SANTA FE, NM - April 21, 2015: The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) presents the first annual IAIA Music Fest on Sunday, May 17, 2017, from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm in the Dance Circle on the IAIA Campus -- 83 Avan Nu Po Road, minutes from the corner of Rodeo Road and Richards Avenue on the south side of Santa Fe.
This is an all-ages show with free admission. No alcohol, drugs, bottles, or cans will be allowed on site. Lawn chairs and blankets are permitted. This is a rain or shine event.
Eric Davis, producer of the event, had this to say: "Historically, students have organized music events on campus the day after our Powwow. This year we've decided to make it a school-produced event that we can replicate on an annual basis. This is an opportunity for the Santa Fe community to come to our beautiful campus, enjoy a day of free music, and learn more about IAIA. Not only are some of our current students scheduled to play, but numerous alumni have returned to be part of the fun."
Students from the IAIA Performing Arts Department will show off their skills during a set of music designed to start the day with a bang. Come early and don't miss them.
Students from the IAIA Music Club, with special guest, noted saxophonist Jai Ram Rideout. Featured performers include IAIA students Dakota Yazzie (Diné), and Kevin Wright (Muskogee Creek) - along with ASU's Cole Rickey.
Dakota Yazzie is a Diné singer-songwriter from Camp Verde, Arizona. His music is a narrative on American culture, Diné heritage, and the intersection of American/Dine history. His music is influenced by Folk, Jazz, Soul, R&B, and Acid Rock. The roots of the music stem from Navajo ceremonial music, the nature of Arizona, and a reaction to modern American Pop music.
Jai Ram Rideout is a silky jazz saxophonist by night and research software engineer by day. He hails from Northern Arizona, and his list of mentors includes Tim Matteson, Adam Roberts, and others. He has one album out, The Message, and has played and studied both jazz and big band. He is currently working on a musical collaboration with his cousin-brother and musical inspiration, Dakota Yazzie, melding jazz, indie rock, funk, and blues.
With new members IAIA student Katrina Benally (Diné) from Gallup NM, and her vocal partner Violetta "Letsjusb" (Picuri/African-American/Spanish) from Albuquerque, NM, Pray For Brain's 'genre-defying tracks both entice and challenge the listener...nearly impossible to classify.' This is something you haven't seen before.
Pray for Brain is not your auntie's world music band, nor your uncle's country twang, nor your grandad's jazz vinyl. Think 70s era Miles Davis, Chet Atkins, and the late John Coltrane playing with the White Stripes and Isaac Hayes on a Calcutta rooftop with a bird's eye view to Morocco. Pray For Brain is an evolution of Sama Duo, where Mustafa Stefan Dill (guitars, oud) and Jefferson Voorhees (drums) brought a telepathic level of interplay to their groove-oriented energetic improvisations, delivered with a gutsy south Asian and Middle Eastern twist. Albuquerque's Weekly Alibi called them "catchy, challenging, spacey and spiritual all at the same time." With the addition of upright bassist Christine Nelson and retooled as Pray For Brain, the new group expands the range of groove, nuance and improvising conversations. The music is simultaneously lighter but deeper, easier to hear and harder to shake off.
After a decade of living as an MC/ Beat Maker based in New Mexico, the artist known as Def-I (Navajo), finally released a full-length official album. Through hard work and perseverance, this independent artist has earned respect and marked his spot in the Hip-Hop realm as a devoted musician committed to supplying listeners with quality music/sound. This triple threat emcee/producer/sound engineer has what it takes to stand up with the best and is living proof that Hip-Hop culture is flourishing in the SouthWest region of the US.
Lakota has toured nationally, opening up for or sharing the stage with renown Native artist Pura Fe; Legendary Blues icon, Taj Mahal; and many others. He was nominated for Best Blues Recording in 2015 at the Native American Music Awards (NAMA). Lakota John continues to perform at various festivals and events with selected performances at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC; the Performing Arts Exchange in Orlando, FL; and the Casa Grande National Monument in AZ.
Hwéeldi refers to a time when Navajo and Apache people were force marched to the Fort Sumner area in New Mexico by Kit Carson under the orders of the U.S. government. JJ Otero, lead singer and guitarist, is Navajo and Hopi. The band name honors his ancestors. Creating their own style dubbed "Resistance Rock," Son Of Hwéeldi music is a rich blend of rock, soul, blues, and a touch of world beat. The lyrics observe and recount the political atmosphere and unrest of the times and work towards resistance messaging through song. In the mid to late 1800's, U.S. policies included termination and assimilation edicts when dealing with "Indians" and were carried out in heartless fashion by the U.S. military. The Navajo and Apache people were not the only ones targeted as many tribes/nations across North America were subjected to these same policies. In those bleak times, Navajo and Apache people persevered. They survived and continue to resist today. Resistance always includes culture, music, song, dances, ceremony, and art - as part of that understanding, Son Of Hwéeldi continues to create. Formerly known as Saving Damsels, in late 2016, the band changed their name to Son Of Hwéeldi. Saving Damsels got its start in Spring 2007 when lead vocalist and guitarist JJ Otero started writing music about his role in making many bad choices that eventually led him to be single, facing jail time, and in financial despair. After months of counseling and more songwriting, Otero soon had a collection of "earnest, honest, and original" songs and set about collecting a band.
In April of 2017, Son Of Hwéeldi received the following three New Mexico Music Awards nominations: Best Rock CD for the album 019910, Best World Beat song for "Me & The 99", and Best Native song for "Tó éí ííná át'é". As Saving Damsels, they received a 2013 Native American Music Award for Best Rock Recording as well as a 2013 New Mexico Music Award for Best Native song for "Protected (Beauty All Around)" on the album Find My Way.
Innastate is a contemporary reggae band from the high-desert of New Mexico. Based out of Santa Fe, the band has been together since the spring of 2014. Innastate has gained momentous acclaim in their brief existence. The band's musical inﬂuences span many genres, creating a brand of reggae and rock that is modern yet honors their Indigenous heritage, musical roots, and love of music. The music that Innastate creates reﬂects on the human experience, other themes concerning spirituality, and environmental issues. Innastate believes in the power of music to connect people.
Innastate is IAIA Alumnus Adrian Wall (Jemez Pueblo), Guitar and Vocals, Rylan Kabotie (Santa Clara Pueblo/Jicarilla Apache), Bass and Vocals, Lawrence Bailon (Santa Clara Pueblo), Drums. Innastate also utilizes a large pool of talented musicians for live performances, including Jir Anderson, Guitar, Carly Marshall, Tenor Sax, and Doug Bellen, Keyboards.
The band released their debut self-titled EP in April of 2015 and through a strong social media presence was subsequently voted by their fans as the Artist of the Month on RockwiredMagazine.com and the 2016 Rockwired Reader's Poll award for Best Performance by an American Indian/First Nations Band or Artist. Innastate has shared the stage with reggae greats Pato Banton, Native Roots, Natural Vibrations, Stick Figure, Through the Roots, New Kingston, Ballyhoo, Abstract Rude, and recently, reggae legends The Wailers.
Sound and Lighting for the IAIA Music Festival provided by Van's Events.
For information on vending, contact Phil Cooney at pcooney@iaia.edu or 505.424.2384.