Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Black Elvis is in the building

MEDIA RELEASE

23 June, 2017

Tuesday 4 July | 11am – 4pm

‘The Koori King of Country’, singer Roger Knox, leads a strong line-up of talented performers at Blacktown City Council’s 2017 NAIDOC Family Day.

Also known as “The Black Elvis”, Knox will perform popular hits from his 40-year career, including songs written by Aboriginal artists, perfectly capturing this year’s NAIDOC theme: Our Languages Matter.

“We are honoured to have Roger Knox – a NAIDOC Artist of the Year and Australian Country Music Foundation Music Hands of Fame inductee – performing at Blacktown’s NAIDOC Family Fun Day,” said Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Stephen Bali.

“Mr Knox is beloved by the Aboriginal community for the work he does sharing the gift of music with Aboriginal audiences in remote communities and prisons in Australia and overseas.

“I am very much looking forward to hearing this legend of Australian country music perform.”

The Mount Druitt Indigenous Choir, The Green Hand Band, Sharon Carpenter and Dr Greenthumb will also perform throughout the day.

There will be workshops and stalls, a free barbeque and lots of activities for the kids to enjoy, including the opportunity to showcase their talents on the stage as part of the ‘Blackfullus Got Talent, So You Mob Think You Can Dance Idol Competition’.

“The NAIDOC Family Fun Day is a very important event in the Blacktown City calendar,” Mayor Bali said.

“It is an opportunity for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to come together and celebrate the history, culture and achievements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.”

Koori Radio 93.7FM will be broadcasting live, so listen out for on-the-spot interviews with community members and performers during the day.

The 2017 NAIDOC Family Fun Day will be held on Tuesday 4 July from 11am – 4pm at Blacktown Showground, Richmond Road, Blacktown. It is a free event.

About NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NAIDOC Week 2017 will run from 2-9 July. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Local community celebrations during NAIDOC Week are encouraged and often organised by communities, government agencies, local councils, schools and workplaces.