A ‘soul-stirring’ voice
Seattle-based singer-songwriter Jill Cohn will play two gigs in Durango in support of her newly released CD “Yellow Rose.” The title song is about the “struggles of the common man against corporate America.” But not all of the songs are that heavy. Most of them have message of hope. She draws from artists like Joni Mitchell, Sarah McLachlan and Counting Crows. “Yellow Rose” spent six weeks on the Americana Radio Chart, and it prompted one radio station to call her concert “an evening of Folk Americana Bliss.” Cohn will play at 8:30 tonight at Derailed Pour House, 725 Main Ave. The band Duo will open. She’ll return to Derailed for a solo performance at 8:30 p.m. June 13.
As the bear does
The Southern Ute Indian Tribe will hold its traditional Bear Dance and powwow celebration this weekend. The Bear Dance welcomes spring and celebrates connection to the Earth. The Bear Dance celebrations of days past were used to pray, heal the sick and marry off young tribal members to one another. The instrumental component of the songs is consistent, designed to mimic the sounds of the mythical bear that is the main character in most Bear Dance stories. In most versions of the tale, brothers on the hunt find a female bear scratching at and dancing around a tree with a rhythmic, musical quality to her growls, scratches and movements. The bear ultimately teaches one of the brothers the dance and song, sending him off with instructions to teach what he learned to his people as a sign of respect for, and to draw upon, the bear’s spirit of strength. The opening of Bear Dance will be at 10 a.m. today, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The powwow will be held at 5 p.m. today and Saturday. Events will be held at the Sky Ute Fairgrounds in Ignacio. For more information, visit www.southernute-nsn.gov/2014/03/2014-southern-ute-bear-dance/.
Hip-hop night
Vancouver-based hip-hop band Swollen will headline a show at 10 p.m. today at Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive. Known for delivering “raw explosive energy” shows, the band will perform with members Madchild, Slaine, Black Pegasus and Concept Musik. The band will release its new album, “Brand New Day,” on June 17.
Get some culture
Travel west this weekend to Cortez, where the 14th annual Indian Arts and Culture Festival will take place. There will be traditional Native American dances at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Cortez Cultural Center Plaza. An Indian Art Market will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The market displays the work of traditional pottery, sculpture, clothing, musical instruments, textiles, weavings, jewelry and more. This year’s featured artist is Gerry Quotskuyva, of Rimrock, Arizona. He is a Hopi tribesman of the Bear Strap Clan from Second Mesa Village of Shungopavi, who continues his grandfather’s legacy of hand-carving kachina dolls. A Navajo run auction will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday (the preview will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market St. For more information, visit www.mesaverdecountry.com.
