American Roots Revue Live at the Dakota on Saturday, May 9th

American Roots Revue Live at the Dakota on Saturday, May 9th

The original American Roots Revue crew from 2011 is back for two shows! Tonight, experience Gospel, R&B, blues, folk, rock ‘n roll, and Indigenous music, featuring Anishinaabe Ojibwe artist Dorene Day Waubanewquay. The scintillating foursome of Larry Long, Robert Robinson, Tonia Hughes Kendrick and JD Steele will be backed by a superlative band led by Billy Steele from Sounds of Blackness (keyboards/vocals), Joe Savage (pedal steel), Larry Dalton (bass), Greg Schutte (drums), and David Feily (guitar).

Don’t miss these veteran artists whose outstanding credits include stellar performances at the recent NO KINGS event to album credits and show appearances at renowned concert venues from Carnegie Hall to Madison Square Garden, honoring Rosa Parks, Pete Seeger and many others.

 

Besides Long’s two upcoming Dakota shows in May, Long’s busy spring schedule included a performance at the recent NO KINGS event in March with Joan Baez, Bruce Springsteeen, Waubanewquay and others. This too was a reunion of sorts: Of the two Minnesota artists invited to perform with Baez, Springsteen, and many others for Pete Seeger’s 90^th Birthday Celebration at Madison Square Garden May 4, 2009, guess who actually showed up? It was Long, not Dylan.

Star Tribune Lauds Larry Long Performance at NO KINGS

“The 75-year-old artist [Lary Long] lived up to his reputation as the Pete Seeger of Minnesota with a performance of ‘White Sheets in the White House,’ an anti-racism anthem he penned during President Donald Trump’s first term in office, wrote the Star Tribune of Long’s performance at the recent No Kings event. “Long’s unexpected appearance was a stirring reminder that our state’s contribution to the folk-protest scene didn’t begin and end with Dylan’s time in Dinkytown.”

Upcoming Dakota Shows Feature the Roots of the American Roots Revue

“Our upcoming Dakota shows are going to be pretty special, since this was the first group of artists to work together when the American Roots Revue was launched,” Long said. “Even though we’ve shared the stage with marquee names like Michael Bland, Chastity Brown, Dave Prirner from Soul Asylum, Guy Davis, Claudia Schmidf, Adam Levy, Cory Wong and many others, these folks are like family. And we’re going to make music that night that will stay with you.

“Robert, Tonia, JD, and Dorene have deep history, real roots, working together. Way back in 1981, I reached out to JD and together spawned the Roots Revue during the Mississippi River Revival days. He had just arrived from Gary, Indiana, his hometown, and he was working as the music minister at Pilgrim Baptist Church. JD brought his entire choir down to sing for our first festival at Harriet Island! We’ve been friends ever since.”

SAMPLE PERFORMANCE CLIPS FROM AMERICAN ROOTS REVUE FIRST LIVE PERFORMANCE IN 2011:

“People Get Ready” – featuring JD Steele: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9RIgbl9YgQ

“He Lives In You” – featuring Robert Robinson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzww64vPras

“Forgive” – featuring Tonia Hughes Kendrick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inkh_QhScmY

“Holy Ground (Whole Wide World Depends On You)” – featuring Larry Long https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLt4OA5LRsI

 

Robert Robinson gives us reason to believe that the greatest music reaches every name and crosses every boundary. Thus, Robinson has wowed audiences from the Pontiac Silverdome to South Korea. Here, Robert is “God’s canary,” with the ability to sing any song and yet remain true to his vision.

Tonia Hughes is a recent McKnight Fellow. Her passion for music often results in culturally diverse collaborations alongside some of Minnesota’s most accomplished musicians. Furthermore, she has performed at Orchestra Hall, Lincoln Center and at hundreds of venues throughout the Twin Cities.

J.D. Steele exploded onto the Minnesota music scene in the mid 1980’s along with Prince, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Then, Mr. Steele and his dynamic vocal siblings, The Steeles, garnered every major music award Minnesota has to offer.

Billy Steele performs, writes, and produces for the Grammy-winning ensemble Sounds of Blackness. Also, Billy is the youngest of the legendary Steele family. Additionally, he appears on soundtracks with artists such as Rod Stewart and Luther Vandross.

Dorene Day Waubanewquay is an Ojibwe-Anishinabe Kwe of the Waubizayshi O’dodem – Marten Clan, from Asabikone zaaga I’ gunning – Bois Forte Reservation in northern Minnesota.  She carries the responsibility of song keeper for her Midewiwin lodge.  Her name means “Daybreak Woman,” someone who asks the darkness to give way to the light each morning.

Larry Long is an American singer-songwriter who has made his life work the celebration of everyday heroes. Here, author and historian Studs Terkel called Larry “a true American troubadour.” When America’s foremost folksinger, Pete Seeger, learned that Long was called the Pete Seeger of Minneapolis, Seeger chuckled. “I’d be proud to be known as ‘the Larry Long of New York.’”