Galaxy Debut in Portugal

Galaxy's first album, Laran Beik, was released in 2005

‘From their original headquarters in a bombed out house in their hometown of Los Palos, Galaxy has risen from the trauma and chaos of the independence struggle to become one of the most well-respected bands in the first nation of the millennium.’And they’re going to present their work for the first time in Europe this month: Moving Cause is promoting the debut in World Music Festival on the 31st of July in Sines, Portugal.

Galaxy band was born out of a social and cultural entrepreneurship project from East Timor – Arte Moris (Living Art). This not for profit art school is a sustainable community which was created in 2003 by two Swiss artists as a shelter for youngsters in the post-conflict of the newborn country who wanted to proceed artistic studies: painting, sculpture, drawing and music. Nowadays it employs the same young people in the maintenance and growth of the only art school in the country.

Last year, the World Music Festival from Sines invited the band to come to Portugal. They offered a cachet of 2.000€ besides accommodation and food during the Festival. Galaxy compromised to debut in this prestigious festival. Because they are coming on the 21st of July from the other side of the world Moving Cause decided to do a wild and wonderful tour with them: we are also going to Coimbra, Lisbon and Porto. They’re going to play at Salão Brazil on the 5th of August and they’re going to do an artistic residence with musicians from Porto after that. On the 12th they’re flying back to East Timor with many stories to tell, we believe.

Photo by Arte Moris, Galaxy

Concerning funding, we are very thankful to the President of East Timor, Ramos Horta, who gave us USD 6.000 through the President’s Office to pay for the Singapore-Lisbon-Singapore flights which worked out to be more than budgeted (approximately USD 7.500). Austasia will kindly offer the Dili-Singapore-Dili flights. Besides that Moving Cause has already covered their insurance and visas and has been taking care of all related administrative and technical issues.

Last weekend, Moving Cause together with Arte Moris organized a fundraising event at Fundação Oriente in Dili. We managed to gather the amazing ammount of USD 1.800 – through tickets, donations and sold pieces of art from Arte Moris and photography from Moving Causer Ana Rego. We are very much appreciated for everyone’s presence and help: it has made a huge difference for their coming tour. Without the help of sponsors and all volunteers who have been working on this for more than a year Galaxy would never be able to even think about coming to Portugal. This is a unique initiative that will show a new face of what is culture and artistic production nowadays in Timor.

Want to learn more about the band?

Listen to ABC Radio Australia interview: Timor Art Builds Nation “Art can unite youth, can show their identity, show the culture of our nation.”

Read the ABC AustraliaWide interview with lead singer, Mely.

Check their MySpace and watch Suai Media Space interview “Hangover“.

And come to their concerts!

Galaxy Highlights
- The Galaxy headliner show at the Star Shell, 2006 Darwin Festival
- Headlining East Timor’s 2005 New Year Concert at the government palace.
- Winning East Timor’s song of the year 2005 for ‘Domin Kasar’ from Fitun Musik Timor Leste
- Performing at the 2004 East Timor Independence Celebrations Tour with the likes of Paul Kelly, Peter Garret and the cream of Timorese music.