announced soon!

About Awesome Black

Fifty Years of Deadly is presented by Awesome Black.

Awesome Black are artists, storytellers and cultural thinkers who bring a fresh, dynamic approach to creative projects. Not your normal creative agency — Awesome Black develops original content, live experiences and First Nations talent across a variety of formats including large-scale immersive experiences, audio and visual storytelling, curatorial and cultural consulting, and strategy development.