Lirix, otherwise known as Dr Richard Fejo, is a prominent voice in Larrakia (Darwin) and Warramungu (Tennant Creek) Country. In a break from his usual stand-up run at Adelaide Fringe, he’s bringing his stories down south in song form in a new project. Years in the making, this one is clearly close to Lirix’s heart and conveys his lived experience as a husband, father and First Nations man.

Consisting of ten songs, the show begins strongly with a track called ‘Black Power’. Highlights also include the groovy guitar of ‘We Rise’, and the political bars of ‘Injustice’. Lirix also plays several tunes in tribute to his wife, Heather, featuring ballads and smooth R&B instrumentals. This is his music’s debut outing in a live setting, and there are already strong foundations here. Things aren’t quite there yet, but with an audience behind him the confidence and grit to back up the lyrics he spits will soon come.

The performance has a clear, well-considered shape, with a fierce beginning, emotional middle, and an empowering finish. Lirix has an eloquent and poignant narrative and so his audience are completely on his side. And, at a time when the call for truth-telling is echoing across the country, Lirix thankfully does not hold back.