Tjaabi–Flood Country is a celebration of country & culture in song, word and vision.
Tjaabi–Flood Country features the tjaabi song form, which is unique to the First Nations peoples of the Pilbara. A tjaabi is like a musical haiku, with crisp poetic language, capturing stories, dreams, thoughts and moments, which can be funny, profound or wistful.
Ngarluma Songman Patrick Churnside has grown up with the tjaabi song tradition, with his Grandfather, Bob Churnside being one of the West Pilbara’s strongest and most renowned singers.
Working with Big hART, Patrick has pursued his passion for reawakening the tjaabi song tradition in his community of Ieramugadu (Roebourne), and sharing it in other cities as a cultural exchange.
Patrick entwines this tjaabi tradition with his powerful family story in this beautifully rendered journey of cultural and personal discovery.
Tjaabi–Flood Country is an intercultural work, featuring layered musical arrangements by Aaron Hopper, images from Benjamin Ducroz and Jordan East. Written and Directed by Scott Rankin with Patrick Churnside.
For more information on public dates and locations see below.
What's On
Tjaabi–Flood Country – WA Regional Tour
Regional Western Australia
Tjaabi – Flood Country is a celebration of country and culture in song, word and vision.
Tjaabi – Flood Country features the tjaabi song form, which is unique to the First Nations peoples of the Pilbara. A tjaabi is like a musical haiku, with crisp poetic language, capturing stories, dreams, thoughts and moments, which can be funny, profound or wistful.
Patrick entwines this tjaabi tradition with his powerful family story in this beautifully rendered journey of cultural and personal discovery.
Dates are as follows:
6 July – Cockburn
Address: Memorial Hall, 435 Carrington Street, Hamilton Hill
Tickets on sale soon
11 July – Geraldton
Address: Queens Park Theatre, 75 Cathedral Avenue, Geraldton
Tickets on sale soon
16 July – Beverley
Address: Beverley Town Hall, 136 Vincent St, Beverley
Tickets on sale soon
19 July – Harvey
Address: Harvey Recreation & Cultural Centre, Tom Latch Drive, Harvey
Tickets on sale soon
26 & 27 July – Margaret River
Address: Nala Bardip Mia – Margaret River HEART, 47 Wallcliffe Road, Margaret River
Buy Tickets Now: https://artsmargaretriver.com/event/tjaabi-flood-country/
**Coming to Karratha and Port Hedland in November 2025
6-27 July 2025