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The Spinoff
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
Review: Marlon Williams' first ever stadium show was glorious
On Saturday night Marlon Williams played at the Spark Arena with The Yarra Benders, Kommi and Ngā Mātai Pūrua. As his Te Whare Tīwekaweka tour nears its end, it felt like a beginning. 'Lets try some stadium shit,' Marlon Williams told the crowd. He was alone on the stage, perched on his piano stool, long legs crossed and an acoustic guitar tightly in his grip. From the seats of the Spark Arena, a few phone torches were swaying. The crowd was eager to please – a few seconds later, thousands of lights swayed in the stadium. Williams, the indie heart throb of Kāi Tahu and Ngāi Tai from New Zealand's alt-folk capital Lyttelton, was aware, but unafraid, of the cringe. He has never thought much of phone-torch-swaying, but it looked 'so cool' from up on stage and 'Ed Sheeran loves it when you do that.' He then dove into a soulful rendition of an audience request – his 2016 song 'Arahura'. Halfway through, two of The Yarra Benders slipped on stage, filling the song with violin and double bass. It was the most beautiful song in the world. My torchlight quivered with emotion. Saturday night was the 18th stop (there are 21 shows all together, 11 of them in Aotearoa) on Williams' tour of his new album Te Whare Tīwekaweka. The album, lauded for being entirely in te reo Māori, was performed in full. The only English additions were 'Arahura' and the pop hit 'My Boy'. It's been a big year for Williams – Te Whare Tīwekaweka, released in April is the result of a six year journey, and as well as the tour, its release was accompanied by a feature length documentary, Ngā Ao E Rua – Two Worlds, which was four years in the making. All this activity has not gone unnoticed. Marlon-mania has been sweeping across New Zealand (and beyond?). The old biddies are giddy and excited, but so are the trendy young people. It was apparent in Saturday night's crowd: we arrived on time, filled out the (fully seated) arena, wore big smiles for the duration of the show and were diverse in age, ethnicity and gender. Someone was wearing a Warriors beanie. Someone else was wearing ballet flats crossed with soccer boots. It's been said that 'everyone' was there, and as far as I could tell everyone loved it. The night began with Ngā Mātai Pūrua, a Melbourne based kapa haka rōpū that performed with Williams at sold-out shows at the Sydney Opera House and the Melbourne town hall. The rōpū of at least 30 performed waiata-a-ringa and poi, which felt like a welcoming of what was to come, an anchor for the artists that followed. Next up was KOMMI. Those who have watched Ngā Ao E Rua would have recognised the lead musician Kommi Tamati-Elliffe (Kāi Tahu, Te-Āti-Awa) as Williams' songwriting collaborator and reo mentor. They are often described as Williams' 'dear friend' and are accompanying him for the whole tour. Tamati-Elliffe's presence on stage was instantly powerful. They stepped on in a voluminous white cotton shirt, long plaid kilt, and widebrimmed hat with four feathers protruding from its crown. So fashionable, and so many nods to history. The solo rapper/chanter/singer was joined by a drummer, guitarist and singer who seamlessly supported the songs. Tamati-Elliffe's songs are exclusively in reo, the Kāi Tahu dialect, but they were kind enough to give hilarious introductions in English for people like me. One song told a story of Tamati-Elliffe running away from a haunted house, hiding in the bush only to be found by tūrehu and future anthropologists finding their bones and thinking 'What an idiot!' It was during the KOMMI set that Williams first appeared. The cameo is mainly notable because of his custom Adidas tracksuit, which I believe was made by his friend and artist Turumeke Harrington (Kāi Tahu). Zipped up all the way, it was embellished with koru designs and Williams paired it with a black beanie. Later, Tamati-Elliffe would appear during Williams' set in a matching set. Friendship is so sweet. To begin his headline set, Williams appeared spotlit in the middle of the stage – that beloved, almost-gangly, silhouette in a suit. His hair was not slicked back as has been his signature in the past – instead it was soft and tousled. He began the first waiata, 'Me Uaua Kē' – 'Tērā motu tērā te wāhī i kai ai taiohi i ngā hua o te koreke.' (That island, the place where the youth ate the fruits of the koreke). Suddenly it was obvious why this goofy man was on an arena stage. His voice – the tone so pure, so assured, effortless yet elevated, seemingly knowing and gentle. On stage with Williams were The Yarra Benders, who have been performing with him for over a decade, and known him for even longer. Switching between violin, keyboard and guitar is Dave Khan. Ben Woolley is on bass, double bass and vocals and Gus Agars is on drums. All three are Pākehā and all three accompanied Williams into his fumbling, stumbling reo journey. They too sing in reo. Though I can't recall the exact words, Williams noted how he's proud of them for following him, and that it represents something bigger, about unity and the future. It seems that the whole night – and the whole project of Te Whare Tīwekaweka – represents that. Most of Williams' fans, and most of the people in the crowd are unlikely to understand much reo – and yet here they were, taking in the beauty of the songs, guided by a man who is open about his stumbling and incomplete journey, and willing to tell a silly joke about a cat. Williams was regularly switching instruments too, with a guitar tech appearing in between songs to switch from an acoustic guitar to a red electric guitar (just like the emoji), or take them off his hands as he ascended the stairs to the piano. It's boring but true to write that the beautiful songs were perfectly performed. And although Spark Arena is a big, cold space, the performance felt warm and intimate. The stage design was simple and soft – the ghostly album artwork by Williams' artist mum Jenny Rendall was printed onto a huge fabric banner and hung in front of a gathered purple curtain, a vintage lampshade hung over a piano that looked like it might have come from a granny's house and the platform for it, with a little staircase that Williams was constantly ascending and descending, was constructed from wood. There was even a doily draped over the piano stool. My only complaint is that the overhead lighting was harsh, meaning that strong shadows fell over Williams' face and often obscured his eyes. The encore, which had been all but promised by Williams who seemingly hides nothing from his audience, proved the perfect encapsulation of the show. Williams and The Yarra Benders reappeared on stage with short feathered korowai over their suits. Standing in a line, they performed the bare bones of 'Whakameatia Mai'. When Woolley took a verse in perfect reo, the crowd cheered. Then everyone was welcomed back to the stage – Ngā Mātai Pūrua's wahine gathered around microphones while tane stood tall on the platform at the back of the stage. Somewhere tucked away Tamati-Elliffe grooved in their tracksuit. The final song of the night was 'Ngoi Ngoi', a lesser-known 1988 single by Pātea Māori Club. The crowd was keen to join in the celebration, phone torches again swaying around the stadium. It was so good that you started to wish the world's leaders were all there, so they could experience what it could mean to live alongside one another in difference and unity. Marlon Williams' first show in an arena was beautiful. It was another wave in the growing fandom for the musician, but also something else – a huge crowd of people willing to follow Williams out of a country that has become a whare tīwekaweka (a haunted house, a house in disarray) and stumble into a different future.
Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Indigenous performers accuse the Melbourne Storm of LYING about the real reason the team cancelled Anzac Day Welcome to Country at the last minute
Indigenous performers have accused the Melbourne Storm of lying about the reason the club cancelled a planned Welcome to Country ceremony just hours before kick-off at their Anzac Day NRL match. Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy had been scheduled to deliver the Welcome to Country at AAMI Park before Friday night's clash against the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Performances by Maori group Ngā Mātai Pūrua and Wurundjeri dance group Djirri Djirri were also organised for the evening. However, as performers rehearsed on the field, Murphy said she was informed by the club's board that they no longer wanted the Welcome to Country to proceed. Following the decision, both Ngā Mātai Pūrua and Djirri Djirri withdrew from performing. Storm chairman Matt Tripp said the issue arose from a misunderstanding between the board and management. Tripp stated the board had only approved Welcome to Country ceremonies for multicultural and Indigenous rounds, but not Anzac Day. However, the Djirri Djirri dance group claim they were told that the Welcome to Country was cancelled by the board because of the booing of Uncle Mark Brown at the Anzac Dawn Service in Melbourne. 'We Djirri Djirri were invited to dance alongside our Mäori Whanau Ngã Matai Púrua Kapa Haka after Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin's Welcome to Country,' they said in a statement. 'We arrived at 2:30pm and have been in and out of the change room to rehearse, it has been raining all day and we have multiple babies and kids with us waiting in the rain. 'After our final rehearsal we were approached by Melbourne Storm CEO Justin Rodski saying they are so grateful to have us all dancing together, but tonight the Board doesn't feel comfortable having a Welcome to Country because of what happened in regards to the booing of Uncle Mark Brown at the ANZAC Dawn Service. 'They were also "happy" for us to still dance to represent the "Welcome" but we were in shock and disbelief.' Tripp said he was unaware of the disturbance at Melbourne's dawn service earlier that day. 'I had no idea,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald. Earlier on Anzac Day, far-right agitators booed and heckled Bunurong elder Uncle Mark Brown during his Welcome to Country at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the actions, saying, 'A neo-Nazi disrupting Anzac Day is abhorrent, un-Australian, and disgraceful. The people responsible must face the full force of the law.' Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the incident was 'beyond disrespectful' and Defence Minister Richard Marles urged Australians to focus on the sacrifices of Anzac soldiers. RSL Victoria president Robert Webster praised the crowd for drowning out the hecklers with applause, stating it reflected the respect the occasion deserved. Melbourne Storm issued a public statement blaming a 'miscommunication' for the last-minute cancellation at AAMI Park. 'There was a miscommunication of expectations regarding the use [of] Welcome to Country at Melbourne Storm events throughout the year,' the club said. The Storm confirmed they intend to continue Welcome to Country ceremonies during multicultural and Indigenous rounds. The club displayed an Acknowledgement of Country message on the big screens during the Anzac commemoration at AAMI Park. Murphy said no clear reason was given for the initial cancellation, only that Storm chief executive Justin Rodski said it was a board decision. 'After being disrespected, we couldn't then go forward with a smile on our face and act,' Djirri Djirri lead dancer Ky-ya Nicholson Ward said. Murphy added, 'We want to rebuild our relationship. We want to make them realise that this was wrong, hurtful, deceitful and tokenistic.' In December 2024, the Storm announced they would scale back Welcome to Country ceremonies at regular games. The club clarified it would continue acknowledgements at 'culturally significant celebrations.' The decision sparked criticism from Indigenous artists, including Yorta Yorta rapper Briggs, who questioned the club's commitment to cultural recognition. 'See, the cost of living means cultural recognition is just not viable in this economy,' Briggs wrote on X. 'Unsurprising & underwhelming. What's your identity @Storm?' The controversy also follows revelations that Storm part-owner Brett Ralph donated $175,000 to the 'No' campaign during the Indigenous Voice referendum debate. At the MCG on Anzac Day, a Welcome to Country by Wurundjeri elder Uncle Colin Hunter was warmly received before the AFL clash between Collingwood and Essendon. Commentators noted that the strong applause may have been a response to the earlier disruptions in Melbourne. Meanwhile, in Perth, a heckler interrupted Noongar elder and former soldier Di Ryder during her Welcome to Country at Kings Park. Spectators quickly hushed the heckler and supported the ceremony. Veteran and former Fitzroy AFL player Uncle Ricky Morris condemned the behaviour, calling it disrespectful to Aboriginal people and all Australians who have served. '[The people who disrupted Friday's Welcome to Country] need to go back and have a good hard look at themselves,' Morris said. Fans reacted strongly online to the Storm's cancellation, with some calling it 'disgusting' and accusing the club of enabling racist behaviour. 'Melbourne Storm cancelling the Welcome to Country is absolutely disgusting,' one fan posted. 'Melbourne Storm enabled racists when they cut back on the Welcome to Country a while back. Now they cancelled today. Shameful for a club that Greg Inglis played for,' another added. 'You know why? Because it could end with thousands of people booing, arguing, fighting and rioting. Football games are charged with adrenaline and 'fighting spirit.' I really dont think they wanted to risk it,' another speculated. Others welcomed the move, describing the Welcome to Country as divisive and applauding the decision. 'Good. Stop this divisive disingenuous display,' posted one footy fan. Another added: 'Great work Storm, Read the room well, No more of this woke BS' 'And that right there is the beginning of the end of the WTC. The boos will now get louder until it is gone,' another said.
Daily Mail
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Indigenous groups claim Welcome to Country at Melbourne Storm clash was cancelled at the last minute - and it was not the only First Nations ceremony that was axed
Indigenous groups say they were left dumbfounded and hurt after the Melbourne Storm cancelled a planned Welcome to Country ceremony just hours before kick-off at their Anzac Day NRL match. Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy had been scheduled to deliver the Welcome to Country at AAMI Park before Friday night's clash against the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Performances by Maori group Ngā Mātai Pūrua and Wurundjeri dance group Djirri Djirri were also organised for the evening. However, as performers rehearsed on the field, Murphy said she was informed by the club's board that they no longer wanted the Welcome to Country to proceed. 'We were all just dumbfounded,' Aunty Joy said late on Friday. Following the decision, both Ngā Mātai Pūrua and Djirri Djirri withdrew from performing. Murphy said the club later apologised and asked her to go ahead with the ceremony, but after discussions, the Indigenous groups chose not to continue. 'We would dearly love to be out there, but they've broken our hearts,' Murphy said. Storm chairman Matt Tripp said the issue arose from a misunderstanding between the board and management. Tripp stated the board had only approved Welcome to Country ceremonies for multicultural and Indigenous rounds, not Anzac Day. 'We weren't sure it was happening in this game, and when we asked the question, there was a bit of confusion,' Tripp told The Sydney Morning Herald. He said the board would now consider including the Welcome to Country at future Anzac Day matches. Tripp also confirmed he was unaware of the disturbance at Melbourne's dawn service earlier that day. 'I had no idea. I had been working all day and wasn't aware, but that was disgraceful this morning. We strongly condemn that behaviour,' he said. Earlier on Anzac Day, far-right agitators booed and heckled Bunurong elder Uncle Mark Brown during his Welcome to Country at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the actions, saying, 'A neo-Nazi disrupting Anzac Day is abhorrent, un-Australian, and disgraceful. The people responsible must face the full force of the law.' Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the incident was 'beyond disrespectful' and Defence Minister Richard Marles urged Australians to focus on the sacrifices of Anzac soldiers. RSL Victoria president Robert Webster praised the crowd for drowning out the hecklers with applause, stating it reflected the respect the occasion deserved. Melbourne Storm issued a public statement blaming a 'miscommunication' for the last-minute cancellation at AAMI Park. 'There was a miscommunication of expectations regarding the use [of] Welcome to Country at Melbourne Storm events throughout the year,' the club said. The Storm confirmed they intend to continue Welcome to Country ceremonies during multicultural and Indigenous rounds. The club displayed an Acknowledgement of Country message on the big screens during the Anzac commemoration at AAMI Park. Murphy said no clear reason was given for the initial cancellation, only that Storm chief executive Justin Rodski said it was a board decision. 'After being disrespected, we couldn't then go forward with a smile on our face and act,' Djirri Djirri lead dancer Ky-ya Nicholson Ward said. Murphy added, 'We want to rebuild our relationship. We want to make them realise that this was wrong, hurtful, deceitful and tokenistic.' In December 2024, the Storm announced they would scale back Welcome to Country ceremonies at regular games. The club clarified it would continue acknowledgements at 'culturally significant celebrations.' The decision sparked criticism from Indigenous artists, including Yorta Yorta rapper Briggs, who questioned the club's commitment to cultural recognition. 'See, the cost of living means cultural recognition is just not viable in this economy,' Briggs wrote on X. 'Unsurprising & underwhelming. What's your identity @Storm?' The controversy also follows revelations that Storm part-owner Brett Ralph donated $175,000 to the 'No' campaign during the Indigenous Voice referendum debate. At the MCG on Anzac Day, a Welcome to Country by Wurundjeri elder Uncle Colin Hunter was warmly received before the AFL clash between Collingwood and Essendon. Commentators noted that the strong applause may have been a response to the earlier disruptions in Melbourne. Meanwhile, in Perth, a heckler interrupted Noongar elder and former soldier Di Ryder during her Welcome to Country at Kings Park. Spectators quickly hushed the heckler and supported the ceremony. Veteran and former Fitzroy AFL player Uncle Ricky Morris condemned the behaviour, calling it disrespectful to Aboriginal people and all Australians who have served. '[The people who disrupted Friday's Welcome to Country] need to go back and have a good hard look at themselves,' Morris said. Fans reacted strongly online to the Storm's cancellation, with some calling it 'disgusting' and accusing the club of enabling racist behaviour. 'Melbourne Storm cancelling the Welcome to Country is absolutely disgusting,' one fan posted. 'Melbourne Storm enabled racists when they cut back on the Welcome to Country a while back. Now they cancelled today. Shameful for a club that Greg Inglis played for,' another added. 'You know why? Because it could end with thousands of people booing, arguing, fighting and rioting. Football games are charged with adrenaline and 'fighting spirit.' I really dont think they wanted to risk it,' another speculated. Others welcomed the move, describing the Welcome to Country as divisive and applauding the decision. 'Good. Stop this divisive disingenuous display,' posted one footy fan. 'And that right there is the beginning of the end of the WTC. The boos will now get louder until it is gone,' another said.
