Empowering remote First Nations Musicians

Bush Music Fund provides long term support to First Nations musicians from remote Australia providing the networks, skills and opportunities they need to build a career in the music industry.

Our support is artist led. We work alongside each, designing a plan and then uniting industry stakeholders around the artist so those goals can best be achieved.

Each artist is allocated a financial distribution by Bush Music Fund which is used to pay for services associated with their goals.

We believe this approach can help artists from remote areas overcome the barriers they face to the music industry.

We are a point of connection between the artist, their family and their community and the wider Australian contemporary music industry.

We are a registered charity, with DGR status, driving true and sustainable self determination of the artists within the program.

MUSIC IS A MECHANISM FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT PATHWAYS, AND THE PARTICIPATION IN MUSIC ENCOURAGES CULTURAL AND SOCIAL RESILIENCE.

Our vision

Is to empower First Nations musicians living remotely and to support their career development and progression by creating opportunities to record, tour and learn through long term grants of financial assistance, mentorship and workshops.

Our purpose

We are dedicated to nurturing and promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians living in remote areas to ensure their voices are heard, celebrated and they achieve their career goals.

Our values

Inclusivity, cultural preservation, collaboration, empowerment, opportunity, transparency.

TEAM

Our team is a dynamic collective of dedicated professionals united by a passion for nurturing and amplifying the voices of First Nations musicians from remote Australia.

  • Arian Pearson is on the board of Directors of Music NT, the head studio engineer of the Mulka Project and Co founding member of band, East Journey. In his role at The Mulka Project he assists the development and mentoring of existing and upcoming artists with recording and songwriting and records songlines of elders in studio and remotely. Arian has produced sound designs for many of The Mulka Projects exhibitions and films.

  • Coco Eke co-founded Bad Apples Music with Briggs, managing artists and the record label. More recently she founded Ngarrimili, a charity supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives, entrepreneurs and business owners.

  • Jack Parsons co-founded Guts Touring, a regional and remote live music and workshop tour through Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory. He is founding member of Independent Melbourne band The Pretty Littles and previously worked as a criminal lawyer and journalist.

  • Candice Lorrae is an award-winning music producer and artist of Jawoyn and Torres Strait Islander heritage from Darwin, now based in Melbourne/Naarm. She brings 23 years of experience in the music industry to her studio, The Candy Suite Studio, where she writes, collaborates, and produces for recording artists, filmmakers, and theatre companies. As one half of the former electronic pop duo The Merindas, she collaborates with ARIA Award-winning producers. She is also a champion for female First Nations producers and emerging talent through the Singing Our Futures Program, an initiative formed with the late Uncle Archie Roach AC and his foundation, in partnership with Culture is Life. She is honored to be entrusted with carrying on this part of his and aims to strengthen more programs across the country to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, contributing to building a thriving First Nations music community.

  • James Clarke has over a decade of experience in entertainment and culture marketing. Through his work as Managing Director across Bolster Group, Aeroplane Agency and Going North Agency he helps creative individuals and organisations across Australia build the commercial viability of their projects. James has shown his commitment to grassroots regional music programs co-founding Up The Guts, Small Town Big Sound and Guts Touring.

  • Greer Boe is a barrister based in Melbourne. Greer’s area is predominantly in criminal defence on the east coast of Australia but has also been involved in coronial inquest and royal commission work in the Northern Territory.

  • Fred Leone is one of the Butchulla Songmen with Aboriginal, Tongan and South-Sea Islander roots. He comes from the Garrwa and Butchulla tribes.

    As a Songman, his primary instrument is his voice, yet he uses Kuluru (Garrwa  language for Yidaki aka Didgeridoo), boomerangs (Bargan in Butchulla language), Emu egg (Ngurunj in Butchulla language), tree branches, sand and other objects from K’gari to form his traditional sound pallet.

    Fred has been touring the world for over a decade,  and has shared the stage with the likes of Public Enemy, Xavier Rudd, John Butler,  as well as receiving invites to collaborate and play with contemporary artists such as Jeff Lang, Tenzan Choegyal, Xavier Rudd, Birdz & Amanda Palmer and many more.

Reports

Discover how the Bush Music Fund supports First Nations musicians through our detailed reports, program overviews, and inspiring success stories.

Impact Report 2025

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Impact Report 2024

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OUR PARTNERS

Our partners play a vital role in helping the Bush Music Fund empower First Nations musicians, fostering collaboration, cultural exchange, and opportunities for artists to thrive in the music industry. We are thankful for all of the support we have received. Please contact us if you are interested in supporting us.