Return to Country by Kerrianne Cox

In 2003 Kerrianne was awarded the Centenary Medal by the Australian government for service to her country. Also in 2003, Kerrianne was awarded the ALMA (Australian Live Music Awards) Songlines Indigenous Award, and was again nominated for Deadly Vibe Female Artist of the Year.

In Australia, Kerrianne Cox has performed all over the country including at major events such as 2002 Message Stick at the Sorry Day concert at the Sydney Opera House, WOMADelaide 2003, season 4 of Outback Upfront on ABC TV (Sydney), the Broome Cabaret production of the acclaimed musical Bran Nue Dae, the Sydney Survival Concert '97, opening Perth Artrage in '98, Corroborree 2000, Sydney Mardi Gras 2002 and featured artist at the foot of the Sydney Harbour Bridge attended by over 100,000 people, as well as the Western Australia International Music Conference in 2003.

In 2000, Kerrianne toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada, performing in prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Lincoln Center in NY as well as touring in Vancouver, Portland, St. Louis and Seattle, and appearing at the Detroit Festival and the NEMO Conference in Boston.

In 2003 and 2004, Kerrianne toured in South Africa where she performed at the Awesome Africa Festival in Durban (2003) and was hosted by the Australian High Commission in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria (2004). She is the subject of a documentary, Trancing in Dreamtime (Fineline Productions) with the San Bushmen from the Kalahari in Botswana that was released to great acclaim at the Durban International Film Festival in June, 2004.

In 2006 Kerrianne performed for the first time at the International Dreaming Festival in Woodford, Australia's international celebration of Indigenous cultures. "The Dreaming is an opportunity for Indigenous artists from around the world to showcase the personal meaning of their culture in the 21st century from their minds to the senses of the rest of the world," says Rhoda Roberts, Festival Director.

In 2006 Kerrianne Cox performed and conducted a master songwriting workshop at the Groove and Movement Gathering in Violet Town (Victoria). The inspiration for Kerrianne's visit to Violet Town was the boundless energy and commitment of Jody Saxton, an Aboriginal woman who is hearing impaired and working with young Aboriginal leaders of the future in the Shepparton area.

Although she regularly conducts songwriting workshops which heal, inspire and uplift diverse audiences such as participants at the Kungka Conferences held at Uluru, Kerrianne Cox is more than a singer/songwriter. She is a catalyst for change and a leader.

In October 2004, Kerrianne Cox was elected Chairperson of Beagle Bay Community by her people. "Now I find myself in a beautiful place where I am the Chairperson of my community and I can travel from time to time to perform select shows that I feel are important for what I stand for."

In 2005 Kerrianne was the inaugural recipient of the Yvonne Cohen Award for Creative Indigenous Youth and highly commended for the 2005 Human Rights Community (Individual) Award.

Kerrianne's CD's include Just Wanna Move (1999), Opening (2001) and Return to Country (2006).

REVIEW

Kerrianne clearly displays a very mature artistic sensibility in her work, and in the depth of spirit she brings to it. She has an authentic and generous voice, and is a demonstrated leader – not only in her community, but also in her art making.”

Kristy Edmunds (Artistic Director of the Melbourne International Arts Festival 2005 – 07) (September 2005)

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