It’s January 26, a day when many Australians will be firing up their barbies and preparing to celebrate while others mourn. Australia Day has become a day of mixed emotions for me. I think it is important to celebrate this great nation of ours, but it doesn’t worry me when we do it. For that reason, I really hope the government gets on board and shifts the date in the coming years. I think this change is as inevitable as marriage equality, and the sooner we do it so we can all enjoy the festivities, the better.
It doesn’t feel right to let Australia Day go unacknowledged, but it also doesn’t feel right to do it by trotting out all the standard white Aussie rock. I’ll leave that to the commercial radio networks. So instead I thought I’d bring you “Together,” the latest single from rising First Nations artist Mitch Tambo. I usually try to avoid the Eurovision – Australia Decides songs until the big night, but when this landed in my inbox I couldn’t resist. I’m glad I have no self-control because this really is the perfect song to play today. I love the way he celebrates togetherness, especially by incorporating the Gamilaraay language with English and melding a didgeridoo bassline with the piano.
“’Together’ is a really important song to me. It’s the culmination of everything I want to do with my music – to bring people from all walks of life, cultures and creeds together with a message of love, especially when so many are going through such tough times,” Mitch explained. “It’s the perfect song for Eurovision, which is all about uniting people through music no matter what language they speak – or sing. I can’t wait to get out on that stage and perform this song for Australia, and the world.”
Mitch will perform “Together” on Eurovision – Australia Decides 2020 on February 8. Tune in to see his performance and vote on SBS. I haven’t heard the other songs yet, but I’m not going to be disappointed if this takes it out.
Welsh singer-songwriter-pianist 
Widespread bushfires have devastated Australia, wiping out homes and entire towns, killing wildlife and some of the brave people working so hard to fight them. The bright light has been the way Australians and the people who care about this country have banded together to raise funds for the organizations truly making a difference. At home we’ve seen musicians staging benefit shows, from pub gigs to stadium spectaculars. Abroad we’ve seen high-profile celebs like Pink and Bette Midler writing sizeable cheques. Louisiana-based musician Hunter deBlanc is the latest international artists to throw his support behind the bushfire efforts.