Yabu Band

Yabu Band
Yabu Band perform at The Deadly Awards, 2009
Yabu Band perform at The Deadly Awards, 2009
Background information
OriginKalgoorlie, Western Australia, Australia
GenresDesert rock/Reggae, Aboriginal rock, roots
Labels1998-present
Members
  • Delson Stokes
  • Boyd Stokes
Past members
  • Jade Masters
  • Lionel Sarmardin

Yabu Band is an Indigenous Australian rock, roots band formed in 1998 in Kalgoorlie. The word yabu is Wongutha – a western desert tribal language – for 'rock' or 'gold'.[1] Core members are brothers Delson (vocals) and Boyd Stokes (guitar & vocals); and Jade Masters (drums) with Lionel Sarmardin (drums 2017). When performing live they are joined by Roy Martinez (bass), Elizabeth Gogos (vocals), Tony Shaw (didgeridoo) and Tim Ayre (keyboards)and other Supporting artist.[2] They won a Deadly award in 2009 for Most Promising New Talent in Music.[3] Delson Stokes Jr was the 1999 NAIDOC Male Youth of the Year.[4] Boyd Stokes won Guitarist of the Year and Jade Masters won Drummer of the Year at the 2009 TOO SOLID Music Awards held in Perth. Yabu are a four time WAMi (West Australia Music Industry) award winner.

In May 2012 Yabu Band toured Australia to promote their single, "Petrol, Paint and Glue", which highlights indigenous abuse of inhalants. Tracks from their next album, My Tjila, were performed. They were supported by Kimberley musician, John Bennett.[5] "Petrol, Paint and Glue" was nominated as Single of the Year at the 2012 Deadlys – to be held in September.[6] Delson had written the track twelve years earlier after a family member had died from petrol sniffing.[7]

Yabu Band released a debut EP in March 2021.

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
Title Details
Looking to the Future
  • Released: 2000[8]
  • Format: CD
Gundulla - We Dance
  • Released: May 2009[9]
  • Label: Yabu Enterprises
  • Format: digital download

Extended plays

[edit]
Title Details
A Cry in the Wind
  • Released: 26 March 2021[10]
  • Label: Yabu Band
  • Format: digital download, streaming

Singles

[edit]
Title Year Album
"Looking to the Future" 2001 Looking to the Future
"He Right - He Not Wrong" 2006
"Noongar Music" 2008 Gundulla - We Dance
"Beautiful Girl" 2009
"I Am Australian" (Wongutha Version) 2010
"Petrol, Paint & Glue" 2012
"A Cry in the Wind"[11] 2020 A Cry in the Wind
"Peacemaker"[12] 2021

Awards and nominations

[edit]

Deadly Awards

[edit]

The Deadly Awards, was an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community.[13]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
Deadly Awards 2009 Yabu Band Most Promising New Talent Won

WAM Song of the Year

[edit]

The WAM Song of the Year was formed by the Western Australian Rock Music Industry Association Inc. (WARMIA) in 1985, with its main aim to develop and run annual awards recognising achievements within the music industry in Western Australia.[14][15][16]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
2008 "Gundulla - We Dance" Indigenous Song of the Year Won
2012 "Petrol Paint & Glue" Mentally Healthy of the Year Won

West Australian Music Industry Awards

[edit]

The West Australian Music Industry Awards (WAMIs) are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on annually by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc (WAM). Yabu Band won four awards.

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
2009 Yabu Band Indigenous Act of the Year Won
2010 Yabu Band Indigenous Act of the Year Won
2011 Yabu Band Indigenous Act of the Year Won
2012 Yabu Band Indigenous Act of the Year Won

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Prately, Jerry (22 December 1997). "Aboriginal Band to Promote Olympics". The West Australian. Seven West Media.
  2. ^ "Desert Inspiration". Kalgoorlie Miner. West Australian Newspapers (Seven West Media). 3 May 2009.
  3. ^ Rynne, Nick (13 February 2010). "City Recognises Band's Success". Kalgoorlie Miner. West Australian Newspapers (Seven West Media).
  4. ^ "Yabu's Motto Gets Heard". Kalgoorlie Miner. West Australian Newspapers (Seven West Media). 20 September 2002.
  5. ^ Hinaki, Tangiora (17 May 2012). "Yabu Band Tours with a Powerful Message". ABC North West WA. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  6. ^ "The 2012 Deadlys". Vibe Australia. 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  7. ^ Bourke, Emily (1 June 2012). "Yabu Band Puts Spotlight on Substance Abuse". The World Today. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  8. ^ "Looking to the future [sound recording]". trove. 2000. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Gundulla - We Dance on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  10. ^ "A Cry in the Wind on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  11. ^ "The Yabu Band on Triple J Unearthed". Triple J Unearthed. November 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Peacemaker on Apple Music". Apple Music. January 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  13. ^ Pennycook, Alastair (7 December 2006). Global Englishes and Transcultural Flows. Routledge. p. 162. ISBN 978-1-134-18876-5.
  14. ^ "2006 WAM Song of the Year Awards". InterSector. Western Australian State Government. 2006. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  15. ^ "WAM Song of the Year:The 2008 Winners!". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). 13 October 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  16. ^ "Song of the Year Award Winners 2013". WAM. 5 February 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2021.