Fiona and Macca talk to Not Drowning, Waving’s David Bridie.

The first time David Bridie left Australia was to travel to Papua New Guinea.

This trip, taken in 1986, when Bridie was in his early 20s, marked the beginning of a lifelong connection to the island nation and its music.

By this time, Bridie, the leader of Not Drowning, Waving, was already established on the Australian music scene. But his friendship with Papua New Guinean musician George Telek (aka Telek) would become career-defining.

Bridie and Telek’s bond laid the groundwork for Not Drowning, Waving’s fifth album, Tabaran, which is now 35 years old. Tabaran features prominent contributions from not just Telek but various other musicians who frequented the Pacific Gold Studios in Rabaul, including Pius Wasi and Emmanuel and Ben Hakalitz.

These musicians will all join Bridie and the rest of Not Drowning, Waving to celebrate the album’s 35th birthday, as well as the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence, at Melbourne Recital Centre on Saturday 20 September.

The post Saturday, 13th, Sept. 2025: David Bridie-50 Years of Papua New Guinea-Independence; Not Drowning, Waving. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.