Amplify Alaska is a conversation and event series. We spotlight Alaskan musicians who are passionate about their community, and raise funds for causes that improve the quality of life for Alaskans.

Find out more about Amplify Alaska

May 24 Update: Thank you to everyone who came out in person and online to support Áak'w Rock, the US's only Indigenous music festival! The event was a blast, and we raised over $5,000, as you can see!

If you missed the event itself, or just want to re-experience the five incredible acts we had, you can view a recording of the livestream above, and on our YouTube page.

And if you'd still like to make a donation, by all means, go ahead! Donations are still open! And THANK YOU!

The Event
5pm, May 20th @ The Crystal Saloon in Juneau & livestreamed right here!

This season of Amplify Alaska's video podcasts culminates in a live event:

The Event highlights the artists who have featured in our podcasts during the 2023 season. (Scroll down to learn more!) These artists are making spectacular art and doing good in their communities.

At this moment we are coming together to support Áak'w Rock (which will take place in Juneau, Alaska, on September 21-23, 2023) - the only Indigenous music festival in the country!

We believe great music should be accessible to everybody, so The Event is hybrid. You can get both your virtual and affordable in person tickets HERE!

💃 ATTENDING IN PERSON

The Event is at The Crystal Saloon in Juneau (218 Front St. Juneau, Alaska 99801), starting at 5pm on May 20th.

In-person Tickets start at $10. Our different ticket prices allow you to pay what you can while raising money for Áak'w Rock, the only Indigenous music festival in the country! Please consider making an additional donation when you check out!

🚪Doors open at 4pm!

👨‍💻 ATTENDING ONLINE

Online tickets are FREE!

We'll livestream The Event to this page. Bookmark this page and come back at 5pm on May 20th!

Again: Please consider making a donation when you check out. (This is a fundraiser, after all!)

The Cause - Áak'w Rock

Derek Haukaas and Jesse Hughey perform at Áak'w Rock Side Stage 2022 (photo via @aakw.rock on Instagram).

WHAT IS ÁAK’W ROCK?

Shift your perspective of what you think Indigenous music sounds like, and be immersed in a soundscape of Indigenous dreams, connection, and visions for our future. This is the essence and core of Áak’w Rock. It’s a three-day Indigenous music festival, held biennially on the ancestral homelands of the Lingít (People of the Tides) of the Áakʼw Ḵwáan (People of the Little Lake). Áakʼw Ḵwáan Aaní (land) is also known as Juneau-Douglas, Alaska.

Áak’w Rock is presented by Tlingit & Haida Tribal Government and Juneau Arts & Humanities Council. It is the only Indigenous music festival in the States, and it showcases Indigenous music from around the world. The festival provides reciprocity and protocol with the intention of honoring cultural existence, all the while rocking the stage.

Our space honors Indigenous creative expression and uplifts artistic practice. Genres are limitless and range from, soul, rap, country, hip-hop, classical, and anything under the sun. The music is rooted in ancestral understanding, knowledge, respect, and values while breaking bearers and boxes of what it means to be an Indigenous artist and storyteller.

Attending and supporting Áak’w Rock, together we create opportunities to overcome the historical under-representation of Indigenous performance. We are changing that narrative for our future by amplifying Indigenous excellence and voices to be heard for generations to come.

Links

The Artists:

Almost all of the extremely talented artists we've interviewed this season on our podcast will be performing. Get to know them and how they're working to support the community before the Event by catching up on our podcast on YouTube or listen here! (Or, find them in the campaign updates on the right hand side of this page.)

[photo by Tina Marie Photography, tinamariephoto.com]

ANDREA ANTOINE of BBAAD PRODUCTIONS is the premiere promoter of all types of entertainment and urban events in Alaska and beyond. In our first episode, where Andrea is featured alongside singer Trinity Colvin, we talked about the challenges of finding accessible venues in Anchorage that allow R&B and Hip Hop music. BBAAD Productions will be represented at our event by Finnestor.

▶️ Watch Andrea and Trinity's episode on YouTube.

🎧 Listen to their episode on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[photo by Bryan Leiser at Shoe String Studios]

FINESSTOR was born and raised in a small provincial town called San Manuel, Philippines. He moved to Alaska in 2013 with his family and graduated from Dimond High School in 2018. Both Finesstor's parents are pastors, which gave him a background in gospel and spiritual music, along with OPM (Original Pinoy/Filipino music) and R&B, which is an influence from both his brother and cousins from the city. He's currently a working student attending UAA as a music major with an emphasis in voice, and an aspiring local artist in Anchorage. Finesstor recently performed at R&B Live on April 22 at the Williwaw Social hosted by BBAAD Productions. Find out what he's up to by checking out his Instagram: @finesstor.

[photo via qacung.com]

STEPHEN QACUNG BLANCHETT is a performing artist, a culture-bearer, and an art and culture educator whose Indigenous and black roots guide his leadership and artistic vision. He is a founding member of Pamyua, and is the the Cultural Heritage & Education Manager for Central Council Tlingit & Haida. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Advancing Indigenous Performance program of the Western Arts Alliance, as well as of the Alaska Humanities Forum. Follow him on Instagram or see what he's up to by visiting his website.

▶️ Watch Qacung's episode on YouTube.

🎧 Listen to his episode on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[photo via Witty's Facebook]

WITTY YOUNGMAN has been performing since 2012. They are a descendant of King Island Inupiat and an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Dakota tribe. Fourth born of ten rascal kids, Witty is the only musician and performer in their generation. Find them on their website, or on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Bandcamp.

▶️ Watch Witty's episode on YouTube.

🎧 Listen to their episode on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[photo by Grace Virginia Kari]

MARIAN CALL is a singer-songwriter who makes her home in Juneau, Alaska. She has released 11 albums since 2007, and her concerts have been well-received on years of tours in all fifty United States, Canada, Europe, and the UK. She composes and performs in all genres, from choral music to bluegrass to jazz to punk rock. Her most recent EP, Swears!, is available now on Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes, and wherever you enjoy streaming music. You can check out more of her music and what she's been up to on her website and on Bandcamp.

▶️ Watch Marian's episode on YouTube.

🎧 Listen to her episode on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[photo by Sydney Akagi]

ANNIE BARTHOLOMEW plays a dark, bawdy Blues inspired by the long nights and manic spirit of life in the far north. Drawing inspiration from the great blues singers of the 1920s, her smoky voice and sassy arrangements walk the line of American folk tradition. Her debut album, Sisters of White Chapel, comes out on June 16th. Find out more by checking out her website, or following her on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

▶️ Watch Annie's episode on YouTube.

🎧 Listen to her episode on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[photo by Sydney Akagi]

TAYLOR VIDIC was born and raised in Juneau. She grew up singing and throwing parties. As some form of an adult, she has found a way to fuse her two favorite activities, bringing humor, beauty, and heartbreak to the stages of Alaska and beyond. Both as a singer-songwriter and producer, she strives to blend the line between the audience and the performer through honest, raw performances, telling stories you’ve not only heard before, but maybe lived yourself. Check out what she's doing by visiting her website, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

▶️ Watch Taylor's episode on YouTube.

🎧 Listen to her episode on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Huge thanks to our sponsors who make what we do possible: GCI, the Atwood Foundation, Northern Culture Exchange and Frostline Studios.

Amplify Alaska in Juneau - Fundraising for Áak'w Rock

By Amplify Alaska

Amplify Alaska in Juneau - Fundraising for Áak'w Rock

May 20th, 5:00pm @ The Crystal Saloon in Juneau, AK - OR Join us here for the livestream!