A day of connection, creativity and climate leadership.

Green Music Australia travelled to Widjabul Wia-bal Country on Bundjalung Nation in Northern NSW to deliver a special full-day Sound Country workshop for local musicians. Taking place just days after Tropical Cyclone Alfred forced the cancellation of 26 live music events across the state, the timing couldn’t have been more relevant or more urgent.

Sound Country supports artists to reduce their environmental impact and lead climate action in their communities. On this day, we gathered to reflect, learn, create and reconnect — with each other, with music, and with Country.

Image description: Workshop participants smile together outside The Channon Tavern.

The day began at The Channon Tavern with a morning of storytelling, skill-building and inspiration. Nidala Barker (Djugun singer-songwriter) led a session on embodied custodianship, while Green Music Australia CEO Berish Bilander shared practical tools from the Sound Country Green Artist Guide.

Tim Shiel, GMA Community Organiser, broadcaster and acclaimed musician, spoke about the unique role artists can play as climate advocates, using their voice, platforms and creativity to shift culture and inspire change. Jake Taylor, frontman of In Hearts Wake, rounded out the session with reflections on his band’s climate journey and the making of Green Is The New Black, a documentary about touring and recording sustainably.

Image description: Berish Bilander, GMA CEO, speaks while holding the Sound Country Guide.

After a delicious lunch, the group travelled to Earthwalker Camp, a 166-acre forest and campground in The Channon lovingly restored by Jake and the Earthwalker team. Nestled among waterfalls and ancient trees, this breathtaking space became the backdrop for an afternoon of reconnection.

Image description: The group walks up a gravel path surrounded by trees and lush greenery.

Image description: Jake Taylor, in a wide-brimmed hat chats with others off-camera.

Wandering through forest trails, the group learned about the site’s history, including its ongoing transformation from farmland into a regenerating ecosystem. Then, it was time to get hands-on. Participants planted a variety of native seedlings, including several rare Marblewood trees (Acacia bakeri) as part of Earthwalker’s mission to restore the land—before cooling off with a swim in the natural waterholes and sharing stories under the trees.

Image description: People swim in a waterhole beneath a small waterfall.

Image description: Nidala Barker in black overalls smiles while holding a green plant. People around her engage in a tree planting activity.

These moments reminded us that caring for Country isn’t just about reducing emissions or planting trees, it’s also about building connection. By being on Country together, we remember our place within the natural world. We build resilience, share purpose, and renew our commitment to protect what we love. Restoring native species like Marblewood supports biodiversity, sequesters carbon, and strengthens ecosystems — and it nourishes us, emotionally and spiritually.

“There’s something incredibly powerful about bringing musicians together on Country, especially in a region that’s experienced so much climate impact. These moments of connection are where ideas take root and action begins.” — Berish Bilander, CEO, Green Music Australia.

Artists in attendance included:

Alex Johnson (Coast & Ocean / Versace Boys), Billy Otto, Bobby Alu, Chris Mellross (Seaside), Dan Frizza (Mittere), Darcy Dexter (Seaside), Elodie Gervaise, Emily Lubitz, Jex Lopez, Lydian Dunbar (Tralala Blip), Mitchell Galbraith (Ocean Alley), Nino Haggith (Invisible Friend / Dustyesky), Randolf Reimann (Tralala Blip), and Sam Buckingham.

Image description: Workshop participants pose on grassy ground with a forest backdrop.

Mitch Galbraith from Ocean Alley said, “Nidala, Tim and Berish made us feel very welcome and comfortable in a space they had designed for the attendees to explore each other’s viewpoints on environmental sustainability, to learn about what Green Music is all about and how us as artists can come together to make the changes we want to see."

"The themes of the day were based around climate change and sustainability, and how creating strong solidarity between artists can empower all artists, no matter their followings, to do what they can, whatever that looks like. I want to thank Green Music Australia for putting on a great day, and I also want to thank my fellow artists who were there working together to keep spreading a message of sustainability and conservation.”

Image description: A group photo with five participants. They have their arms over each other, smiling, and are all wearing ‘no music on a dead planet' t-shirts.

Huge thanks to everyone who joined us for this special day, sharing stories, sweat, laughter and vision. We left with muddy boots, mosquito bites and full hearts, grateful for the reminder that music has a unique power to mobilise and uplift.

All photos captured thanks to Elise Derwin.

This event was delivered as part of Sound Country and made possible thanks to the support of the NSW Government through Create NSW.