Malyangapa, Barkindji rapper, and the 2024 National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) Artist of the Year, Barkaa, has announced a national tour ahead of her highly anticipated new EP, Big Tidda.
The EP is set for release on Friday 30 August via Bad Apples Music. Barkaa will kick off her tour at Darwin Festival on Friday 23 August before taking the EP to audiences across Australia, performing seven shows this spring.
Marking a new chapter in her artistic journey, Big Tidda is an unwavering celebration of joy and the journey required to reach it. Over seven tracks, Barkaa embraces growth and finds beauty in the unknown, drawing from her childhood in Eora/Sydney to the trials and tribulations of a young, Blak mother. Fans can listen to the EP’s recently released singles Preach and We Up for an early glimpse into the record’s unapologetic and vulnerable storytelling.
Barkaa tour dates
- Friday 23 August – Darwin Festival, Darwin (part of the festival lineup)
- Saturday 21 September – The Rechabite, Boorloo/Perth
- Sunday 28 September – Altar, Lutruwita/Hobart
- Friday 4 October – Lion Arts Factory, Kaurna/Adelaide
- Friday 11 October – The Brightside, Meanjin/Brisbane
- Friday 18 October – The Corner Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne
- Saturday 2 November – Oxford Art Factory, Eora/Sydney
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Barkaa describes the EP as “a celebration of blak joy, the importance of blak love and just feeling yourself. I showcased my culture with Blak Matriarchy, but with Big Tidda, I am taking you for a walk through the streets where I grew up – the Housing Commission estates of Southwest Sydney. The message behind the record is to have fun.”
She adds, “We’re not just blakfellas who make blak music. We’re blakfellas. We make great music and we are taking over. It’s take-over season. I create music for everybody, but mostly with my sister girls in mind. I want people to connect to my music and be like: ‘that’s my track. That’s my story. I can relate to that. I feel that. I’m going to big-note myself today. I’m going to be confident today. I’m going to make amends to my family today. I’m going to take accountability today.’ That’s what Big Tidda is about. I want all my tiddas to feel like they are that Tidda. They’re that Big Tidda.”
Proving herself to be an influential force, Barkaa was recently awarded Artist of the Year at the 2024 National Indigenous Music Awards, having also received nominations for Film Clip of the Year and Song of the Year. She also took home Game Changer of the Year at the inaugural Pedestrian Television Awards. Earlier this year, Barkaa concluded a sold-out run of live shows – including a stunning performance at Sydney Opera House during Vivid Live, plus headline dates at Eora’s The Lansdowne and two nights at Naarm’s The Curtin.
In 2023, Barkaa made a striking debut at SXSW Sydney, performed her hit single King Brown at the ARIA Awards, and launched an exclusive kids’ tee with Haus of Dizzy. She capped off the year with a standout Sydney NYE performance alongside 3%, while the Sydney Harbour Bridge was illuminated with projections of her face, illustrated by Janelle Burger. Since her 2020 debut single For My Tittas, Barkaa has emerged as a leading voice in Australia’s hip hop scene, earning accolades such as PUMA’s Rookie Of The Year and praise from triple j and Red Bull. Her debut EP, Blak Matriarchy, a celebration of Blak motherhood, garnered acclaim from The Guardian, Rolling Stone Australia, NME, and 10 Magazine. With features in Vogue, Need For Speed, and NBA 2K, performances at top festivals, and two ARIA nominations under her belt, Barkaa continues to assert her role as “the new matriarch of Australian rap” (GQ).
Don’t miss your chance to experience the power of Big Tidda in person by grabbing your ticket now.
Gig tickets here. Big Tidda is out Friday 30 August via Bad Apples Music. Pre-save here.
