First Nations hip hop group Dem Mob to lead panel and workshop in Lismore

AWARD-winning First Nations hip hop group DEM MOB will visit Lismore later this month for a day of community engagement, conversation and music-making.

The group will appear at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium of Music on April 23 for a free public panel and a hip-hop writing workshop.

Originating from the APY Lands community of Pukatja, DEM MOB are the first hip hop group from the region and among the first artists to rap in Pitjantjatjara, using their music to connect culture, language and storytelling.

The visit will begin with a panel discussion from 12pm to 1pm featuring the group alongside Northern Rivers Conservatorium First Nations music program coordinator Blake Rhodes.

A hands-on workshop will follow from 1pm to 4pm, giving participants the chance to explore lyric writing, rhythm and storytelling in a studio setting, with places limited.

The group’s work began as a way to support school engagement and has grown into an internationally recognised act, performing at major festivals including WOMADelaide and Primavera Sound in Barcelona, as well as touring the United States and Canada.

Rhodes said the visit would bring an important cultural exchange to the region.

“This is incredibly special for our region. DEM MOB are not only exceptional artists, they are educators and leaders, using music to strengthen culture and empower young people,” he said.

“To have artists of this calibre, with such strong cultural grounding and international recognition, here in Lismore is something we are deeply honoured to host.”

The event forms part of the Conservatorium’s ongoing First Nations program, which supports cultural leadership, creative practice and community connection across the Northern Rivers.