In March 1994, The Boîte announced a new concert series – the Koori Kafé, to take place on the third Saturday of each month at The Boîte World Music Café. Many Koori performers had already featured on the World Music Cafe Program, including Tiddas, Mokoy Bungul Dance group, John Harding, Robert Mate Mate and Ochre, however, the new Koori Café format, coordinated by Di Kilsby, was dedicated exclusively to the presentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. It also featured an “open stage” segment, where new musicians could perform a song or two to encourage emerging artists.
The Koori Café was launched on the 19th of March, hosted by accomplished poet and activist Lisa Bellear and featured an acoustic set from rock band Blackfire as well as singer-songwriter Peter Rottumah.
The Boîte staff were pleased to report to members that over the seven Koori Café events during 1994, they:
‘..established warm relationships with Richard Frankland and Peter Rottumah who brought their energetic performances of original songs, Jida Gulpilil and Solomon presented traditional dances, Dave Arden and his band Altogether became regulars. Songwriter Brian Morley, another regular, aired new songs and arrangements and shared his very personal exploration of his recently discovered Koori background. We renewed contact with Ronda and Nadine Grovenor and we were privileged to have the support of poet and writer John Harding, whose reading of his own work always warmed the evening with wry humour.’