Red Earth is an American rock band from

Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...

which has released three independent albums.

Career

Red Earth was started by musicians from various backgrounds and representing various tribal nations from Dineh, Jemez Pueblo, Isleta Pueblo, Laguna Pueblo, Chicanas/os, Lakotas, mixed-nations, and biiliigaanaa (white) brothers and sisters. The band formed from jam sessions in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico in the basement of a rented house at 410 8th Street in 1995. Red Earth quickly became a local favorite band and started playing around various cities, towns, pueblos, and across the Southwest, notably on numerous Indian Reservations and music festivals. True to their diverse Southwest roots, the band combines Indigenous experiences and insights 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 The Native American Music Awards (also known as the NAMAs or "Nammys") are an awards program presented annually by Elbel Productions, Inc., The Native American Music Awards Inc., and The Native American Music Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profi ...

(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, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...

. In August 2001, the band was invited to perform in

Brittany Brittany ( ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica in Roman Gaul. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duch ...

, 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 is an American rock band, formed in 1995 in Los Angeles. They are known both for their vocal activist viewpoints and incorporating a wide array of musical styles – including salsa, jazz, funk, reggae, hip hop, and others. The group ...

's Wil-Dog Abers and musicians ranging from the

Navajo Nation The Navajo Nation (), also known as Navajoland, is an Indian reservation of Navajo people in the United States. It occupies portions of northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southeastern Utah. The seat of government is located in ...

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

. The album won "World Music Album of the Year" at the 6th annual

s 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 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

Pow-wow A powwow (also pow wow or pow-wow) is a gathering with dances held by many Native American and First Nations communities. Inaugurated in 1923, powwows today are an opportunity for Indigenous people to socialize, dance, sing, and honor their ...

in Albuquerque. The festival featured Native American rock, hip-hop, and reggae performers. The festival ran from 1998 through 2005. In 2006 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 reunion shows in Albuquerque during the Gathering of Nations 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.

Discography

* ''When Worlds Collide'' (1999) * ''Red Earth Live'' (2001) * '' Zia Soul'' (2003)

References

External links

"Red Earth - Not Your Cookie Cutter Band"
''News From Indian Country'', January 2004
Myspace page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Red Earth (Band) Musical groups from New Mexico Musical groups established in 1997 Native American musical groups 1997 establishments in New Mexico