Native Rhythms Festival

We just made it easier to become a Native Rhythms sponsor. The options are available at the bottom of our sponsors webpage (https://nativerhythmsfestival.com/sponsors/ ). What is new is that you can use the embedded Zeffy form to directly become a sponsor with your credit/debit card. No need to jump to another website and try to figure out what to do. Just click on the "Add +" button for the level you'd like, and you're on your way to joining our sponsors in making this year's Native Rhythms a success!

Would you like to get a little closer to this year's performers? We've added something new to our website homepage at nativerhythmsfestival.com. Below the photos of this year's performers are little embedded audio player controls. Click on the "play" button on the left end of the control panel and hear about 1 minute recording of that performer, a sample of what you'll hear from them live on stage down here in Melbourne in November. Check it out and let us know what you think about this new feature.

We are excited to have back with us this year, award winning vocalist and Native Flute player, Rona Yellow Robe. Award winning? In 2010 she won the Native American Music Awards (NAMA) Debut Artist of the year, and then went on in 2014 and 2016 to become the NAMA Flutist of the Year! There's not much higher honor in the Native American Flute community. Learn more about Rona's musical background on our Performers' webpage (https://nativerhythmsfestival.com/performers/ ).

Sicanni is no stranger to Native Rhythms, but this November will be the first time he'll be on stage as a headline performer. For the last few years, he's been a standout at our Thursday evening open mic gathering at the Candlewood, and he has had a booth in our Vendor Village. Sicanni provides a unique sound when he picks up a pan flute, playing it expertly. In fact, he says he can play 7 different Native American types of flutes. Check out his background further on our Performers' webpage (https://nativerhythmsfestival.com/performers/ ). Welcome, Sicanni.

Each year our Paula Ellis Memorial Flute Players' Competition features some very talented up-and-coming Native American Flute players. And we're proud of our past year winners who have gone on to success as professional performers. In recent posts here, we've highlighted some of them who have returned to our stage as headline performers, some of whom will be performing with us this year. One of the rewards for each year's winner is the opportunity to return to our stage as a featured performer the next year. Joining us here in 2026 will be out 2025 winner out of Central Texas, Sandi Horton. Sandi has a very impressive musical background, with 20 years as a professional classical flutist performing in regional orchestras, a woodwind quintet, and a jazz duo. She transitioned into Native American style flute performance and composition in 2018 and that is now her musical specialty. Watch for Sandi on Friday of festival weekend, and don't be surprised if she doesn't return sometime in the future as one of our headline performers, I think you'll agree she's that good.

On the morning of November 9, 2018, eight flute players stepped onto our amphitheater stage as competitors in our Paula Ellis Memorial Flute Players' Competition. Later that day, the winners were announced, and the 1st place winner was Atlanta's Jamie Empert. She was up there solo for the competition, but the next year, taking advantage of the winner's reward, she appeared on our program as a scheduled performer. That time, she was joined by her husband, Joe, on percussion. Since that time, Jamie and Joe have refined and formalized their little duo under the stage name Earthsong Voyage. We've been watching their progress, including two albums and a handful of awards, and are now excited to have them back with us this year as full headline performers.

We're always proud when our players' competition winners go on to performer success, and then come back to become part of our program. Jamie will be joined this year by fellow former winners Holly Harris and Kimberly Kridler, 2/3 of Painted Raven. And with us last year was also former winner, Timothy J.P. Gomez. This year we'll also have Sandi Horton, winner of last year's competition, appearing with one of the rewards for that victory. You might consider the future possible as a winner of our players' competition and think about entering this year's Paula Ellis Memorial Flute Players' Competition.

For all you Painted Raven fans, YES! Annette, Holly, and Kimberly will once again grace our Wickham Park amphitheater stage this November. And, if you love the Painted Raven drumming with flutes workshop, I believe we have an agreement to do it once more. They'll be here! Will you?

We're honored to have Mark McGourley return to our stage after having joined us last year to lead our tribute to our passed inspiration, Dock Silverhawk Green. Mark composed and performed a song honoring Dock, in addition to performing his Universe Dance concert on flute. Mark also led a great workshop on playing guitar with flutes. We look forward to seeing you again in November, Mark...

As we secure our performers for this year's Native Rhythms, we'll be announcing them here. First up will be the multi-talented storyteller, flute player, and world champion hoop dancer, Lowery Begay. You will see Lowery frequently throughout the weekend as he will also be serving as our Master of Ceremonies, introducing each performer as they come out. And stand by for our workshop announcements further downstream, for Lowery is going to do something very unique this year. Welcome back, Lowery!