17 Mar 2017

Live: Archie Roach at WOMAD 2017

From the collecton Womad
Archie Roach

Archie Roach Photo: supplied

Archie Roach sings stories from his life in a voice full of love and pain. An indigenous Australian, he explains how he is one of the ‘stolen generation’: Aboriginal children forcibly taken from their families under government law.

Roach grew up in foster homes and later lived on the streets, before being recognised as one of the country’s most important singer-songwriters. 

In the last few years he has survived a stroke and lung cancer, as well as the loss of his long-time partner Ruby Hunter.

You might hear some of the toll this has taken in his voice, yet it only seems to have reinforced the soulful power of his songs.

His biggest song is 'Took The Children Away’, for which he has received a human rights award.

Recording Engineer: Graham Kennedy. Mixed and Produced by Steve Burridge for RNZ Music.

Music Details:

Titles: 'Let Love Rule', 'There's a Little Child', 'Spiritual Love', 'It's Not Too Late', 'We Won't Cry', 'Mighty Clarence River', 'Took The Children Away', 'Get Back to the Land', 'Please Don't Give Up On Me', 'Always Be Here', 'Down City Streets'