The Redmen Blues Band featured AJ Harvey singing, “Down To the Grave” at the Native Blues Festival скачать в хорошем качестве

The Redmen Blues Band featured AJ Harvey singing, “Down To the Grave” at the Native Blues Festival

The Native Blues Festival presented by the Jacobson House Native Art Center and Rock the Native Vote took place on Saturday, March 15, 2025 on the grounds of the Jacobson House and inside. The day long event began at noon and ended a little after 8 pm. There were 30 Native American Vendors that included food vendors, artwork in various mediums, beadwork and six Blues Bands and Singers. The day of the Native Blues Festival was pleasant with a blue sky and a nice breeze at the family friendly event. Those in attendance were able to browse the art and beadwork vendors, had food vendor options while listening to the Blues Bands and Singers. The Redmen Blues Band ended the day long Native Blues Festival. The Redmen Blues Band consisted of Terry Tsotigh on drums, Johnny Johnson on saxaphone, Charlie Haag on bass and featured AJ Harvey singing and on guitar. AJ joined the Redmen Blues Band's set and sang original songs written by AJ and by Terry Tsotigh. AJ Harvey is a singer, songwriter and guitar player. He started his musical career when he was six years old. AJ said his Dad needed someone to play rhythm guitar and that is how his musical career began, playing with his Dad in church. His Dad was a musician who was a Bluegrass Fiddle player and guitar player. As AJ got older, he along with his two younger sisters participated in the Dance arena. AJ danced the Men’s Southern Straight Dance. He said he preferred singing as a Southern Style singer and more specifically, learning and singing Ponca tribal songs. Even though AJ and his family lived in Wichita, Kansas, they would travel to Oklahoma in the summer time and particpate in the powwows. AJ said singing at the drum and dancing in the dance arena set him on the path to follow music along with his Dad’s musical influence. AJ began his song writing at the age of 15 years old and evolved in his writing skills over time with life experiences and guideance from a written letter from John Mayer. AJ had wrote a letter to John Mayer and was surprised when John Mayer wrote him back. In one part of the letter, Mayer said for AJ to buy a songwriting book and to take what he learned on guitar and use that because lyrics are going to come and go and it is just about catching the wavelength they come on. As a child, AJ said he didn’t really take to dancing in the dance arena because he preferred being at the drum. He said the Drum in the dance arena is essential in representing Native people. He said he looked at being at the drum as being on stage, instead of dancing which was like being in the crowd. That outlook is still present because now he said being on stage and playing music is not for the attention, but to be part of the music. AJ’s talents expanded to him being on “The Voice” in Season 25 in March 2024. The Voice producers contacted him via email which he did not believe at first, he said he eventually responded and was invited to participate in the show. In the Blind Audition he sang a Bob Dylan song, “Girl From the North Country” where two chairs turned, Chance The Rapper turned first and then the country music duo, Dan and Shay. AJ selected Dan and Shay to coach him through The Voice competition. During his Blind Audition before he sang, AJ said he thought that it was not only him on stage, but that he thought about people he wished could be there to see and experience that moment. He attributed that to being in the dance arena dancing or being at the drum because like many dancers and singers they are not in the dance arena for themselves, they are there singing or dancing for the people who can’t be there and to make people who are present to feel good. During AJ’s Blind Audition, he played his acoustic guitar and sang a Bob Dylan song, “Girl From the North Country” making the song his own version. AJ said the song had a strong emotional connection to him because it reminded him of his late Uncle Vernon Domebo, a Kiowa, who's a huge fan of Bob Dylan. AJ’s time on The Voice ended when he was eliminated in The Voice Battle rounds. AJ has added actor to his accomplishments because he appeared in “Killers of the Flower Moon” as Charlie Whitehorn, an Osage man killed during that tumultuous time in the1920s. Even though that was an experience acting and getting directed by Martin Scorsese, AJ will continue in his musical career because that has almost been his whole life and what brings him familiarity and peace. That Saturday evening, the Redmen Blues Band played and AJ Harvey sang, “Down To the Grave.” That song that evening accomplished a goal set by AJ when singing his original song. Right before he sang, he told the audience to be prepared to go for a ride. His goal: “To combine a rich guitar sound with sensitive and emotional lyrics that make you go along for the ride.” Save the Date for the 2026 Native Blues Festival presented by the Jacobson House. There is no experience like this original Blues Festival. Don't miss out on a great time.