Djawarray is the cultural name of Bertie Riley, a Djabugay and Western Yalanji songwriter, performer,and cultural practitioner based in Cairns in Far North Queensland. Performing under his cultural name, Bertie creates original contemporary music that shares stories of Country, culture, language, identity, family, resilience, and lived experience, connecting ancient knowledge with contemporary Australian music.
Backed by a live band of long-term collaborators from Far North Queensland, Djawarray has built a strong reputation for authentic, powerful live performances that connect deeply with audiences across festivals, community events, cultural gatherings, and regional stages. Through storytelling, song, and cultural connection, Djawarray creates performances that are both musically engaging and culturally grounded.
Performance highlights include appearances at Cairns Festival, Kuranda Roots Festival, Sounds of the North, Dream Aloud, and numerous community and cultural events throughout regional Queensland.
In 2026, Bertie Riley was recognised as Regional Artist of the Year at the Queensland Music Awards, acknowledging the originality, cultural strength, and growing impact of his songwriting and live performance practice.
For touring, Djawarray expands into a multi-disciplinary cultural production through collaboration with five performers from Mayi Wunba, combining original music with dance, chant, movement, and visual storytelling to create a powerful contemporary First Nations live experience.
From Far North Queensland to national stages, Djawarray continues to share stories from Country, build cultural connection, and create pathways for regional First Nations voices to be heard across Australia.
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