Red Earth Arts Festival wraps-up with music, magic and sky full of stories

The Red Earth Arts Festival wrapped up on Sunday, May 18, after four jam-packed days of unforgettable performances, colourful entertainment and community celebration across Karratha, Dampier, Port Walcott and Roebourne.

The festivities began on Thursday, May 15 at the Red Earth Arts Precinct, where audiences poured in for a dynamic opening night featuring performances from The Big Hoo-Haa, M’ap Boule, Karratha Ballet Academy and the launch of the per-Spective Lines exhibition — a stunning showcase of local art.

Friday brought a playful, high-energy vibe where the ever-eccentric Kransky Sisters had audiences laughing out loud, while the PSO Jazz Collective and Karratha Voices filled the air with rich harmonies. Adding to the rhythmic flair was the Apoteozzy Brazilian Samba, the cultural power of the Kapahaka Group, and the thrilling antics of Zap Circus.

On Saturday, the spotlight shifted to Dampier’s Hampton Oval, where the stage lit up with stand-out performances from Joan and the Giants, Gavin Canning, TomBoy and Regurgitator.

The festival finished with an awe-inspiring drone show by the Fremantle Biennale and Juluwarlu Art Group delivering First Lights — Bunggaliyarra Munggu — at Hearson Cove, telling the ancient story of the Seven Sisters in a dazzling dance of light across the night sky. Festival-goers were also treated to Fever Dream, an illuminated puppet show featuring ocean creatures.