abmusicweek:

Aboriginal Music Week 2013 full festival lineup announced.

Nick Sherman, Derek Miller, C-Weed Band, Leela Gilday, DJ Shub, Wanbdi, Leonard Sumner, Indian City, Ghostkeeper,DJ Javier Estrada, Clap Pina, Digging Roots, DJ Kiss, Jackson 2bears, Namowan, DJ Rahdil, DJ Miss Vee, Eagle & Hawk, The D’Aoust Brothers, Norman Chief Memorial Dancers w/ Alex Lamoureux, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Young Medicine,Kim Erickson, and Arthur Renwick will be performing.

Details: aboriginalmusicweek.ca

Get ready! 

Exciting News: RPM is Now 100% Independent! →

Exciting news: We just finalized an agreement with MBM Digital today to make RPM.fm 100% independent! 

We’re planning to grow and expand the site to become a next-level Indigenous music, art, culture & politics platform for our people’s creative expression. And we’ll be looking to bring in new voices, musicians, contributors, writers, artists, producers and radio makers to help make this happen. We’re hoping to do a site re-design and an official relaunch later this summer or early fall. 

Please join us in helping to build the next generation of RPM! 

http://RPM.fm/

#RevolutionNext

DOWNLOAD: Idle No More: Songs for Life Vol. 2

We are pleased to present Idle No More: Songs for Life Volume 2. As with Volume 1, the highlights are many!

Idle No More is just about 2 months old. It’s hard to know for sure how many strong in number the movement is now, but one thing is for certain – the message has circled the globe, crossed oceans, and reached people from all walks of life. Musicians are among those from the artistic community who have been vocal in their support. Some have written songs. Some have spoken out at shows. And some have graciously allowed us to share their music with you here.

The collection kicks off with the call to arms Red Action by power duo Indian Handcrafts, who will soon traverse our fair land as the opening act for Billy Talent. Blue Rodeo, who made national headlines for their shout out to Idle No More, offer the song Fools Like You, from the 1992 platinum selling Lost Together. Rising stars Nick Sherman and Tracy Bone are here, as are indie darlings Royal Wood and Hannah Georgas. The timeless power pop of Vancouver’s Odds. Reggae and R&B from New Zealand courtesy NRG Rising. And the poignant cello piece Theresa, by Anishinaabe musician, researcher, and media artist Melody McKiver. Plus much more – 17 tracks in all! We hope you enjoy it!

Drezus’s new video Red Winter has been quickly racking up views on YouTube since he dropped it on January 11th.

After releasing the new song on December 25th, Drezus began fundraising for an official video and remarkably pulled together the funds and resources to produce and release it less than three weeks later.

Drezus’s words for the #IdleNoMore movement are passionate, articulate, and powerful and his own dedication and embodiment of the message is palpable. “I’ve invested… my heart and my drive to represent my people for once in my life. This Red Winter song is special to me… it’s for us by us” the Winnipeg-based artist wrote on Facebook.

With director Cowboy Smithx, produced by Drezus Music, Eccentricus Imagery and 4K Film Production, and a long list of crew and community that made it happen, the video dropped on January 11th, the global day of action. The views have been stacking up since, the word has been spreading. Watch, listen and share Red Winter, by Drezus.

Keith Secola: Seeds, Songs and Social Commentary

By: RPM

Anishinaabeg blues rocker Keith Secola recently released his seventh studio album, Life is Grand, and has written a pop-rock-opera, Seeds, that was seven years in the making. Through both works, Secola is starting to pull a mainstream audience into, what has been, an underground following, and finding ways to stay true to his message along the way.

Read the full article, and check out a track from his new album, here.

DOWNLOAD: Idle No More: Songs for Life Vol. 1

Idle No More: Songs for Life Vol. 1 is the first of an ongoing series of free downloadable compilations of songs by artists who support the vision of Idle No More, Indigenous and allies. Volume 1 features a broad and diverse array of artists – everyone from Derek Miller(whose contribution, 7 Lifetimes, is a brand new track inspired by Chief Theresa Spence), to John K. Samson of the Weakerthans.

Native America North Takes New York

Three of our favourite Indigenous artists will be traveling from their Canadian homes to New York this weekend to perform a showcase at APAP 2013.

The Big Apple will have the pleasure of hearing Don Amero, Digging Roots and Elisapie at a showcase, Native America North, during the APAP 2013 conference. Between the three acts you’ll get roots, folk, and pop interpretations of Anishinabe, Mohawk, Inuit, and Métis culture.

If you’re in the city Saturday January 12, head to the National Museam of the American Indian from 2-5pm to take it all in – the event is free to the public!

For more info visit aboriginalmusic.ca and get started with the latest video from Don Amero, Turn These Grey Skies Blue:

Check out the adorable video for the sweet Dark Water Rising cover (her voice is So Good!) of the Avett Brothers “Live and Die”.

The 10 Best Indigenous Musical Moments of 2012

What’s your favourite #IdleNoMore round dance / video so far?

We’re working on rounding up the #RoundDanceRevolution so far and we want to know your faves. Hit us with links!