Music highlights NN Fair

DJ Abel Rock, pictured, will be spinning at Step into a World 5, Friday and Saturday in WIndow Rock. — Courtesy photo

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — This year, the Navajo Nation Fair Office was pleased to get Sugarland as the top act for the Nation’s fair to perform Friday night.

However, for the first time again in recent years, there are also more local music acts performing at events throughout the fair weekend.

DJ Abel Rock will be spinning at the “Step Into A World 5” event which is being hosted by the Miss Indigenous Youth Collective on Friday and Saturday at the Window Rock Sports Center.

About the many music events being offered during the fair, Abel Rock said, “I think it’s awesome ... It’s so cool the way it is this year.

“No matter where you go, try and hit up the local venues, whether it’s the deejays or the metal shows,” he added. “I think everybody should go check out at least one of the local shows this year.”

Randall Hoskie of Rancid Savage Productions will also be holding a rock show at Day Customs, west of the fairgrounds, beginning at 7 p.m.

Last year, Hoskie put on the only rock show series during the fair and this year he is glad that there are more options for young people interested in music.

“I’m glad it’s finally doing that,” he said. “That’s the reason why we do it.”

Hoskie said he will probably also be attending the Everlasting show put on by Speck Revelation this year.
It’s all about opportunities for the bands, Hoskie said. He added that each show is an opportunity to bring more music to the Navajo people. For example, the reunion of the Gallup band Gloni is something to look forward to at the Jagermusic show that he is organizing, he said. The show will also bring back the popular Navajo punk band Blackfire to Window Rock.

The band Six will be playing the Jagermusic show, as will local rockabilly favorites S*** Outta Luck and bands Distorted Ritual, Unsheathe and The Creeping Puppets.
The all-ages “Step Into A World 5” event began in 2000 and was held for four years. After a four-year absence and numerous requests to do so, the show is being brought back to the fair, said DJ Abel Rock.

“Step Into A World” began to help inspire kids to get involved in hip-hop and when it started, the organizers had to go outside the local community to get deejays and others to showcase the hip-hop scene for Navajo youth.

Now, the local scene is strong enough that the event will feature all local deejays, including Abel Rock, DJ Kiss from Zuni and DJ FM Ryan from Fort Defiance .

“It’s cool because our vision back then has become a reality now,” Abel Rock said.
On Friday, the hip-hop dance will begin at 8 p.m. to about 1 a.m. with DJ Kiss headlining and FM Ryan also mixing.

On Saturday, the doors open at 2 p.m. and the Bboy competition, which is a type of break dance competition, will begin at 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a $1,000 first prize.

The hip-hop dance begins at 8 p.m. again on Saturday and a fashion show and model showcase will be held around 10 p.m.

Abel Rock said there will also be live art and a live drummer throughout the show.

The Wicked Fest II is being held at the Navajo Nation Museum on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. Expected to play the free show are Kats of Horror, The Creeping Puppets, Dark Divinity, Unsheathe and All Hallow’s Eve.

The Everlasting show will feature more than 30 bands on three stages Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. north of the fairgrounds. Most are local bands with Ethnic De Generation headlining the main stage joined by (Sic) Monic, Bloodline, Ashtaroth, Sacred Blood and others. Gallup metal band Drazil will headline the second stage with Séance, Signal 99, FearRED, and more. The third stage will feature Dark Divinity, Firewater and more.

The Fifth Annual Boot Scootin’ Country and Western Dances at the white tent east of Church’s Chicken will be held Thursday through Sunday. Ace’s Wild will be playing Thursday through Saturday, and Stateline will play Friday and Saturday. The dances on Thursday and Saturday start at 8 p.m. and the Friday dance begins at 9 p.m. The band Still Reserve is playing the $5 dance on Sunday from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.

As for Sugarland, tickets for the pop-country duo are $25 for adults and $20 for seniors/children, with the concert starting at 9:30 p.m. Friday at the Dean C. Jackson Memorial Arena.