Mark Atkins - Aboriginal Didgeridoo Master
Mark Atkins is a descendant from the Yamitjti people of Western Australian and Irish-Australian heritage. Mark is a master of the didgeridoo, a storyteller, song writer, drummer and visual artist.
Acknowledged as one of Australia's finest didgeridoo players, Mark Atkins is also recognised internationally for his collaborative projects with some of the world's leading composers and musicians such as Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Peter Gabriel, Philip Glass, Ravi Shankar, Sinead O'Connor, Australian icons James Morrison, Jenny Morris, John Williamson and Gondwana and many more.
Biography : Mark' story
Mark is among the finest and most famous Didgeridoo players in the world. Through Mark's lips the air blows as natural desert sounds, in old ethnic chants, in polyphonic melodies of astonishing rhythm.
Mark is a descendant of the Yamijti people of Western Australia and of Irish-Australian heritage. Not only he is a master of the didjeridoo but also a storyteller, song writer, drummer and visual artist.
Mark is one of the few players able to work across most styles of music as a soloist and ensemble player. He has performed around the world, working with musicians such as Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, Donal Lunney in Ireland, Peter Sculthorpe, James Morrison, Phillip Glass, Sinead O'Connor, Ravi Shankar and many more. Mark has featured with the London Philharmonic at a Festival Hall concert, London in 1996. He is also a prolific instrument maker, making and painting didjeridoos from the logs he collects on trips into the bush north west of his home town of Tamworth, New South Wales.
Mark is the founding member of "Kooriwadjula" (literally black man/white man) a contemporary/ traditional performance group that performs widely in festi-vals, rock venues, univer-sities and schools, tou-ring nationally and inter-nationally.
Mark has a long history of performances in Australia including the outdoor venues and major festivals. Internationally his accredited performances include the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, the Heidelberg Festival, Expo 92 Seville Spain, Festival Hall with the London Philharmonic and many show in Europe including the 98 Rudolstat Tanz and Folk Festival. In 1999 he was invited to WOMAD (Seattle USA) as visual artist and musician and in 2000 recorded and released "Ankala & World Orchestra" in Europe on the Network Label. Also in 2000 Mark was a featured artist at the Presentation of the Olympic Team in Belgium at the Memorial IvoVan Danne.
In 1993 Mark joined the cross-art form, cross-cultural performance ensemble REM Theatre to help creating the megamedia event ICON for the Sydney Opera House 20th Birthday Celebrations. He performed a body of original work with the SBS Youth Orchestra and The Sydney Philharmonic, as well as performing on the sails of the Sydney Opera House.
Subsequently he received a fellowship from the NSW Ministry for the Arts and continued to work with REM Theatre Company as a musician, composer and music director on a number of productions including Story of the Firechild, Music Tree, Buralga and Kickin Up the Dust. In 1999 Mark toured in Europe with a new music theatre creation by REM Theatre called ToteMMusic which premiered at the prestigious Lucerne International Music Festival in Switzerland and showcased in Australia at the 2000 Performing Arts Market.
In 2000 Mark has featured with Charlie McMahon and Gondwana band at the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Sydney. In 2001 Mark has toured with ConSpiritOz with Musica Viva to Malaysia and with his own band in Europe. In July he featured at an Australian Festival produced by Seoul Arts Centre in Korea and world premiered his partnership with Phillip Glass in Melbourne at the Melbourne Town Hall and in New York at the Lincoln Centre. He was invited to stay in New York and record as session musician on Godfrey Reggios next Glass collaboration "Nongysqatsi".
As an artist Mark has exhibited in Japan, Europe, and USA both in contemporary and traditional styles.
Mark has numerous recordings and compositions to his credit and is a regular on the QANTAS inflight entertainment program. His awards and achievements include the "Golden Didjeridoo" for the Tamworth Festival. His next project will be a picture disc vinyl in which he mix all his arts: painting, music & narration, coming out at the end of 2006 in collaboration with MAGUARI PRODUCTIONS.
Mark on stage : some Live Performances
- The Black Arm Band - murundak, Melbourne (Australia)
Presented by Melbourne International Arts Festival, 21-piece ensemble featuring a line-up of exceptional soloists performing works - 27th-28th October 2006. - Tour in Taiwan, China and Korea including Jeonju Sori Festival (Korea)
With Jade - from 16th September 2006 to 18th October 2006 - Festival of World and Cultures - Dun Laoghaire (Ireland)
World Music Festival - August 2006 - Australian Happy Hour, Divan du Monde Paris (France)
Night dedicated to Australia - August 2006 - Les Escales Festival - Saint Nazaire (France)
World Music festival with Maceo Parker, Mahotella Queens, Titi robin, Faiz Ali Faiz, Liu Fang, N'Guyen Le.. - August 2006 - Festival interceltique - Lorient (France)
World's biggest celtic meeting, Australia country honored - July and August 2006
- Brunssum Parade - Brunssum (the Netherlands)
Night dedicated to Australia organized by the Duth government with Ganga Giri and Steve Goldsmith - June 2006 - Live Performance with Blof - Rotterdam (The Netherlands)
Making of the Dutch band DVD 'Umoja' - June 2006 - Voices for Didgeridoo and Organ - Amman (Jordania)
Piece co written by Philip Glass and Mark Atkins - June 2006 - Global Village - Hanover (Germany)
World Music event for the World Cup - June 2006 - Saint Patrick Night, Bercy - Paris (France)
Opening of the night, Celtic show for the celebration of Saint Patrick (17 000 people) - March 2006 - North American Tour (New-York, San Francisco, Austin, Mexico...)
With Philip Glass Ensemble - Sept October 2005 - Didjin'Devon Festival, Devon (UK)
Didgeridoo Festival - August 2005
- Festival La Pamparina, Thiers (France)
World Music Festival 'Wind Instruments edition' - July 2005 - Ravinia Festival - Chicago (USA)
American Premiere Philip Glass 'Orion' - June 2005 - Didjin'Oz Festival, Forlimpopoli (Italy)
Didgeridoo Festival - July 2004 - Orion Performance, Barbican Hall - London (UK)
With Philip Glass Ensemble - June 2004 - Olympic Games Athens, Irodeion Theatre - Athens (Greece)
With Philip Glass Ensemble & Andrew Clermont - June 2004 - Womadelaide, Adelaide (Australia)
Festival organized by Amnesty International - March 2004 - Festival des Nuits de Fourvière, Lyon (France)
Orion Performance with Philip Glass Ensemble, Ravi Shankar (Sitar/India), Foday Musa Suso (Kora/Africa), Eleftheria Arvanikati (Voice/Greece) et Uakti (Combo/Brazil) - June 2004 - Tamworth Music Country Festival, Tamworth (Australia)
Traditional Music Festival - 2003 - Dreamtime Festival, Berlin (Germany)
Didgeridoo Festival - 2002
- Seoul Arts Centre, Seoul (Korea)
Traditional Music from Australia Festival - 2001 - Opening Paralympic Games, Sydney (Australia)
With Charlie Mc Mahon & Gondwana - 2000 - Lucerne International Music Festival, Lucerne (Switzerland)
Musical Creation ToteMMusik with le REM theater - 1999 - Wicked Sticks Gallery, San Francisco (USA)
"Aboriginal Perspectives on the Didjeridu" & "Ankala" with Janawirri Yiparrka - 1998 - Festival Hall Concert, London (UK)
With the London Philharmonic Orchestra - 1996 - + several tours all over the world as soloist or with bands such as Lep Zeppelin, Philip Glass, Blof, Ravi Shankar, Sinead O'Connor ... (Asia, Europe, Oceania, South America, USA ...)
MARK ATKINS' European Tour 2006
- 07/06 to 10/06 Rotterdam (the Netherlands) with Blof band
- 11/06 to 13/06 Amman (Jordania) with Philip Glass Ensemble
- 14/06 Amsterdam (the Netherlands)
- 15/06 to 18/06 London (UK)
- 19/06 Global Village - Hannover (Germany)
- 21/06 to 24/06 Germany with Zap A Lot
- 30/06 The Netherlands
- 08/07 Brunssum Parade - Brunssum (the Netherlands)
- 09/07 Swizzeridoo Festival - Wieldelbach (Switzerland)
- 10/07 to 13/07 Bern (Switzerland)
- 14/07 to 15/07 Didjin'Oz Festival - Forlimpopoli (Italy)
- 16/07 Monteleone (Italy)
- 21/07 to 23/07 Le Reve de l'Aborigene Festival - Airvault (France)
- 28/07 to 03/08 Festival Interceltique de Lorient - Lorient (France)
- 04/08 Les Escales Festival - St Nazaire (France)
- 05/08 Didjin Festival - Devon (UK)
- 09/08 Divan du Monde - Paris (France)
- 11/08 to 13/08 Bremen (Germany)
- 18/07 to 20/08 Belgium
- 26/08 & 27/08 Festival of World and Cultures - Dun Laoghaire (Ireland)
Mark Atkins will be touring in Europe next summer 2007, from the end of june to the end of august. Any promoter interested in booking Mark Atkins for live performance/workshop, please contact us. Below the confirmed shows:
Discography
Sofi Le Hunsec : Lomener
Mark Atkins features on 1 track, Pa oan-me bihan with the Breton female singer Sofi Le Hunsec (Vocal) and Alain Leon (Guitar).
This crossover project was born through the label Maguari Productions in the aim to presents a meeting of two traditional music and Mark' celtic roots.
(P) 2007 Sofi Le Hunsec
The Reason to Breathe
4 piece band album composed by Mark Atkins (Didgeridoo), Parris Macleod (Piano, guitar & percussion), Wu Pu-Yu (Flute & piano) and Christian Marsh(Harmonicas).
Four outstanding musicians come togeter to bring you a powerful repertoire of classical, jazz, folk and world music. A moving and breathtaking experience.
(P) 2006
Mark Atkins : Global Village
Compilation of the festival Global Village for the World Cup 2006 (Germany).
(P) 2006 Sparkasse Hannover
Blof : Umoja DVD & CD
Dutch rock band album featuring musicians from the five continents. Mark represents Australia.
(P) 2006 Capitol
Mark Atkins : Les Escales
Compilation of the French World Music festival "Les Escales" (France).
(P) 2006 Les Escales
Mark Atkins : Creeper Vines & Time
Solo album and very personal project mixing stories and music (limited edition)
(P) 2005 Maguari Productions
- Price : 15.00 EUR
Mark Atkins and Jade : Didge Odyssey
Album with Parris Macleod and Pu-Yu Macleod with flute, piano, keyboards and didgeridoo.
(P) 2001 Sunball Records
Philip Glass : Naqoyqatsi - Life as War
Original sound track. Didgeridoo part by Mark Atkins.
(P) 2003 Philip Glass
Romano Crivici : Flat Earth
Didgeridoo part by Mark Atkins.
(P) 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Ankala & World Orchestra : Didje Blowes the Game
Mark Atkins & Janawirri Yiparrka invited world music a range of masters and artists to feature on this album .
(P) 2000 WDR World Network
Friends of Yedaki : Didjeridu Vibrations
German band album. 1 track by Mark Atkins.
(P) 2000 Naturtonmusik
Mark Atkins : Walk About
Album including some tracks in which Mark sings and plays guitar.
(P) 1999 Walk About Productions
The Rough Guide to Australian Aboriginal Music : World Music Network
Australian Aboriginal Music compilation including 1 track of Mark.
(P) 1999 World Music Network
Mark Atkins : Didgeridoo Dreamtime
Didgeridoo solo album.
(P) 1999 Arc Music
Rise of Realisme: Greetingz Stranger
This CD includes 1 track of Mark : The Flow.
(P) 1999 Self Released
Ankala : Rythms from the Outer Core
Mark Atkins, Janawirri Yiparrka & Michael Atherton.
(P) 1997 WDR World Network
The Sounds of Gondwana : 176,000 years in the making
Compilation including 3 tracks of Mark.
(P) 1997 Black Sun Music / Celestial Harmonies
Mark Atkins : City Circles
Special release European Tour.
(P) 1996
Peter Sculthorpe : The Fifth Continent
Australian icon album.
(P) 1996
Mark Atkins : Plays Didgeridoo
9 tracks album with Didgeridoo, Guitar, Drum and Bass.
(P) 1995 Larrikin
Charlie Mc Mahon & Gondwana : Travelling
Mark features on
"Pig Wobble".
(P) 1994 Log Music
Mark Atkins : Didgeridoo Concerto
1 Didgeridoo track + 50min album.
(P) 1994 Larrikin
Kooriwadjula
(P) 1993 Larrikin R
Press Quotes : some cutting newspapers
"Mark Atkins a su imposer le didgeridoo, l?instrument fétiche des aborigènes australiens, dans les salles de concert du monde entier. Il viendra ponctuer la soirée de clôture du festival de ses interventions magiques. Un véritable coup de coeur." Le Progres
"Mark Atkins is the Jimmy Hendrix of the Didgeridoo." Ouest France
"The didjeridu is now taking its place in the world music, jazz and experimental scenes. Much of this exposure is thanks to the very talented Mark Atkins." Vibe Australia
"The night belonged to Mark Atkins." The Age
"Mark Atkins didgeridoo starts with the steady, ageless drone, but gradually the wildlife and even the sounds of the city start to come in. Each new sound joins with the others until a complex overlayering reveals the depth of the talent." Tim Lloyd, Adelaide Advertiser
"The only thing that could halt the crowd's grooving was a moving solo played by Atkins on didgeridoo." Albany Advertiser
"The talent he has is as big as his humbleness and kindness." Le Rêve de l'Aborigène
"Philip Glass chose a Didgeridoo virtuoso to enrich his creations for a trilogy movies." John Shand
"Mark Atkins has taken the didgeridoo and extended it beyond purely traditional interpretation. The didgeridoo creates myriad colours in his hands; percussive and prickly, a screaming solo voice, part jazz exploration, part trance dance electronica, part ancient drone. Importantly, Atkins is a storyteller, and his words spoken in the songs spin around the rich atmospheres created by his music. " Womadelaide
"My hands are shaking, my vision's blurred and I'm precariously close to an altered state of consciousness. I'm not on drugs; I've just finished listening to Mark Atkins' CD. " Sarah Meador - Rambles
Didgeridoo Maker : some home made wongas
Didgeridoo: Key C sharp
Description:
Perfect for fast style playing.
Lenght:130 cm
Weight: coming soon
Bottom Diameter (int.):
Mouth Diameter (int.):
(P) 2006 Mark Atkins
Price: 500 EUR
Didgeridoo: Key D sharp
Description:
A good didge for long slow drones and responds well to the quick style playing.
Lenght:141cm
Weight: 5,2 kg
Bottom Diameter (int.): 7,5 cm x 7 cm
Mouth Diameter (int.): 2,5 cm
(P) 2006 Mark Atkins
Price: 450 EUR
Didgeridoo: Key B
Description:
Coming soon.
Lenght:coming soon
Weight: coming soon
Bottom Diameter (int.):
Mouth Diameter (int.):
(P) 2006 Mark Atkins
Price: 450 EUR
Didgeridoo: Key B
Description:
Good Dynamic, Easy to play.
Lenght:150 cm
Weight: coming soon
Bottom Diameter (int.):
Mouth Diameter (int.):
(P) 2006 Mark Atkins
Price: 450 EUR
Didgeridoo: Key C sharp
Description:
Bullet Train, from 0 to 110 km/h in 2 secondes.
Lenght:115 cm
Weight:3,6 kg
Bottom Diameter (int.): 5,5 cm x 4,5 cm
Mouth Diameter (int.): 2,5 cm
(P) 2006 Mark Atkins
Price: 400 EUR
NB. Please note I make didge in few unities. The only way to buy them is through this page.
"I certify that all the didges presented in this page are made in limited edition by myself with logs collected in my bush." Mark Atkins, Australia 2006
Mark Atkins : Visual Artist
Hunt of the Kangaroo
Acrylic on canvas
Size: 60cm x 50cm
(P) 2006 Mark Atkins
Price: 500 EUR
Water
Holes
Acrylic on canvas
Size: 60cm x 50cm
Details: When the rain comes the water holes and billabongs over flow out over the land.
(P) 2006 Mark Atkins
Price: 500 EUR
Two Camps
Acrylic on canvas
Size: 70cm x 50cm
(P) 2005 Mark Atkins
Price: 500 EUR
Settling Of Dispute
Acrylic on canvas
Size: 70cm x 50cm
(P) 2006 Mark Atkins
Price: 450 EUR
Water Holes
Acrylic on canvas
Size: 60cm x 50cm
(P) 2006 Mark Atkins
Price: 450 EUR
Not To Be
Acrylic on canvas
Size: 80cm x 70cm
(P) 2006 Mark Atkins
Price: 450 EUR
Yesterday
Acrylic on canvas
Size: 50cm x 60cm
(P) 2006 Mark Atkins
Price: 350 EUR
Mimis
Acrylic on canvas
Size: 65cm x 65cm
Details: The Mimis are Aboriginal spirits hidden in rock's cracks in the bush.
(P) 2006 Mark Atkins
Price: 600 EUR
Artwork Car
Car painting
Details: Mark painted this car sold for charity at Seatlle (USA)
(P) 1999 Mark Atkins
- Reggae
- - Echo Minott : Reggae Foundation Singer (Jamaica)
- - Soul Stereo : Reggae Roots Dancehall Sound System (France)
- - Rod Taylor : Reggae Legend (Jamaica)
- Oba Simba - The Uprising Reggae Artist (Jamaica)
- World Music
- Electro
- - Krak In Dub : Drum'n'Bass, Ragga, Jungle Live Act (Argentina)
- Chug Project (Australia)
- Mark Atkins won the Heplmann awards
- Mark Atkins won the Heplmann awards with Black Arm band as Best Australian Contemporary Concert.