By NOEL MURPHY
XAVIER Rudd’s assault on the world continues its stellar run from strength to strength.
But it’s back home, especially in regional Australia, where the folk/roots star from Jan Juc most wants to strike a chord with his musical breed of social and environmental spirituality.
His current Flag Tour, in seven European countries through June and July, follows sold-out shows in North America and Canada.
Rudd said the tour had earned an amazing response so far but Aussies were the audience who might not normally connect with his indigenous, environmental and social issue themes.
He believed that his first full band, Xavier Rudd and the United Nations, had a role to play in awakening people to a new Australian consciousness of itself.
“It’s really religious, quite a special group, and the shows have been quite ceremonial and powerful,” he told the Independent.
“There are a few elders in the band and I don’t think it will have long, long legs but it’s really special and that’s why I wanted to do a regional tour of Australia. It has a really powerful presence and effect on people.
“It’s an Australian band essentially and Australia is quite a different place in our world. People overseas know a lot of Australia’s history and troubles, where things have gone wrong.
“The band celebrates Australia as one people with a mix of different people from different backgrounds. We’re celebrating the concept of all walking forward together to create social understanding of how we grow and protect this country.
“It’s about leave the guilt, the shame, behind and giving people that opportunity. Black fellas have had a lot of hurt, while whites on the other side have shame and guilt.”
Rudd said new album, Nanna, the tour and band represented “an example energetically and spiritually” of where Australia should be as a nation.
For all the album’s politically-charged lyrics in the work, Rudd remained patiently optimistic his message of hope would win purchase in the minds of politicians.
“Our society has almost lost touch with patience as human beings. There was a time when we were all patient and not everyone wants change but I feel that’s changing.
“There’s a lot of hurt and shame that has to die out and that takes time, it happens slowly. People need time to adjust.
“This is an opportunity to meet black fellas, to feel comfortable and walk freely with each other; to say, ‘Can we sit down and have a yarn?’
“People are scared to approach each other, it’s nobody’s fault, they just need to relax.
“There’s a wealth of black fellas and this is an amazing country. The general spirit of indigenous people still passes through all of us and we can celebrate the beauty in all our cultures.”
Xavier Rudd and the United Nations performs at Geelong’s Costa Hall on 18 September.
