If you need a little R&B and neo-soul in your life this Saturday, Bumpy brings her captivating live set to Darebin's beloved Meet the Makers Picnic.
If you’ve managed to catch Bumpy live, you’ll know she’s a cosmic force. A proud Noongar woman, her voice can rearrange constellations as she blends R&B and neo-soul while covering a tapestry of emotions.
She’s been all over the place lately, from Meredith Music Festival to VIVID Festival, racking up wins for New Talent of the Year at the National Indigenous Music Awards and scooping up Best Soul/RnB/Funk and Gospel work at the Music Victoria Awards.
She keeps busy with her show Pebbles on Triple R 102.7FM and has a new single titled Overgrown. Most importantly, you’ll get your chance to see Bumpy in the flesh this weekend for free at FUSE Darebin’s Meet the Makers Picnic. We caught up with the soul queen to talk about the many things keeping her busy these days and the unique lineup she’ll bring for this weekend’s performance.
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Overdrawn has been out for a little while now, released right before the summer festival season kicked off, celebrating the week Bumpy performed at, as she describes it “my dream festival,” Meredith. “I’ve felt really proud of the response with a lot of comments talking to hearing a sassy, playful side to my sound and a love of the addition of horns. Overdrawn continues to be a track that feels relevant, constantly evaluating the line of giving enough / giving too much, so although released, it’s still feeling fresh to perform live.”
Her upcoming FUSE set will be something a little different as Bumpy continues to explore different ensembles for different shows. “I’m super excited to be performing as a trio with my brother Ben (drums), partner Mick (bass), and myself on keys and guitar at FUSE. It’s been a fun exercise rearranging the tracks to suit the different ensembles and give them a new sense of air as they adapt and shift. It’ll only be the second time I’ve presented it in this way!”
FUSE brings together a range of local talent – DJ JNETT, Wax’o Paradiso and Teymori will also perform – with Bumpy leading the charge. “I’m extremely excited for the whole lineup; it is incredible, and I can’t wait to bask in the sun and fill my day with some world-class, local talent.” She went on to tell us about the importance of FUSE for the area of Darebin and how it’s a community collaboration at its finest. “I think FUSE have done an excellent job showcasing how much local talent we have here in Darebin. It’s so important to see our local talents being showcased in the area, empowering the community and creating safe spaces for all of us to attend.”
This weekend’s FUSE performance aside, Bumpy is also gearing up for her first-ever Sydney headline show, and it is a big one, performing at none other than the Sydney Opera House, a stage that Bumpy does have some previous experience with. “I’ve performed there a few times but I am so, so excited to be presenting a headline show. I mean, this little Noongar Yorga is blown away that my stories, voice and music will be played in such an iconic space.”
As Bumpy continues to kick goals, she is set for a busy and very creative 2024. She will work with the Australian Art Orchestra (AAO) as their First Nations Artist in Residence and present a show in collaboration with Melbourne International Jazz Festival about language, connection, and a recent trip she took to her home country, Noongar Boodja. “These projects will take up a lot of my creative time, but I’ll also have lots of live shows, maybe some woven merch things, and hopefully a couple more Bumpy tracks coming your way this year!”
Catch Bumpy live this weekend on March 23rd as part of Fuse Darebin at Bundoora Homestead Art Centre. The event is free, and she will grace the stage at 1pm.
Find out more here.
This article was made in partnership with FUSE Darebin.
