Songs of the South: Live at the State Library of Western Australia

Set under the stars in the State Library’s forecourt, this one-night-only live concert draws together a stacked lineup of leading WA songwriters who share  a connection to Kinjarling/Albany or the Great Southern region.  The State Library’s exhibition Kinjarling Djinning Ngalak: Country Sees Us will form the backdrop to this special songwriting showcase, with audience members invited to view this extraordinary exhibition before, during and after the show.  

Enjoy a pop up bar and plenty of room to sit or stand and drift along to the sounds of leading WA musicians including ThornBird (Vikki Thorn from The Waifs), Sam Carmody, Maatakitj. The night will also include a reading by 2026 Western Australian Premier’s Book Award Winner Mabel Gibson.  

Kinjarling Djinning Ngalak is a Menang-led exhibition which shines a spotlight on the rocky, dramatic, evocative Kinjarling landscape which has long served as an inspiration for artists. At its centre are six newly commissioned video oral histories featuring Menang Elders which visitors are invited to experience in an immersive kornt / Mia-Mia structure. This exhibition was developed as part of the State Library’s Dialogues 2029 program as a response to the Bicentenary of Kinjarling’s colonisation. 

Artist Lineup: 
ThornBird (Vikki Thorn from The Waifs) 
Carla Geneve 
Corella Saxaphone Quartet 
Maatakitj 
Mabel Gibson (2026 Premier’s Book Awards Winner) 
New Nausea  
Ricky Neil Jr. 
Sam Carmody 
Simon London 
Sleepy Soph