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I’ve just returned from a speaking tour in Europe, meeting with the UN, EU and governments. My main message was “Don’t forget the Asia Pacific region.” We need to urgently deal with the crises in Palestine and Ukraine, but let’s not forget the Burmese struggling to regain their democracy from the brutal military junta. Let’s not forget the millions of Afghan women whose right to equality and freedom have been stolen by the Taliban. Across Asia-Pacific region victims and human rights defenders are standing up to face dictators and despots. They inspire us and we need to defend and support them. I took a photo of this simple wooden wall message in the International Criminal Court in The Hague and met Ghandi in the park…

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The new single, The King of Jakarta is now on Spotify! Have a listen here: https://tinyurl.com/PatrickBurgessSpotify

All proceeds from the sales of the single will be donated to the human rights programs of Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR.)

Show your Support on BANDCAMP: https://patburgess.bandcamp.com/track/the-king-of-jakarta

‘The King of Jakarta’ is a celebration of the richness and diversity of the city, told through the eyes of an ‘ojek’ motorcycle taxi driver, the “emperor of the alleys” who floats through the tiny lanes, backyards and gaps in the gridlocked traffic.

The new single is OUT NOW on Bandcamp! https://patburgess.bandcamp.com/track/the-king-of-jakarta

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The new single, The King of Jakarta is now on Spotify! Listen to it here: https://tinyurl.com/PatrickBurgessSpotify

All proceeds from the sales of the single will be donated to the human rights programs of Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR.)

Show your Support on BANDCAMP: https://patburgess.bandcamp.com/track/the-king-of-jakarta

‘The King of Jakarta’ is a celebration of the richness and diversity of the city, told through the eyes of an ‘ojek’ motorcycle taxi driver, the “emperor of the alleys” who floats through the tiny lanes, backyards and gaps in the gridlocked traffic.

The new single is OUT NOW on Bandcamp! https://patburgess.bandcamp.com/track/the-king-of-jakarta

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JOIN US this Saturday 22nd June for the online PREMIERE of the
NEW MUSIC VIDEO for ‘The King of Jakarta’
the new single about an ‘ojek’ motorcycle taxi driver
by singer-songwriter, human rights activist, PATRICK BURGESS…
JOIN US HERE: https://youtu.be/LJ20P1Mbquk
Premieres on YouTube this Sat 22 June 3:30pm AEST

Hear it first on BANDCAMP: https://patburgess.bandcamp.com/track/the-king-of-jakarta

All proceeds from the sales of the single will be donated to the human rights programs of Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR.)

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Patrick Burgess’s new single about an ‘ojek’ driver, ‘The King of Jakarta’ releases TODAY on Bandcamp!

‘The King of Jakarta’ is a celebration of the richness and diversity of the city, told through the eyes of an ‘ojek’ motorcycle taxi driver, the “emperor of the alleys” who floats through the tiny lanes, backyards and gaps in the gridlocked traffic.

The new single is OUT NOW on Bandcamp! 

‘The King of Jakarta’ will be also launched in Jakarta TONIGHT with a live performance of original songs at ‘Rights Night’ at the Star Kemang restaurant and music club, Jakarta on Saturday June 1, 2024. Doors open at 6pm, music from 7pm.  The evening will commence with Usman Hamid and the Black Stones, followed by an acoustic set from Patrick Burgess, the launch of the single ‘The King of Jakarta’ and rocking ‘til closing time with the Jakarta legends of the Jaya Blues Band.

All proceeds from the night and future sales of the single will be donated to the human rights programs of Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR.)

https://patburgess.bandcamp.com/track/the-king-of-jakarta

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Patrick Burgess’s new single about an ‘ojek’ driver, ‘The King of Jakarta’ will be launched with a live performance of original songs at ‘Rights Night’ at the Star Kemang restaurant and music club, Jakarta on Saturday June 1, 2024. Doors open at 6pm, music from 7pm.  All proceeds from the night and future sales of the single will be donated to the human rights programs of Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR.)

The evening will commence with Usman Hamid and the Black Stones, followed by an acoustic set from Patrick Burgess, the launch of the single ‘The King of Jakarta’ and rocking ‘til closing time with the Jakarta legends of the Jaya Blues Band.

‘The King of Jakarta’ is a celebration of the richness and diversity of the city, told through the eyes of a motorcycle taxi driver, the “emperor of the alleys” who floats through the tiny lanes, backyards and gaps in the gridlocked traffic.

The new single will be available on Bandcamp 01.06.24! https://patburgess.bandcamp.com

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A little over a year ago I was asked to deliver the keynote speech, along with Bangladesh’s Minister for Foreign Affairs at their national day of remembrance of the genocide that accompanied the birth of their county in 1971. As a human rights lawyer and singer-songwriter I was very pleased when they presented me with a copy of the original Concert for Bangladesh, the first major music event for a humanitarian cause, organized by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, with Ringo Star, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and others performing for free. The day after the speech I found myself jamming with locals in a small Bangladeshi music shop. Inspirational songs and a loud voice demanding justice…we need you now, more than ever.

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The song, ‘Oh le le le’, I wrote 20 years ago and the video shot in Timor Leste in the aftermath of the 30 year conflict seems unfortunately to be just as relevant today. In 2003 I wrote these lyrics inspired by human rights defenders I was working with.  “…Freedom alive or dead that’s our battle cry… For every one that you cut down a thousand more will rise… Timor, Burma, Tibet, Palestine…”  The track is on Bandcamp and Spotify or take a look at the video, shot in the smoking ruins of Timor:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHRMwfG5fkM

Tune into hear ‘Oh le le le’ on Bandcamp: https://patburgess.bandcamp.com/album/ground-zero-3

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I have been working a lot with AJAR’s team in the largest refugee camp in the world, 1.7 million Rohingya victims, living under plastic sheeting in Bangladesh after being driven from their homes by the Burmese military junta.
Sometimes after work I pull my guitar out and play a few songs.

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These are some live shots of last week’s sold-out gig at Humph Hall. 100% of the ticket sales were donated to Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR’s) program of tracing and family unifications with victims who were taken from their families in East Timor by Indonesian soldiers. The experience of 7 year old Nina who was reunited 30 years later  was the inspiration for my song “Stolen Children.” The song begins:  “I was holding on tight to your old blue dress when the car came into view/ The man in green said ‘I’ll take this one,’ I thought he meant to school…”

Watch the video of the Stolen Children song, shot in East Timor REF

See the ABC’s Foreign Correspondent story on AJAR’s Stolen Children program https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu_EUpLtMYg

‘Stolen Children’ the latest single by Patrick Burgess: https://patburgess.bandcamp.com
Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/43VPkYt
Tune in on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3N3imPT
Music Video: https://youtu.be/ALGUyY3_rQ0