Troy Cassar-Daley To Perform At Uluru For NITV’s 10th Anniversary

Troy Cassar-Daley joins an extensive list of Indigenous performers who will take part in the live broadcast from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, at the foot of Uluru itself, to celebrate National Indigenous Television (NITV)’s tenth anniversary.

From The Heart Of Our Nation, A Celebration will air live across both NITV and SBS on Monday December 12 at 7.30pm.

“Being at the launch of NITV ten years ago was very special for me,” Cassar-Daley said. “However, being a part of their 10th anniversary out at Uluru again will be amazing.”

He continued, “My late mum was always watching NITV when I’d visit her down home. We agreed that the channel was a lifeline to our culture, a constant reminder of who we are and how we are all so similar. It’s also an open door to learning for all Australians.”

Cassar-Daley will be joined by his daughter, indie-pop singer Jem Cassar-Daley. Other performers on the line-up include ARIA Award-winning King Stingray, singer, songwriter and actor Christine Anu, multiple award-winning entertainer Casey Donovan, dynamic duo Electric Fields, hip-hop artist JK-47, ARIA Award-winning R&B artist Miiesha, country and gospel singer Trevor Adamson, folk musician, producer and author Shane Howard, soulful singer Dyagula, INMA dancers, Anangu dancers and the Mutijulu Band.

SBS Director of Indigenous Content and Birri and Guugu Yimidhirr woman, Tanya Denning-Orman, said, “We’re celebrating the power and strength of First Nations voices with an amazing line-up of some of the best in Blak music in this country joining NITV at Uluru to mark this special 10-year milestone. We’ve got icons like Troy, Christine and Casey back on our special outdoor stage performing as the sun sets, alongside some of the most exciting talent making waves in the industry."

"The stars will be shining bright on stage and in the sky over Uluru, and what better way to bring all Australians together to celebrate the joy and significance of having a dedicated platform championing First Nations voices and perspectives available free-to-air on NITV," she continued. "Lucky there’s not a roof because we’d be bringing it down with what is set to be a magical night and incredible moment in Australian broadcasting history.”

The event will be hosted by Whadjuk Noongar woman Narelda Jacobs.

The anniversary celebrations continue throughout summer, with an original line-up of NITV programming including a suite of news, food, entertainment, documentary and drama premieres.

First up, Kutcha’s Koorioke premieres on Sunday 4 December at 8.30pm on NITV, featuring award-winning Mutti Mutti Songman Kutcha Edwards and a variety of talented First Nations musicians. Then, join actor, producer, director and Samu and Koedal man Aaron Fa’aoso in a food odyssey of the Torres Strait Islands in Strait to the Plate season two, premiering on Thursday 15 December at 8pm on NITV and simulcast on SBS Food. 

At 9.20pm, scripted short film initiative, No Ordinary Black showcases thought-provoking First Nations stories from across the country, premiering on NITV with support from Screen Australia. Then in early 2023, Our Law explores the relationship between police and First Nations peoples in Western Australia, premiering weekly from Wednesday 4 January at 7.30pm on NITV.

Indigenous news and current affairs programs NITV News and Nula will mark 10 years of NITV news in every household across the country from Monday 5 to Monday 12 December. NITV News airs at 6.30pm, and a special episode of Nula will broadcast on NITV and SBS on Friday 9 December at 3pm from Uluru, featuring stories from the Northern Territory and interviews with performers of From the Heart of Our Nation, A Celebration.