Shane Howard will return to Uluru where he was inspired to write Solid Rock more than 30 years ago.
WHEN Shane Howard first recorded Solid Rock 30 years ago, he never imagined the journey it would take him on and the people he'd meet along the way.
Joined by friends, including the likes of Neil Murray, John Butler, Archie Roach and William Barton, Howard will perform an intimate concert at Uluru this weekend to pay homage to the Goanna hit's legacy and the relationships built since its release in 1982.
The Killarney singer-songwriter said after performing Solid Rock for 30 years it was fascinating to revisit the song in a new culture and modern setting.
"It's interesting to take stock of how much you've changed since 1982 and how much hasn't changed as well," he said.
Howard told Offbeat that as part of his new album The Other Side of The Rock, three new versions of the song had been recorded and would be released as singles a striking spatial ballad, a new take on the song featuring Natalie Pa'apa'a and Dan Sultan, and a version featuring south-west musician Archie Roach and vocals from the children of the APY lands translated in the local Pitjantjatjara language.
"There was a long process of translating those words.
"It's very beautiful, very poetic to hear it come to life like that.
"I feel like we've taken that song back to where the inspiration came from, the people and the country.
"It's humbling actually, and in the same way its humbling to go to Uluru."
Howard said returning to Uluru, where he was first inspired to write Solid Rock in 1981, was an exciting concept and beautiful idea.
"To take that song back to the community and to be welcomed by them to do that is very beautiful.
"It's really beautiful, 30 years down the track to be going back there with the band and a lot of really lovely, special guests.
"I feel very honoured to have that talent support this project, the album and the concert out there.
"We have that combination of old campaigners and the youthful exuberance of the younger ones.
"It's just a challenge at a setting like that to make sure we haven't forgotten anything you can't just go to shops.
"I know that the PA has arrived and the stage gear, so that's good."
The Other Side of The Rock concert at this weekend's Mutitjulu Community Carnival will be Roach's first trip to Uluru, Howard said, and a memorable experience for the community.
"Archie has never been before so we're very much looking forward to going out there and seeing Uluru.
"The community are very excited and very, very supportive.
"The new album is called The Other Side of The Rock and that's exactly where we're going not the flash side.
"There are no postcards of that side."