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Akwesasne performer rejoins folk-rock band at Grassroots Festival

Posted 7/24/10

AKWESASNE -- Native Music Award Winner Atsiaktonkie rejoined Alter-Native Folk Rock Band December Wind for two highly anticipated reunion shows this week at the 20th annual Finger Lakes Grassroots …

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Akwesasne performer rejoins folk-rock band at Grassroots Festival

Posted

AKWESASNE -- Native Music Award Winner Atsiaktonkie rejoined Alter-Native Folk Rock Band December Wind for two highly anticipated reunion shows this week at the 20th annual Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg.

December Wind opened up for Merle Haggard on Thursday and the band also will closed show on Friday.

December Wind is Atsiaktonkie (lead vocals, guitar), Terry Terrance (bass), Randolph Furnia (lead guitar, vocals), Donnie Sharrow (guitar, vocals), and Billy Lashomb (drums).

Prior to departing ways in 2006, December Wind released two highly acclaimed CDs; Sacred Voices (Canyon Records, 1999) and Second Wind (Strong Wind Records, 2005). Atsiaktonkie released his first solo project Four Wolves Prophecy (Strong Wind Records, 2008), which won the 2009 Nammy Award for Best Folk Recording/Album.

\December Wind sold copies of their album, Second Wind, as well as copies of Atsiaktonkie’s Award Winning Album Four Wolves Prophecy at the event.

“Melodic lead guitars, uncomplicated rock. Lynard Skyrand would have been proud,” states Get Ready to Rock Magazine. While Cutting Edge Review writes, “Lyrical traditions play out with earth sweetness and emphasis of pow-wow percussion.”

The band performed a mixture of 14 songs from their two albums, as well as some new material. A portion of the proceeds from album sales will benefit The Akwesasne Freedom School, which helps preserve the Mohawk culture and language that is diminishing rapidly.

For more information visit www.atsiaktonkie.com.