Bevan Gapanbulu Yunupingu on the Blue Bamboo didgeridoo

Gapanbulu is a didgeridoo luminary with an enviable pedigree and brilliant track record.

He performed his first gig at the age of 13 - in London no less, with the famed Australian band Yothu Yindi, and without rehearsal! This cemented his place in history as the youngest didgeridoo player the star-studded group has had.

Since then Gapanbulu has been on 6 world tours with Yothu Yindi and features on a number of their studio albums.

Here Gapanbulu demonstrates his expertise on didgeridoo... our apologies for the bad lighting as it was late at night when Gapanbulu dropped around.

Gapanbulu remarked on this particular instrument as his favourite and as having the ability to follow his every move, he prefers it to stringybark hardwood and made several strong offers to purchase the Blue Bamboo - but it is not for sale.

We did gift Gapanbulu an incredible didgeridoo made by his late uncle Mr Mununggurr though, Gapanbulu remembers this named yirdaki as "gudurrku" (brolga) that was in use in Gove in 1999/2000.

In the world of didgeridoo we might be hearing less of Bevan in years to come as he transitions from being a didgeridoo specialist and begins his journey as a songman... he continues to learn the manikay song cycles of his Gumatj grandmother clan.

Away from music and touring, Gapanbulu is a keen footballer and has played for the local Gopu team in the GAFL league every year since he was a kid. Remarkably, Gopu has made the grand final in the local competition every year that Gapanbulu has played (3 times kicking the match-winning goal) with 2015 being the exception.

Bevan's latest venture is establishing his own outstation in the Gove Peninsula region, winning praise and respect from family and friends alike.

Gapanbulu credits his uncle, master didgeridoo technician the late David M. Mununggurr, for his abilities with the yidaki.

Here is a playlist of other didgeridoo players who have had a go on the Blue Bamboo:

   • Blue Bamboo Project - Many Breaths, One In...