First Rhythms: Adam Manning and the Australian Art Orchestra premiere new work at 2025 New Annual Festival

Photo credit: Cam Matheson

The 2025 New Annual Festival will feature First Rhythms, a powerful and immersive new work by acclaimed Kamilaroi artist, composer, and percussionist Adam Manning, in collaboration with the Australian Art Orchestra (AAO).

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Reimagining the ancient resonance of clapsticks through a contemporary lens, First Rhythms brings together traditional percussive elements, modern instrumentation, improvisation, and multimodal visual art. At the heart of the work is an Indigenous understanding that everything is alive and carries a pulse—the heartbeat of Country.

First Rhythms will feature the dynamic interplay of some of Australia’s top improvising musicians, creating an experience that’s as technically masterful as it is culturally resonant. The work offers deep insight into the ongoing relevance and application of First Nations knowledge systems in contemporary art forms, demonstrating how rhythm can act as a bridge between ancestral memory and present-day creative practice.

In Manning’s own words:

"Working with the AAO allows me to place the clapsticks at the centre of a conversation – not just as instruments, but as carriers of memory, movement, and connection to Country."

"This collaboration with the Australian Art Orchestra is more than a performance – it’s a living dialogue. I feel like we’re creating a sonic canvas where tradition and innovation meet, grounded in the pulse of Country."

Manning, who was born on Awabakal/Worimi Country and has Kamilaroi kinship, is the 2025 First Nations Artist in Residence with the Australian Art Orchestra—a program presented in partnership with the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. The residency supports the artistic and professional development of First Nations musicians working across jazz, improvisation, hip-hop, singer-songwriter, and contemporary art music.

A multi-disciplinary artist, Manning is a musician, designer, researcher, and producer based at the University of Newcastle. His work explores rhythm as both a cultural and creative force, articulating the natural frequency—or heartbeat—of Ngaya Barray (Mother Earth). His compositions blend the old and the new, forming a living connection between sound, movement, and storytelling.

Manning’s career includes collaborations with world-class ensembles and artists, including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, James Morrison, Keith Carlock (Sting, John Mayer), Bruce Mathiske, and John Paul Young and the All-Stars. His works have featured on ABC Classic and been commissioned by Ensemble Offspring and the Melbourne International Jazz Festival.

Presented as part of the New Annual Festival’s dynamic 2025 program, First Rhythms promises a transcendent experience—where rhythm, land, and lineage converge.

First Rhythms: Adam Manning and the Australian Art Orchestra is presented by New Annual at Harold Lobb Concert Hall, University of Newcastle, Newcastle NSW on Thursday 2 October 2025.

Tickets and event info: https://newannual.com/explore/events/first-rhythms