Red Earth (band)
Encyclopedia
Red Earth is a 6-10 piece (depending on the year!) Native American Rock band from Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...

 who has released three independent albums.

General information

Formed in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the mid-1990s, Red Earth quickly became a local favorite and soon was playing around the Southwest, notably on numerous Indian Reservations and music festivals. True to their diverse Southwest roots, the band combines Indigenous perspectives with energetic combinations of funk, rock, heavy metal, reggae, ska, Latin music, and jazz influences. They dubbed their sound, "Tribal Stew." The band won a Native American Music Award (or NAMMY) for their 1999 debut album, "When Worlds Collide". For the album "When Worlds Collide" they worked with Casper Lomayesva and Third Mesa Music from Phoenix, AZ. In August 2001, the band was invited to perform in Bretagne, France as a part of the 'Chants du Monde' world music festival. They also added to their international performances by playing on several occasions across the border in Mexico.

In 2000, Red Earth released a 5 song EP, "Live!" recorded at the Electric 49. The band spent much of 2002 and early 2003 recording their studio follow up, "Zia Soul", which found them working with Ozomatli
Ozomatli
Ozomatli is a seven to ten piece band playing primarily Latin, hip hop, and rock music, formed in 1995 in Los Angeles. They are known both for their vocal activist viewpoints and their wide array of musical styles - including salsa, jazz, funk, reggae, rap, and others.In a 2007 NPR interview, band...

's Wil-Dog Abers
Wil-Dog Abers
Willy "Wil-Dog" Abers is a bassist primarily for the LA-based Ozomatli band, but has also played in Los Super Seven, a Latin rock supergroup.- Early life :...

 and musicians ranging from the Navajo Nation
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...

 to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

. The album won "World Music Album of the Year" at the 6th annual Native American Music Awards in 2003. "Zia Soul" received critical acclaim around the Southwest and in Native American music circles, but it remains the band's last studio album. Throughout the years, Red Earth's line-up has changed on several occasions with the addition and departure of different members (see list).

In 2004 the band was invited to perform at the highly publicized opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian on the Mall in Washington, DC, and the following summer was invited play in New York City at Lincoln Center Out of Doors.

Leaving their mark on the New Mexico music scene, Red Earth created and organized the Electric 49, an annual concert that was held during the weekend of the annual Gathering of Nations
Gathering of Nations
The Gathering of Nations is one of the largest Pow-wows in the United States. It is held annually the fourth weekend in April, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Over 500 tribes from around the United States and Canada travel to Albuquerque to participate...

 Pow-wow
Pow-wow
A pow-wow is a gathering of North America's Native people. The word derives from the Narragansett word powwaw, meaning "spiritual leader". A modern pow-wow is a specific type of event where both Native American and non-Native American people meet to dance, sing, socialize, and honor American...

 in Albuquerque. The festival featured Native American rock, hip-hop, and reggae performers. The festival ran from 1998 through 2005.

In 2006 the it was announced there would be no Electric 49 that year, but that the band had not broken up. With several members out of the state of New Mexico, the band has performed only sporadically since 2006. In April 2010, the band performed two highly anticipated reunion shows in Albuquerque during the Gathering of Nations
Gathering of Nations
The Gathering of Nations is one of the largest Pow-wows in the United States. It is held annually the fourth weekend in April, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Over 500 tribes from around the United States and Canada travel to Albuquerque to participate...

 week, and later performed two more shows in Santa Fe during Indian Market week in August. Despite members living in several states, they hope to continue performing when possible.

You can visit the band on myspace [www.myspace.com/redearth49].

Discography

  • When Worlds Collide (1999)
  • Red Earth Live (2001)
  • Zia Soul
    Zia Soul
    Zia Soul is an album by Red Earth, released in 2003. It won "World Music Album of the Year" at the 2003 Native American Music Awards. "Fly to the Sun" featured production by Wil-Dog Abers of Ozomatli, who worked with the group on preproduction....

    (2003)
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