SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Artists and a producer of Native North America Vol. 1 are coming to Fort Simpson on Feb. 26 thanks to a partnership between the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre in partnership and the Open Sky Creative Society.

Aklavik-born musician Willie Thrasher, will be joining Linda Saddleback and Kevin Howes in Fort Simpson to play an aboriginal folk, rock and country show as part of the Northern Arts and Culture Centre's season lineup. - NNSL file photo

The event, celebrating a rebirth of indigenous music, brings a fitting end to the centre's 2015-16 season lineup.

Marie Coderre, executive and artistic director for the centre, said the show will bring Native North America producer Kevin Howes to four communities in the NWT alongside musicians Willie Thrasher and Linda Saddleback.

Native North America Vol. 1 is an anthology album of country, folk and rock music from indigenous artists who performed in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Released in 2014, it was ranked the 12th best country album by Rolling Stone Magazine for a time and recently was nominated for the 2016 Best Historical Album Grammy award.

"(Howes) spent about 15 years to research and look for these types of musicians - collecting information in flea markets and stores across Canada, because these artists were rising before the time of the Internet and they've been forgotten," Coderre said.

"The CD itself is just an amazing compilation."

Willie Thrasher is Aklavik-born and has three songs featured on the CD: Spirit Child, Old Man Carver and We Got To Take You Higher.

"(Howes) is working hard at having these artists on-stage again. It's a second life for them," Coderre said.

"It's a historical tour. The artists (on the album) were known in a period when it was (not) an easy time for indigenous people. It still isn't, but they were trying to be full-time artists in a period when there was a lot of racism."

The show will be facilitated by volunteers from the Open Sky Creative Society.

"It's very special. We really hope community members from all different groups will come to the show," said Coderre.

"It's just amazing to see (Thrasher) on-stage again. He's very talented and it's going to rock."

The show kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Bompas Elementary School.