Mitch Walking Elk and the Sugar Point Band
With Wade Fernandez and the Black Wolf Group
Mitch Walking Elk officially came on the music scene in the mid eighties with the release of his first recording, Dreamer, Originally from Oklahoma, now residing in St. Paul, Minnesota, Mitch has released a total of five recordings, toured Europe fourteen times, performed in Japan, Colombia, South America, Mexico City, Canada and through out the United States. He has appeared in one yet to be released movie titled Come And Get Your Love, and is currently writing his autobiography. He now works at an inner city alternative school in St. Paul as a counselor teacher and cultural community support person as well as continuing to play music. Mitch defines himself as a singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and political and environmental activist from an Indigenous perspective. He blew the lid off of being labeled as a folk singer with the release of his fifth CD, a blues recording titled, Time for A Woman that won him best Blues recording at the 2005 Indian Summer Festival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His greatest accomplishment to date he says is simply surviving and overcoming the obstacles placed in his life’s path. The love affair he has had with music definitely contributed to that accomplishment. “I’m still waiting for success, he says.” I’ve had a number of small victories along the way but no great battles have been won as of yet. To become an overnight success after thirty or so years in the business would sure be nice.”
Sugar Point is the culmination of years of bands and genres that brought Rev Hillstrom and Todd Dahlberg together. Minnesota natives and American Indians, they have been jamming in local bands on the fringe and in the heat of the Minnesota Indian culture and Blues Fests of the Midwest. Between the 6 band members of Sugar Point there are over 100 years of experience and over 1000 lbs of talent.
Winner of the 2006 NAMMY (Native American Music Award) for Male Artist of the Year, Wade Fernandez has grown from his Menominee Indian Reservation roots to generate music that can both soothe and rock. A versatile musician who sings, writes his own material, and plays guitar, flute and drums, Wade honors tradition while simultaneously forging ahead into his ever-expanding musical universe. He combines making music with working with youth from his reservation, and around the world.
Tickets go on sale at noon Fri Feb 26 from the Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), Cedar outlets, and online at Ticketweb.
$10
