From playing on a rock to rocking out — the 'steep rise' of Wild Honey

Arnhem Land band Wild Honey's 'steep rise' to Garma Festival main stage Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 3:20pm In short: Wild Honey played their first gig in 2024, and this year snagged their first major slot at the Garma Festival, performing in front of an ecstatic crowd in north-east Arnhem Land. The band features two grandsons of former Australian of the Year, musician Dr M Yunupiŋu. As well as a growing trove of original songs like the infectious Common Ground, Wild Honey's set-list pays homage to their musical forefathers like Yothu Yindi and Warumpi Band. Under a tamarind tree by a beach in Arnhem Land, the lead singer of Yothu Yindi would strum his guitar and sing, as his grandsons sat watching in the sand. Two of those grandchildren have now grown up and picked up instruments themselves, forming one of the Top End's hottest new musical prospects, with their band Wild Honey. Yothu Yindi's leader singer, the trailblazing former Australian of the Year Dr M Yunupiŋu, passed away in 2013, but for his grandson Gawukawu Gurruwiwi, his memory lives strong. "Sometimes my grandfather would bring us instruments; toy drums, bass, guitar, from when he was touring," he said. "And we used to set up all the instruments on a rock, overlooking the water. "We used to imagine that rock was our stage, and we used to play, and pretend we were Yothu Yindi. Playing for the trees, the crabs, the seagulls." Now, decades since that breakthrough Australian act climbed the charts with their hit song Treaty, won ARIAs and toured the globe, Wild Honey are having their moment. The seven-piece band secured a major slot at the Garma Festival in Arnhem Land, the nation's premier Indigenous event for the sharing of Yolŋu culture, music and ideas. Wild Honey's red carpet ambitions Guitarist Adrian Schmidt Mumm said he had been in many bands before, but with Wild Honey, felt like he was finally onto something special. He had first come across his fellow band members while running an after-school music program in their remote community. "It's felt like a very steep rise," he said. "This is our second Garma and we already headlined Friday night, so that's very encouraging and inspiring, and makes you feel like, 'oh, maybe there is something in this'. "It really feels like there's a substance to it, and an ambition, and the enthusiasm from the band is infectious and makes you want to keep on playing and writing and recording." The band members are not shy of voicing that ambition — they want to be the next big thing. Another of Dr M Yunupiŋu's grandsons, Balumba Gondarra, said Wild Honey wanted to make it out of their remote Northern Territory home and see the bright lights of the world. "See the red carpet, ARIA, that's my dream," he said. "Play the MCG in Melbourne, see the world. "To be honest, we've never been to big cities. We grew up in the community. For me, I've never been to Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra." 'Music in our blood' As they step deeper into the music game, Wild Honey members said they always try to pay homage to their Yolŋu musical heroes; as well as their originals, their set-list is peppered with classics from the Warumpi Band, King Stingray, and of course their grandfather's band. They have also been mentored by some of those same bands, including King Stingray, who have broken through into the mainstream in recent years themselves with catchy singles like Camp Dog and Milkumana. "We grew up with music in our blood," Gurruwiwi said. "That special tamarind tree, we'd chill around, playing music, watching old man play. "His legacy, what he left, we can light the pathway to the next generation to come." As well as Wild Honey, the 2026 Garma stage was graced with some of Australia's finest musicians, from Emma Donovan to the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band, and headliner Baker Boy. Wild Honey will hit the stage again later this month for the East Arnhem Live festival on August 29, alongside talented artists including Gurruwiwi's musical mum, Dhapanbal.