Indigenous Desert Alliance | Looking After Country: Celebrating Indigenous Rangers Through Music

Guts Touring and the Indigenous Desert Alliance (IDA) have joined forces to celebrate the vital work of Indigenous desert rangers through a powerful rock-and-roll anthem recorded at Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) studios in Alice Springs titled ‘Looking After Country’.

Blending Pitjantjatjara and English, the song reflects the collaborative spirit of IDA’s mission to support Indigenous ranger teams looking after Australia’s desert regions.

Inspired by the legendary Blackfella/Whitefella tour of 1986 and the raw energy of the 70s and 80s pub rock scene, Guts Touring combined cultural exchange with unforgettable performances in Alice Springs and the remote communities of Mutitjulu, Kaltukatjara, Tjukurla, Imengkwerne, Ntaria, Ltyentye Apurte and Utju.

Guts Touring brought together Melbourne bands Floodlights and The Pretty Littles for free live performances with local artists including Mutitjulu Band, Docker River Band, Highway 6 and Ltyentye Apurte Band featuring members of South East Desert Metal.

The tour was solar-powered and operated under the Bush Music Fund, a charity supporting First Nations musicians in remote areas.

“This tour was life-changing,” said Jack Parsons, Guts Touring and Bush Music Fund co-founder.

“Playing music, sharing stories, and connecting with communities in these breathtaking landscapes reminds us why we do this,” he said.

“These shows aren’t just concerts –they’re cultural exchanges and acts of community-building.”

The new song ‘Looking After Country’ was recorded at the midway point of the tour and is a rousing and uplifting musical collaboration that describes the vivid landscape of the Australian desert, and the deep cultural connection Aboriginal communities have for their homelands.

Lloyd Barret from CAAMA said it was inspiring to see the energy that James Range Band and Floodlights brought into the studio that day, off the back of some challenging conditions out in the desert.

"They came together in perfect harmony and put down a track with a timely message. I hope we see more collaborations like this coming through CAAMA’s doors in the future!"

Floodlights band member Joe Draffen shared that the song was both written and recorded in a single day, highlighting to everyone involved just how dynamic and special the collaboration was.

"Before we knew it we had a hearty track with lots of layers instrumentally, great lyrics with a strong message and an epic melody. We’re stoked on how it turned out!"