MELBOURNE — More than 2000 people cheered and clapped as a number of great performers appeared on the stage of the Melbourne Concert Hall on February 28. They were there for the Morning Star Concert of West Papua. The biggest cheers went up every time independence for West Papua was mentioned. The stars of the show were undoubtedly the great West Papuan traditional band, Black Paradise, who brought the Concert Hall alive with their haunting and joyful songs.
Almost a year in planning, the concert was conceived by Melbourne musician David Bridie (from the bands Not Drowning, Waving and My Friend the Chocolate Cake), to raise funds for the West Papuan human rights group Elsham.
Performers included Alex Lloyd, the Bangarra Dance Theatre and the Dili Allstars. Comedians John Clarke, Bryan Dawe and Andrew Denton also lent a hand.
[Visit <http://www.freewestpapua.com/> and <http://www.morningstarconcert.com/> for pictures and video of the concert. A Morning Star Concert will also be held at the Brisbane Social Forum, March 21-23, at the Brisbane Powerhouse, <http://www.brisbanesocialforum.org/>.]
From Green Left Weekly, March 12, 2003.
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