Frank Yamma, the 'Voice of Australia's Central Desert', Tours Canada in August

Frank Yamma, the voice of Australia's Central Desert, comes all the way from Ayers Rock to perform his fourth run of shows in Canada. 

Frank Yamma is one of Australia's most significant Indigenous songwriters.

With an ability to cross cultural and musical boundaries, when he sings, you listen and travel with him. An initiated Pitjantjatjara man, Frank sings in his Indigenous language, as well as in English, and his spirit belongs to the heart of Australia - Uluru. Docker River. Ernabella. Central Australia. As Frank says, "Wherever the Pitjantjatjara mob come from."

Over the past five years, the world has been discovering Frank and has seen him perform across Europe and the UK with shows in Latvia, Lithuania, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Poland, and Switzerland. Frank has undertaken extensive live touring with highlights including the 2012 Cultural Olympiad (UK), Womad (UK), The New Hebridean Festival (Scotland), Festival Bled (Slovenia), Colours of Ostravia (Czech Republic), and most recently setting hearts on fire in Canada at Calgary, Vancouver, and Winnipeg folk festivals. In Canada, he shared the stage with Buffy Saint Marie and The Mekons, as well as performing a coveted spot opening for Joan Baez. In 2014 Frank Yamma represented Australia at WOMEX '14.

Closer to home, Frank also performed at this year's TEDx Sydney in May and won an NIMA award for his latest album Uncle, which features songs of country, protection, heartache, and travel. And songs of love. Not of love lost, but of pure, present-day raw emotion. Uncle shows the continuity of a musician that is hitting his peak with grace and conviction.

Indigenous soulster Frank Yamma will bring his beautiful storytelling back to Canada to play the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival on August 5-7, Manitoba Aboriginal Music Week on August 10, Robson Valley Music Festival August 12-14, and he is performing a special, intimate show at Vancouver's Wise Hall on August 11 with Melbourne songstress (and recent Canadian immigrant) Larissa Tandy making a guest appearance.

Frank Yamma - 2016 Canadian Tour Dates:

• 5-7 August - Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival – Lunenberg, NS
• 10 August - Manitoba Aboriginal Music Week - Winnipeg, MB
• 11 August - The Wise Hall - Vancouver, BC
• 12-14 August - Robson Valley Music Festival - Dunster, BC

Keep up with Frank Yamma at frankyamma.com and facebook.com/frankyamma

DOWNLOAD: Destiny's 'Honeysuckle', A Feminist Disco Soul Album for the Ages

Destiny drops, Honeysuckle, a hypnotic follow up to her acclaimed debut, Metallic Butterfly.

Blooming with an easy confidence, positivity, and Smart Girl Club feminist swagger, Destiny's Honeysuckle is a taste of all things good in this world.

After catching a couple of sun-soaked previews in the form of the 80s-tinged "Orange Blossom" and the disco-funk of "Soul Train", Honeysuckle finds Taino artist Destiny Fraqueri, aka the former Princess Nokia, luxuriating in her uniquely soulful blend of throwback optimism and hip-hop eclecticism.

Over the album's 12 tracks, Destiny alternately sings, croons, raps, and spins out stories of love and songs of uplift in a time of beautiful struggle.

But it's in the album's latter half that Destiny really comes into her element.

From the downtempo, trip-hop grooves of "Mermaid Girl" and "Cherry Cola", to the acoustic folk of "Wide Brim Hat" and the bluesy pairing of "God Inside of Me" with the righteous, poetic liberation of spoken word album closer, "Brown Girl Blues", Destiny is proof positive that remaining positive in the face of oppression is not just a political necessity—it's a revolutionary act of celebration.

"We can't succumb to the darkness", she says. Time to lean into the light.

STREAM: Destiny's Honeysuckle or download it below.

DOWNLOAD: Destiny's Honeysuckle

HONEYSUCKLE http://t.co/HQ5ioAxxkKpic.twitter.com/oMcBwUFTUw

— DESTINYFRASQUERI (@princess_nokia) September 21, 2015

Destiny Fall Tour Dates 2015:

09.20 - MoMA PS1 - New York City 09.26 - VIA Music Fest - Pittsburgh, PA 10.11 - Webster Music Hall - New York City 10.30 - Wesleyan University - Connecticut 10.31 - The Barbery - Philadelphia, PA 11.12 - Cooper Union Hall - New York City 11.13 - Chop Suey - Seattle, WA

Buffy Sainte-Marie Continues to Push Boundaries on New Album, "Power in the Blood"

At age 74, activist, artist, and icon Buffy Sainte-Marie remains refreshingly forthright, not to mention downright danceable, on her new album, Power in the Blood.

A collection of originals and cover songs, the album includes the techno-laced, anthemic title track (the result of a collaboration with electronic group Alabama 3) Power in the Blood, the reiteration of the longevity and diversity of Buffy's career in the re-imagining of the title track from her 1964 debut album It's My Way, her take on UB40's Sing Our Own Song, and the fiery reworking of her 1972 released break-up song Not the Lovin' Kind.

In addition to the updated spin on existing material, the stand out new songs Carry it On and We Are Circling celebrate the sanctity and beauty of life and nature and, what we know and love Buffy best for, scathing political and social commentary.

Of seeming unending energy to speak and perform, Buffy is currently touring in support of the new album throughout the UK, the US, and Canada - check out the full list of tour dates below.

Listen to the title track now, actually don't just listen, stand up and join in, "there's power in the blood, justice in the soul."

STREAM: Buffy Sainte-Marie - "It's My Way"

Tour dates:

03/18 Cardiff, UK - Motorpoint Arena * 03/20 Leeds, UK - First Direct Arena * 03/21 Glasgow, UK - The SSE Hydro * 03/24 Belfast, UK - Odyssey Arena * 03/26 London, UK - The Tabernacle 03/27 Birmingham, UK - Barclaycard Arena * 04/26 Sidney, BC - Mary Winspear Centre 04/29 Campbell River, BC - The Tidemark Theatre 04/30 North Vancouver, BC - Capilano University Centre for the Performing Arts Theatre 05/01 North Vancouver, BC - Capilano University Centre for the Performing Arts Theatre 05/06 London, ON - Aeolian Hall 05/07 Toronto, ON Koerner Hall 05/09 Burnstown, ON - Neat Coffee Shop 05/15 Lincoln, NE - University of Nebraska Lincoln 05/17 Chicago, IL - City Winery 05/18 Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live 05/19 Washington, DC - The Hamilton 05/20 New York, NY - Highline Ballroom 07/16 Grass Valley, CA - California Worldfest 08/07 Little Current, ON - Manitoulin Country Fest

Buffy's new album, Power in the Blood, is available now on iTunes.

Listen to the Final Episode of Nick Sherman's 'Knives & Wildrice' Podcast

Here it is: the final episode of Nick Sherman's Knives & Wildrice podcast—celebrating the successful completion of his new album. 

Appropriately titled "I Can't Believe We Did It", the episode brings together all previous 12 parts in Anishinaabe singer Nick Sherman's journey to bring the album to fruition, while offering some insider insight into his creative process and project.

Oh yeah—and, of course, the episode features some samples of new music from the album (check out the lead single "Ghost Town" here, if you haven't).

Indian and Cowboy break it down:

In this conversation Nick and Ryan break down the making of Nick's new album, Knives & Wildrice, the process of documenting the journey of making the album through a podcast and what it was like to crowdfund & create this album with very little resources and the good graces of his friends and family.

Sherman's new album, Knives & Wildrice, drops May 23rd, 2015. He will be out on tour with the Greenbank Trio all summer and all over Canada. Tour dates and album release info below.

Listen to Knives & Wildrice EP#13 - "I Can't Believe We Did It"

NICK SHERMAN - SUMMER 2015 TOUR DATES

May 23 - Thunder Bay, ON - Red Ride Tour May 29 - Sudbury, ON - NOMFA Showcase June 05 - Winnipeg, MB - Maw's Beer Hall June 06 - Regina, SK - McNally's Tavern June 10 - Golden, BC - Rockwater June 12 - Kamloops, BC - Chances Casino June 13 - Vancouver, BC - Heartwood Cafe June 16 - Kelowna, BC - Minstrel Cafe June 17 - Golden, BC - Rockwater June 19 - Fernie, BC - Brickhouse June 20 - Calgary, AB - Wine Oh's June 21 - Edmonton, AB - TBA June 24 - Red Deer, AB - Ross St. Patio June 25 - Red Deer, AB - Velvet Olive June 26 - Lancaster, AB - Lancaster Taphouse June 27 - Kenora, ON - Lake of the Woods Brewery July 06 - Peterborough, ON - Red Garnet July 08 - Kingston, ON - The Mansion July 10 - Ottawa Bluesfest July 11 - Montreal, QC - Brutopia July 14 - Windsor, ON - Pan Am Games July 17 - Toronto, ON - Pan Am Games July 18 - Harmony of Nations Festival July 24 - Sioux Lookout - Centennial Centre August 05 - Lac Seul FN Youth Conference August 06 - Lac Seul FN Youth Conference August 07 - Red Rock, ON - Live from the Rock August 08 - Red Rock, ON - Live from the Rock August 09 - Red Rock, ON - Live from the Rock August 13 - Toronto, ON - Celebration Zone August 15 - Subbury, ON - UP Fest

Princess Nokia Announces 'Final' Tour, Talks New Project

Princess Nokia surprised all of us this morning with an announcement on Instagram and Twitter that her upcoming tour will be her last.

Although she hinted at the release of a new project to be announced in July, we're surprised to hear that after her banner year following the success of her retro-futurist album, Metallic Butterfly, she's already charting her exit from the project...though it sounds like some new things are in the works.

UPDATE: Turns out Nokia isn't doing anything as drastic as quitting music, she's just preparing to cocoon and birth her latest incarnation.

THE NEXT PROJECT IS REALLY GREAT I MUST SAY- IF YOU THOUGHT METALLIC BUTTERFLY WAS BRILLIANT, WELL THEN JUST WAIT :)

— Princess Nokia (@princess_nokia) May 6, 2015

Whatever comes next, we'll definitely be watching. Here's the full text of her announcement and the final Princess Nokia tour dates through May and June. See her while you can.

Hello my beautiful children: I have come to the end of my rainbow. After a wonderful year gained from the success of, "METALLIC BUTTERFLY", and truly bringing magic into the world, this will be my last Princess Nokia Tour. It was a great year of life changing experiences and Artistic growth. Now I am on the the next chapter --> Here are Details for my next 7 shows in N.Y, D.C, Chicago, Toronto, New Jersey, and Baja California. I will be releasing a New project In July, and will disclose information soon. I'm very excited to share wats in store 🌵🍊🍋 Thank you to the brilliant Christopher Lare @owlzybaby For producing the record and being an amazing friend Thank You to Milah Libin @milahlibin and the Smart Girl Club for directing my visuals and being exceptional woman And thank you to my fans & friends, who supported me and the album all the way, who sang along at every show, who dance and cried with me, who believed in magic and beauty and pushing the boundaries for Afro futurist sound.

PRINCESS NOKIA: FINAL TOUR pic.twitter.com/DM3G4x7jLB

— Princess Nokia (@princess_nokia) May 6, 2015

PRINCESS NOKIA - 'FINAL' TOUR DATES

May 7 - NYU, New York May 23 - Calico Collective, DC May 29 - Total Therapy, Chicago May 30 - Toronto, ON June 6 - Seed Gallery, N.J. June 20  - AMF Music Fest, CA June 27 - Oshun & Princess Nokia, NYC

Watch Princess Nokia's video for "Young Girls"

The Red Ride Tour Returns

What started as a two-artist tour five years ago has grown into a near touring festival of 12 of the hottest names in Indigenous music.

When musicians Kristi Lane Sinclair and Cris Derksen first conceived of the Red Ride Tour, they didn’t think they'd be organizing their fifth one with a lineup of 12 Indigenous artists popping up at different dates across Canada and, for the first time this year, the US. Not only that, but Sinclair is pulling this off while finishing her new album, and filming a six-part TV series about her musical journey for APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network)!

“It is dizzyingly awesome!”, exclaims Sinclair. “It feels so great to have so many projects coming together simultaneously”, she adds.

A wide range of genres is spanned by the artists joining the tour, including Tlingit/Aleut artist and musician Silver Jackson, rising folk singer Nick Sherman, Cree/Métis singer-songwriter Christa Couture, Sto:lo Territory hip-hop artist Ron Dean Harris (aka Ostwelve), Saskatchewan trio The Snake Oil Salesmen, Dene musician Jay Gilday, Curve Lake First Nation singer-songwriter Sean Conway,  Inuk singer Beatrice Dear, and young up-and-coming talents Binaeshee-Que Couchie-Nabigon and Sonia Eidse.

“This is our fifth year in a row taking indigenous acts on the road across Canada, and each year it grows,” says Sinclair. “It started out as just Cris and I, in my little Chevy Optra hatchback, driving across Canada, playing live music venues,” she explains. “And now this year, we have acts... huge acts... and a massive North American Tour!".

“We’re trying to get so many artists to so many places. It’s more like a touring festival than a normal tour,” said Sinclair.

“The outcome is going to be amazing and you’re not going to want to miss it.”

We agree. Hit play on the Red Ride Tour playlist and check out the full dates below.

Tour dates:

May 13 - Fairview Pub, Vancouver, BC (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Ostwelve) May 15 – Wine-Ohs, Calgary, AB (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair) May 16 - Empress Pub, Edmonton, AB (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Jay Gilday) May 19 - Indian Metis Friendship Centre, Prince Albert, SK (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair) May 20 - Vangelis Tavern, Saskatoon, SK (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair) May 21 – The Artful Dodger, Regina, SK (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair, The Snake Oil Salesmen) May 22 - Pyramid Cabaret, Winnipeg, MB (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Cris Derksen, Sonia Eidse) May 23 – The Apollo, Thunder Bay, ON (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Nick Sherman) May 24 – Saul Ste. Marie, ON (venue TBA) (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Nick Sherman) May 25 - Debajehmujig Creation Centre, Manitowaning, ON (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair) May 27 – Capitol Centre Theatre, North Bay, ON (Dream Big Conference) (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Derek Miller, Binaeshee-Quae) May 28 – Monarch Tavern, Toronto, ON (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Derek Miller, Christa Couture) May 29 - Six Nations, ON (venue TBA) (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair) May 30 - The Garnet, Peterborough ON (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Sean Conway) June 3 - Club Saw, Ottawa, ON (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair) June 4 - Ashukan Cultural Space, Montreal, QC (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Beatrice Dear)

The Long Wait for "Light" from Digging Roots

It's been four years since blues duo Digging Roots released their last album but with one listen you'll agree it's been worth the wait.

Inspired by their travels, For The Light, firmly inhabits roots and blues with a nomadic wanderlust; confidently exploring other terrains from the inner cities, the back roads and all the places in between. The husband and wife songwriting team, Raven Kanatakta and ShoShona Kish have written and produced a collection of love songs that reflects a maturing sense of storytelling. With sweet harmonies smokey wails and melodic accompaniments of ukulele, banjo, mellotron and of course Raven’s bombastic resonator guitar, this album is something special; an eclectic tapestry of light and dark sound that is vintage and fresh all at once.

Digging Roots are formidable live - be sure to catch them on the road this summer (tour dates below). Get the album on iTunes and start singing along (in Anishinabemowin and English) to the brilliant title track, For the Light:

Digging Roots' Summer Tour Dates 2014:

06/26/14 Toronto, ON Dundas Square

06/27/14 Midland, ON Midland Cultural Centre

06/29/14 Quebec City, QC Television Performance

07/01/14 Barrie, ON Heritage Park

07/11/14 - 07/13/14 Comox, BC Vancouver Island MusicFest

07/15/14 Duncan, BC Duncan Showroom Productions

07/17/14 - 07/20/14 Yellowknife, NWT Folk On The Rocks

07/23/14 Regina, SK 2014 Indigenous Games

08/01/14 Spence’s Bridge, BC N’kemin Voices of the Valley

08/06/14 Kelowna, BC Minstrel Café

08/06/14 - 08/07/14 Wayland, MI Pottawatami Gathering

08/15/14 - 08/17/14 Dunster, BC Robson Valley Music Festival

A Tribe Called Red: Fall Tour Dates 2012

What does A Tribe Called Red do after rocking a solid tour across Europe? They kick ass on another solid tour across North America. Check out their North American tour dates and peeps the latest video from the boys.

Don't miss A Tribe Called Red in one of these cities during the next month. We're glued to our computers because we've heard from a little birdie that they're going to be releasing new tracks and mixes that they recorded while they were across the pond - stay tuned to their tweets for that.

That was a great couple of days at home. Good recharge. Time to start our Canadian tour. See you soon Winnipeg!!!

— A Tribe Called Red (@atribecalledred) October 31, 2012

A TRIBE CALLED RED - FALL 2012 TOUR DATES

Nov 2nd – Winnipeg @ Aboriginal Music Week (buy tickets)

Nov 3rd – Regina @ The Exchange (buy tickets)

Nov 4th - Saskatoon @ Amigos Cantina (tickets at the door)

Nov 7th - Edmonton @ Temple (buy tickets)

Nov 8th - Calgary @ Hi-Fi Club (buy tickets)

Nov 9th - Vancouver @ Fortune Sound Club (buy tickets)

Nov 11th - Victoria @ Sugar Nightclub

Nov 17th - Brooklyn @ Glasslands (buy tickets)

Nov 19th - Philadelphia @ Fluid Nightclubs Mad Decent Mondays

Nov 22nd - Washington @ U-Hall

Indigenous Summer Music Festival Guide 2012

It's summer 2012 and RPM has another guide to Indigenous musicians representing at music festivals this year.

It's the first week of summer and festival season has already kicked off in some places, but there are still many to check out all over Turtle Island. We've mined through the festival line-ups and compiled a list of festivals including Indigenous musicians.

Adäka Cultural Festival, Whitehorse, YT, June 22-28 - Murray Porter, Wayne Lavallee, Reddnation

Alianait Arts Festival, Iqaluit, NU, June 29 - July 2nd - Artcirq, William Tagoona, the Métis Fiddler Quartet and more.

Boonstock Music & Arts Festival, Gibsons, AB, June 28 - July 1 - Gutta Musik

Little Lake Music Festival, Peterborough, ON, June 30 - August 25 - Tom Jackson

Ottawa Blues Fest, Ottawa, ON, July 4-15 - A Tribe Called Red

Winnipeg Folk Festival, Winnipeg, MB, July 4-8 - Asani, Ozomatli, Sonia Eidse

Harrison Festival of the Arts, Harrison, BC, July 6-15 - Murray Porter, Inez, Jason Burnstick, Pura Fe, Kalan Wi

Atlin Arts and Music Festival, Atlin, BC, July 6-8 - Don Amero

All Folked up in Montmartre, Montmartre, SK, July 6-8 - Christa Couture, Carol Morin

Mariposa Folk Fest, Orillia, ON, July 6-8 - Florent Vollant, Shane Koyczan and the Short Story Long

Vancouver Island Music Festival, Comox Valley, BC, July 6-8 - Buffy Sainte-Marie, Wab Kinew, Lorenzo

Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, Okemah, OK, July 11-15 - Samantha Crain

Craven Country Jamboree, Qu'Appelle Valley, SK, July 12-15 - Terri Clarke

Homeskillet Festival, Sitka, AK, July 13-14 - Silver Jackson, Strummin' Dog, D-Script

Montana Folk Festival, Butte, MT, July 13-15 - Little Southern Cree, Dallas Chief Eagle

Vancouver Folk Festival, Vancouver, BC, July 13-15 - Leela Gilday, Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, Alejandra Robles

Folk On The Rocks, Yellowknife, NWT, July 19-22 - Pura Fe, William Greenland, Wesley Hardisty, The Jerry Cans, Timangia Petaulassie & Qauna Mikkigaq, Yellowknives Dene Drummers

Brandon Folk Festival, Brandon, MB, July 19-22 - Kinnie Starr

Dawson City Music Festival, Dawson, YK, July 20-22 - Cris Derksen, Dakhká Khwáan Dancers

Starbelly Jam, Crawford Bay, BC, July 20-22 - Glen Henry Michel Family w/ Sara Cadeau

Discovery Coast Music Festival, Bella Coola, BC, July 20-22 - The Caley Watts Band, Digawolf

LA Skins Fest, LA, CA, July 21 - Beck Black, Cockamammie Jamie, Arigon Starr, Shawn Michael Perry & Only The Brave

Lowell Folk Festival, Lowell, MA, July 27-29 - Jones Benally Family Dancers

MetisFest - Killarny, MB, July 27-29 - Darren Lavallee, Donny Parenteau, JJ Lavallee and Ryan Keplin.

ArtsWells, Wells, BC, August 3-6 - Benny Walker, Christa Couture

Electric Eclectics Festival, Meaford, ON, August 3-5 - Melody McKiver

Edmonton Folk Music Fest, Edmonton, AB, August 9-12 - Joanne Shenandoah, Treme, George Kahumoku Jr.

Lunenburg Folk Harbour Fest, Lunenburg, NS, August 9-12 - Iskwew, Leela Gilday

Edge Of The World Festival, Haida Gwaii, BC, August 10-12 - Road Engine Dreams

TroutFest, Ear Falls, Ontario, August 10-12 - Christa Couture, Shy-Anne Hovorka

Boots and Hearts Music Festival, Bowmanville, ON, August 10-12 - Terri Clarke, Shane Yellowbird, Derek Miller, Crystal Shawanda

Voices Of The Valley Music and Art Festival, Spence's  Bridge, BC August 11 - Skookum Sound System, Blackout Artists, Gitwaalk Jeremy, Niska

Robson Valley Music Festival, Dunster, BC, August 17-19 - Niska

Desert Daze, Spences Bridge, BC, August 17-19 - Christa Couture

Hopscotch Music Festival, Raleigh, NC, September 6-8 - Samantha Crain

If there's any dates we've missed or to be updated let us know and we'll add them to the list.  Happy Festival Season!

Winnipeg's Most Tour Dates: July 2011

Fresh off the release of their new album, Goodfellaz, Manitoba's notorious hip-hop crew Winnipeg's Most has announced upcoming tour dates throughout July. Catch them while you can.

Winnipeg's Most Tour Dates - July 2011

July 7th. Seine River, Ontario TREATY DAYS

July 13th 2011 Winnipeg, Manitoba - The Pyramid 176 Fort St. ABEL WIZ ENTERTAINMENT & T.I. GRAND HUSTLE PRESENT: WINNIPEG'S MOST & THE FIRST LADY OF GRAND HUSTLE "BOLA"

July 14th 2011 The Pas, Manitoba THE NORTHERN ROOTS FESTIVAL

July 16th 2011 Brandon, Manitoba - The Roadhouse 176 Fort Street ABEL WIZ ENTERTAINMENT & T.I GRAND HUSTLE PRESENT: WINNIPEG'S MOST & THE FIRST LADY OF GRAND HUSTLE "BOLA"

July 18th Dakota Tipi, Manitoba DAKOTA GAMING CENTRE - OBT RECORDS CD RELEASE PARTY

July 24th 2011 Winnipeg, Manitoba NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDSHIP CENTRE: 22ND ANNUAL YOUTH FORUM

July 28th 2011 Edmonton, Alberta - The Empire Ballroom Nutly.net Presents - Team Rezofficial, Joey Stylez and Winnipeg's Most -  - Facebook Event Page