Casii Williams and DRAFTDAY have been announced as the winners of the BASSINTHEGRASS Northern Territory artist competition, after judges received an outstanding number of entries this year.
The Territory-based artists will take to the stage alongside some of the biggest names in Australian music at Mindil Beach on 15 May.
Casii Williams is a Western Arrernte woman from the remote community of Ntaria/Hermannsburg in Central Australia.
She released her first single 'Desert Pop Lock and Drop' at just 14.
Darwin-based band DRAFTDAY are making their mark on the Australian music scene, currently touring across the country.
Made up of lead singer Arran Barker, guitarists Tom Ford and Lucas Sharp, bass guitarist Manolis Kamitsis and drummer Rowan Dally, DRAFTDAY channels the sounds of Trophy Eyes, City Calm Down and Gang of Youths.
The BASSINTHEGRASS local artists judging panel includes MusicNT Executive Director Mark Smith, DJ Delicious/Hot 100 Breakfast Presenter Danielle McMurrich and NT APRA Representative – Writers Services Phillip Eaton.
This year's BASSINTHEGRASS will include a new Welcome to Country performance featuring Larrakia Traditional Owner Shaun Lee, as well as acclaimed Aboriginal footballers and musicians Marlon Motlop and Rulla Kelly-Mansell.
The performance will involve a smoking and kenbi (didgeridoo) ceremony, as well as a combination of audio, visual and live elements on stage as part of an overall theme and narrative.
