NATSIMO announces participants for inaugural RESONATE Country

Bronwyn Stuart, Katie Aspel, Kieren Waters and Quarralia Knox announced as participants

NATSIMO Industry Showcase at Tamworth Country Music Festival also announced featuring Joey Leigh Wagtail, Warren H Williams and special guests

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Office (NATSIMO) has announced the participants for its inaugural RESONATE Country songwriting program for 2025, a groundbreaking initiative for the Indigenous music community and country music in Australia.

Funded by APRA AMCOS and the NSW Government through Sound NSW, the program offers Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander APRA AMCOS members the opportunity to collaborate with top writers from the Australian music industry.

With support from internationally renowned Phil Barton, alongside award-winning writers Matt Fell and Warren H Williams, the program provides a unique opportunity for songwriters to hone their skills and write alongside the best in the industry.

This year’s selected participants are Bronwyn Stuart, Katie Aspel, Kieren Waters and Quarralia Knox. They’ll be joining established artists and mentors Gling Hunt, Joey Leigh Wagtail, Kutcha Edwards, Kyarna Rose, Luke Peacock and Maddi Colville Walker.

The four-day program will take place from 20-22 January 2025 at Mad Proppa Deadly Studios, Armidale, NSW where the participants will get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to collaborate and learn from some of the best in the industry.

Program participant, Kyarna Rose, explains: "I’m so excited to take part in Resonate Country in Tamworth 2025. This opportunity will give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander songwriters, like myself, the opportunity to share our stories, connect with mob and contribute to the legacy of Indigenous voices in country music here in Australia."

Following the program, the participants, mentors and special guests will also perform in the NATSIMO Industry Showcase at 5.30pm, Thursday 24 January at the Britten Room, Tamworth Community Centre as part of the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Leah Flanagan, Director of NATSIMO, explains: “This is a truly exciting week-long program of activities and events that showcases the incredible talent we have in our communities.

“We encourage the wider country music community and industry to come along and get involved, and we thank Sound NSW for supporting our artists through this inaugural program.”

This initiative is supported by the NSW Government through Sound NSW.

For further information on NATSIMO programs or to attend the music industry showcase, contact [email protected]. Tickets are limited.