The 2024 Natty Dolaiasi Tour was a greatly successful Australian tour which included concerts, festivals and school events in three states – Victoria, South Australia and NSW by Natty Dolaiasi Solomon Islands artist. Natty has been on a mission to bring Solomon Islands traditional culture to the world. 2024 has been a breakthrough year bringing Solomons traditional culture to WOMADelaide the foremost World Music stage in Australia, along with fellow artist Charles Mamairosia as part of major recording label Wantok Musik.
2024 also sees Natty Dolaiasi putting the finishing touches on his debut album with Wantok Musik called “Sifoa” – this album will be a game-changer for Natty’s career and with this to take the awareness of Solomon Islands culture and Solomon Airlines to the world.
From 2018-2024 Natty Dolaiasi has been regularly touring overseas including major tours of Australia, which has greatly promoted awareness of Solomon Islands culture internationally. Natty Dolaiasi’s tours to Australia have been possible with wonderful support from Solomon Airlines which enabled Natty to undertake many Solomon Islands cultural projects.
During March to May 2024, Natty toured many venues, events and festivals in Australia across three states, stretching from Melbourne, Victoria in the south, to Adelaide in South Australia and as far as Byron Bay in Northern New South Wales.
March 11-21 is Cultural Diversity Week in Victoria, so Natty was invited by highly acclaimed Australian touring organization Cultural Infusion culturalinfusion.org.au to undertake a wonderful series of Solomon Islands music performances at schools in Melbourne.
Throughout the tour, Natty was supported on the ground by collaborations with local Solomon Islands and Australian musicians. Fellow Malaitan musician, Jimi Nare from Namrock Studio along with singer Ali Rock performed with Natty on many occasions and provided support throughout the whole tour, including Melbourne city and regional venues in Castlemaine and Creswick. Natty also taught choir workshops in Brunswick and Ballarat.
Castlemaine in rural Victoria is a location for Solomon Islands seasonal workers employed by the local Dom Smallgoods Factory. Natty Dolaiasi’s concert at the Castlemaine Tap Room with a group of 4 Solomon Islands musicians was well-received and attended by many Solomons seasonal workers.
With the support of the PALM organization, Natty, Jimi and Ali Rock were able to present a series of workshop/performances for seasonal workers based in Footscray and North Melbourne.
As in previous years, one of the highlights of Natty Dolaiasi’s NSW tour was the collaborative project with Master percussionist Greg Sheehan in the town of Bellingen.
In 2024 this collaboration expanded to include 5 Church Street Bellingen and performances at Sheoak Shack Fingal Heads, Tintenbar Up Front as well as Multiklcha Festival Byron Bay.
While on tour, an important aspect of promoting and sharing Solomon Island culture is the process of Natty Dolaiasi teaching song workshops. While touring NSW, Natty presented a very successful workshop program as part of Multikulcha Festival and was invited to share songs at the Meals on Wheels program at Ballina, NSW. For the Festival, Natty presented the highly successful Melanesian singing workshop plus a collaborative performance with maestro percussionist Greg Sheehan in the finale of the Multikulcha Festival.
Another very exciting event – in November 2024, Natty accompanied the Dreamcast Theatre from Honiara to Brisbane and was a major performer representing his country at the Opening Ceremony of the Asia Pacific Triennial at Queensland Art Gallery which is the foremost exhibition of Asia Pacific Art in the world.
Having been invited to perform by Cresfest – a major music festival held in Creswick Victoria in Apil 2025, plans are now in place for Natty to return to tour for his 7th year with AIAA in 2025.
