BIPOC, the Blues, and a History of Shared Traditional Expression

Due to a scheduling conflict, we have been forced to cancel this event.  Sorry for any inconvenience!

This intimate event will highlight the connections and influences of Black and Indigenous musical expression in the blues through dialog and musical performance. This event is being held in conjunction with the American Folklore Society Conference at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

The event will be hosted by Lamont Pearley—Producer of the African American Folklorist Podcast, Director of the Jack Kappa Blues Heritage Preservation Foundation and Founding Editor of The African American Folklorist Magazine. 

Steeped in musical lessons as far back as teaching himself guitar at nine years old from a launchpad of the three Kings and Stevie Ray Vaughn, Levi Platero's leads and songwriting reflect a lifetime absorbing music. Platero is from the Navajo Nation in the Southwest region of the United States. His family band The Plateros emerged on the music scene in 2004 as a blues rock power trio compared to the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Los Lonely Boys and ZZ Top. After a decade of touring the US with his family band, and a 1-year run as a member of Indigenous, Levi decided it was time to get back to his own music as a solo artist. He then recruited a new band, began touring, and released a self-titled EP featuring the single "Take Me Back," which went on to win the 2016 NAMA (Native American Music Award) for Best Blues.

Jacob Shije, a gifted Indigenous artist from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico, beautifully weaves together his passions for music, photography, and cultural preservation. As a musician, his melodies resonate with ancestral echoes, bridging tradition and modernity. Jacob is also a member of the Levi Platero Band, where his musical talents contribute to the band's unique Native blues sound. Jacob's artistry transcends boundaries, honoring his roots while inspiring a vibrant, inclusive future.