Since summer 2006, Indian Summer Showcase has hosted 22 concerts featuring 29 groups from more than 15 Native communities in the U.S. and Canada, and five Latin American countries. In our fourth season, we continue to offer the best in contemporary Native talent from throughout the Americas. From Hawai'i come slack-key masters the Brothers Cazimero. Andes Manta brings the ancient sounds of the Andes. From Oklahoma comes singer-songwriter Samantha Crain. The Bannaba Project melds the music of Panama’s indigenous peoples with jazz. From the Southwest by way of Minnesota, Keith Secola shares his patented Native Americana folk/rock. Finally, representing the First Nations of Canada, where the blues rules, we welcome George Leach and the Rez Bluez All-Starz, joined by Corey Harris and the Carolina Chocolate Drops.

It is an honor for the National Museum of the American Indian to present this array of talent, and to demonstrate that Native artists participate fully in creating the music of our time. If what you hear in these concerts is something other than what you expected, then we’ve done our job. Contemporary Native people are multidimensional, and in virtually every instance will overturn preconceived notions. We hope that you enjoy your experience at Indian Summer Showcase and that you leave feeling you’ve experienced something new, and want to come again, often.