2026
Mama Kin Spender: Promises & Wild Beasts
Closing Weekend at The Ski Club
Supported by Yirrmal
Promises & Wild Beasts is Mama Kin Spender as you’ve never seen (or heard) them before – in a theatrical experience that bristles with intensity.
Multi ARIA-nominated duo of mischief-makers, Mama Kin Spender is Mama Kin (aka Danielle Caruana), a storyteller and dream weaver with a penchant for soul-baring; and Dingo Spender, a producer and songwriter with remarkable instrumental dexterity. Long-time friends and collaborators, Mama Kin Spender combine drums, percussion and blistering guitar with lightning arrangements underpinned by harmonies that shimmer and smoulder.
Exploring life’s joys, bruises, stretch marks and scars, Mama Kin Spender possess a lyrical depth that pushes us to our far-flung edges. With three releases under their belts, including ARIA-nominated “ Promises” and ARIA-nominated “Golden Magnetic” and “Are You Listening?”, journey through grief, rage, reflection and arrival, Mama Kin Spender delve into life’s complexities with vigour.
For one special night at the Ski Club, Mama Kin Spender will take you on a transformative story strung through a cycle of songs drawn from their recent ARIA-nominated concept album Promises. Backed by a vocal section, live sound design and a Top End choir, they conjure the wild tidal nature of human desire, charting the friction between love’s profound, shape-shifting force and the promises we make to try contain it. Love is the bedrock and the beast that these naïve lovers seek to domesticate.
Fierce, intimate and unflinching, Mama Kin Spender brings their trademark percussive fire, searing harmonies and captivating soul-stirring presence to Promises & Wild Beasts.
This show is a rally cry to the heart – and who better to stoke the musical fires and get the night started right than Yolŋu singer–songwriter Yirrmal. He brings his stunning voice for a powerful and uplifting solo support set that touches the soul.
Listen to the album Promises here
Set Times
5pm Doors open
6.15pm Yirrmal
7.45pm Mama Kin Spender
Promises & Wild Beasts is Mama Kin Spender as you’ve never seen (or heard) them before – in a theatrical experience that bristles with intensity.
Multi ARIA-nominated duo of mischief-makers, Mama Kin Spender is Mama Kin (aka Danielle Caruana), a storyteller and dream weaver with a penchant for soul-baring; and Dingo Spender, a producer and songwriter with remarkable instrumental dexterity. Long-time friends and collaborators, Mama Kin Spender combine drums, percussion and blistering guitar with lightning arrangements underpinned by harmonies that shimmer and smoulder.
Exploring life’s joys, bruises, stretch marks and scars, Mama Kin Spender possess a lyrical depth that pushes us to our far-flung edges. With three releases under their belts, including ARIA-nominated “ Promises” and ARIA-nominated “Golden Magnetic” and “Are You Listening?”, journey through grief, rage, reflection and arrival, Mama Kin Spender delve into life’s complexities with vigour.
For one special night at the Ski Club, Mama Kin Spender will take you on a transformative story strung through a cycle of songs drawn from their recent ARIA-nominated concept album Promises. Backed by a vocal section, live sound design and a Top End choir, they conjure the wild tidal nature of human desire, charting the friction between love’s profound, shape-shifting force and the promises we make to try contain it. Love is the bedrock and the beast that these naïve lovers seek to domesticate.
Fierce, intimate and unflinching, Mama Kin Spender brings their trademark percussive fire, searing harmonies and captivating soul-stirring presence to Promises & Wild Beasts.
This show is a rally cry to the heart – and who better to stoke the musical fires and get the night started right than Yolŋu singer–songwriter Yirrmal. He brings his stunning voice for a powerful and uplifting solo support set that touches the soul.
Listen to the album Promises here
Set Times
5pm Doors open
6.15pm Yirrmal
7.45pm Mama Kin Spender
Presented by: Darwin Festival and Darwin Ski Club
Accessibility
- High audio content
Presenter
Presented by: Darwin Festival and Darwin Ski Club
Social media
Credits & acknowledgements
Director Craig Ilott
Lead Performers Danielle Caruana (Mama Kin), Dingo Spender (Spender), Mama Kin Spender
Composers Danielle Caruana & Dingo Spender
Choral composition & arrangement Virginia Bott
Live Sound Designer Max Barton
Lead Performers Danielle Caruana (Mama Kin), Dingo Spender (Spender), Mama Kin Spender
Composers Danielle Caruana & Dingo Spender
Choral composition & arrangement Virginia Bott
Live Sound Designer Max Barton
Vocal Section Lead Virginia Bott
Vocal Section Leah Cusma, Olivia George, Stacey Ann, Zoe Gol
Stage Manager Georgia Smith
Production Manager Mark Haslam
Movement Director Janine Oxenham
Lighting Designer Matt Marshall
Producers Stacia Goninon & Danielle Caruana
Development Producer Libby Klysz
Stage Manager Georgia Smith
Production Manager Mark Haslam
Movement Director Janine Oxenham
Lighting Designer Matt Marshall
Producers Stacia Goninon & Danielle Caruana
Development Producer Libby Klysz
Photo Luke Riley Creative, courtesy Perth Festival