Established by a group of recently migrated Italians with the aim of promoting environmental issues, the two-part festival will be held across two Saturdays at Queen’s Building in the heart of Perth.
The first part will take place on November 4, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, and will feature a screening of Roman director Thomas Torelli’s documentary, ‘Another World’.
‘Another World’ follows mankind’s journey to discover its true force and identity, challenging the modern view of the world and reconsidering the world view and value systems of ancient societies such as the indigenous Americans.
The documentary aims to leave viewers with a message that will not only open their eyes, but will encourage them to generate a better and brighter tomorrow for the benefit of present and future generations.
Set to unfold on November 18, the second part of the festival will feature a screening of ‘Pachamama’, Torelli’s documentary taken from unused cuts of ‘Another World’.
The evenings will also offer dinner in the form of vegan pasta, and showcase masterpieces by: painter and photographer, Alice Poli; painter, Dafne Di Marco; and wood sculptor and painter, Roberto Balsamo.
Both nights will open with a compelling didgeridoo concert led by Italian didgeridoo player and teacher, Fiorino Fiorini.
Hailing from Forlimpopoli, in Emilia-Romagna, Mr Fiorini has been living in Australia for two years, following three previous stints Down Under in 2002, 2008 and 2011.
“My wife and I were willing to start a new life in a country that could give us the possibility to realise our dream and learn English and to give our son the privilege of growing up bilingual,” he said.
Currently planning to become a permanent resident, Mr Fiorini admits that if it weren’t for his passion for the didgeridoo, he may have never come to our shores in the first place.
“Here I can live doing what I love for work - teaching and playing the didgeridoo,” he said.
Having run the Didgeridoo and Aboriginal Culture Festival in Italy for 15 years, and taught the didgeridoo for the same amount of time at the Popular Music School of Forlimpopoli - where he learnt to play himself - Mr Fiorini now teaches at Didgeridoo Breath, a didgeridoo store and school in Fremantle.
Mr Fiorini’s passion for the didgeridoo dates back to 1998, when he attended the opening night of the Popular Music School of Forlimpopoli.
The avid musician originally intended on enrolling in a guitar course at the school, but was soon distracted by an unfamiliar sound.
“As soon as I entered the building, I heard the sound of the didgeridoo droning all around, and I followed the it until I finally came to the musician playing,” Mr Fiorini recalled.
“From that moment, this amazing instrument changed my life and thanks to Paride, my teacher and now also my best friend, I learnt to play. But most importantly, Paride passed on to me a passion for Aboriginal culture.”
Though Mr Fiorini admits that you never stop learning when it comes to the didgeridoo, he explains that it took him at least an hour a day of practice for two years to become confident with the instrument.
A modest professional, Mr Fiorini has gone on to tour Australia and play all around Europe, including Italy, Spain and Switzerland.
The talented musician also plays the didgeridoo in the Moorditj Brothers, a unique Australian trio which creates an original blend of roots, blues, rock and reggae music.
“I love to play solo, but I thoroughly enjoy the union between modern music and such an ancestral sound that comes from one of the oldest instruments on earth,” Mr Fiorini explained.
Wrapping up for the year in November, the band will be back in early 2018 for a string of concerts and their album launch in February.
But for now, Mr Fiorini is gearing up for his performances at the Mother Earth Festival, where he hopes to connect people to Mother Earth and Aboriginal culture with his music.
“I see the Didgeridoo as much more than an instrument, it's a bridge between two cultures,” he concludes.
“And the fact that I am playing an instrument made from a tree means that I am connected with Earth, the Mother Earth who we all came from.”