Yabu Band

Yabu Band
Yabu Band perform at The Deadly Awards, 2009
Background information
Origin	Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Australia
Genres	Desert rock/Reggae, Aboriginal rock, roots
Labels	1998-present
Members	Delson Stokes Boyd Stokes
Past members	Jade Masters Lionel Sarmardin

Yabu Band is an Indigenous Australian rock, roots band formed in 1998 in Kalgoorlie. The word yabu is Wongutha – a western desert tribal language – for 'rock' or 'gold'.[1] Core members are brothers Delson (vocals) and Boyd Stokes (guitar & vocals); and Jade Masters (drums) with Lionel Sarmardin (drums 2017). When performing live they are joined by Roy Martinez (bass), Elizabeth Gogos (vocals), Tony Shaw (didgeridoo) and Tim Ayre (keyboards)and other Supporting artist.[2] They won a Deadly award in 2009 for Most Promising New Talent in Music.[3] Delson Stokes Jr was the 1999 NAIDOC Male Youth of the Year.[4] Boyd Stokes won Guitarist of the Year and Jade Masters won Drummer of the Year at the 2009 TOO SOLID Music Awards held in Perth. Yabu are a four time WAMi (West Australia Music Industry) award winner.

In May 2012 Yabu Band toured Australia to promote their single, "Petrol, Paint and Glue", which highlights indigenous abuse of inhalants. Tracks from their next album, My Tjila, were performed. They were supported by Kimberley musician, John Bennett.[5] "Petrol, Paint and Glue" was nominated as Single of the Year at the 2012 Deadlys – to be held in September.[6] Delson had written the track twelve years earlier after a family member had died from petrol sniffing.[7]

Yabu Band released a debut EP in March 2021.

Discography

Albums

Title	Details
Looking to the Future	Released: 2000[8] Format: CD
Gundulla - We Dance	Released: May 2009[9] Label: Yabu Enterprises Format: digital download

Extended plays

Title	Details
A Cry in the Wind	Released: 26 March 2021[10] Label: Yabu Band Format: digital download, streaming

Singles

Title	Year	Album
"Looking to the Future"	2001	Looking to the Future
"He Right - He Not Wrong"	2006
"Noongar Music"	2008	Gundulla - We Dance
"Beautiful Girl"	2009
"I Am Australian" (Wongutha Version)	2010
"Petrol, Paint & Glue"	2012
"A Cry in the Wind"[11]	2020	A Cry in the Wind
"Peacemaker"[12]	2021

Awards and nominations

Deadly Awards

The Deadly Awards, was an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community.[13]

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result (wins only)
Deadly Awards 2009	Yabu Band	Most Promising New Talent	Won

WAM Song of the Year

The WAM Song of the Year was formed by the Western Australian Rock Music Industry Association Inc. (WARMIA) in 1985, with its main aim to develop and run annual awards recognising achievements within the music industry in Western Australia.[14][15][16]

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result (wins only)
2008	"Gundulla - We Dance"	Indigenous Song of the Year	Won
2012	"Petrol Paint & Glue"	Mentally Healthy of the Year	Won

West Australian Music Industry Awards

The West Australian Music Industry Awards (WAMIs) are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on annually by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc (WAM). Yabu Band won four awards.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result (wins only)
2009	Yabu Band	Indigenous Act of the Year	Won
2010	Yabu Band	Indigenous Act of the Year	Won
2011	Yabu Band	Indigenous Act of the Year	Won
2012	Yabu Band	Indigenous Act of the Year	Won

References

1. Prately, Jerry (22 December 1997). "Aboriginal Band to Promote Olympics". The West Australian. Seven West Media.
2. "Desert Inspiration". Kalgoorlie Miner. West Australian Newspapers (Seven West Media). 3 May 2009.
3. Rynne, Nick (13 February 2010). "City Recognises Band's Success". Kalgoorlie Miner. West Australian Newspapers (Seven West Media).
4. "Yabu's Motto Gets Heard". Kalgoorlie Miner. West Australian Newspapers (Seven West Media). 20 September 2002.
5. Hinaki, Tangiora (17 May 2012). "Yabu Band Tours with a Powerful Message". ABC North West WA. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
6. "The 2012 Deadlys". Vibe Australia. 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
7. Bourke, Emily (1 June 2012). "Yabu Band Puts Spotlight on Substance Abuse". The World Today. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
8. "Looking to the future [sound recording]". trove. 2000. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
9. "Gundulla - We Dance on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
10. "A Cry in the Wind on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
11. "The Yabu Band on Triple J Unearthed". Triple J Unearthed. November 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
12. "Peacemaker on Apple Music". Apple Music. January 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
13. Pennycook, Alastair (7 December 2006). Global Englishes and Transcultural Flows. Routledge. p. 162. ISBN 978-1-134-18876-5.
14. "2006 WAM Song of the Year Awards". InterSector. Western Australian State Government. 2006. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
15. "WAM Song of the Year:The 2008 Winners!". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). 13 October 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
16. "Song of the Year Award Winners 2013". WAM. 5 February 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2021.