The Wilcannia Mob
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Wilcannia , Australia |
| Products | Hip hop music |
The Wilcannia Mob, also known as the Barkandji Boys, was a hip-hop ensemble consisting of five Indigenous Australian youths from Wilcannia, New South Wales. Established in 2001, the group included Buddy Blair, Keith Dutton, Wally Ebsworth, Colin "Colroy" Johnson, and Lendal King, whose ages ranged between nine and fourteen. Their first single, "Down River" (2002), achieved significant airplay on the national youth broadcaster Triple J and secured the 51st spot on the Triple J Hottest 100 chart for 2002. The track earned them a Deadly Award for Single Release of the Year in 2003.
History
In 2001, the Barkandji Boys came together in Wilcannia, comprising Buddy Blair, Keith Dutton, Wally Ebsworth, Colin "Colroy" Johnson, and Lendal King. Sydney hip-hop artist Morganics discovered the group during workshops held locally in October 2001, after which they adopted the name Wilcannia Mob. Their acclaimed single "Down River" incorporated a didgeridoo made by Johnson and received critical recognition, culminating in a Deadly Award win in 2003. This song was featured on the ABC Records compilation All You Mob, which highlighted musical talents from remote communities. Their first live performance took place at Sydney’s Homebake Festival in December 2002. According to King's mother, the song positively reflects life in Wilcannia and its deep ties to the river.
In 2007, Sri Lankan-British musician M.I.A. included a sample of the boys singing "Down River" on her track "Mango Pickle Down River" from the album Kala. By 2008, King had ambitions to relocate to Sydney to pursue a career in music. Meanwhile, Dutton was employed as a builder and gardener; Ebsworth was studying art at Dubbo TAFE; Blair intended to develop a solo career based in Adelaide; and Johnson was finishing his schooling in Bourke.