Townsend, Tenn. – Native Americans are known and celebrated for their resourcefulness and craftsmanship, and this year the Renaissance of the North American Flute Foundation (RNAFF) is holding its second annual festival to celebrate the Native American Flute, just one of the musical instruments crafted and used by Native Americans. The festival will be held in Townsend June 5-8, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, and it will include exhibits and performances featuring 33 performers, including 12 new to the festival.
“The North American Flute Festival is a great way to celebrate and learn about the culture of the people who inhabited this area and keep the traditions of the area alive,” said Bryan Daniels, president/CEO of the Blount Partnership. “This type of cultural tourism showcases what makes our area unique, and locals as well as visitors can enjoy our heritage in a fun festival atmosphere.”
RNAFF is a nationwide non-profit organization that welcomes anyone with an interest in Native American flutes. More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the event, and there’s always room for more. Since its inaugural festival in 2013, RNAFF has added an extra day to accommodate the demand that was seen at last year’s event.
“Native American flute is a central part of many tribes’ culture and heritage and serves a vital role in the continued evolution of the tribes’ cultural vibrancy in the Great Smoky Mountains and nationwide,” said RNAFF board member and Knoxville resident Randy McGinnis, whose flute recordings have earned national honors. “People of all walks of life can attend our festival and learn about the indigenous cultures of our area and the music they created and lived by.”
This year’s festival will feature performances by R. Carlos Nakai, nominated for nine Grammy awards and Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame inductee, Randy McGinnis, winner of a Native American Music Award and nominated for a Grammy, and Cody Blackbird, youngest recipient for “Flutist of the Year” by the Native American Music Awards.
Spectators can come and enjoy the music each day during the festival and even participate in special workshops and presentations for an extra fee. Chairs will be provided for spectators but there will also be areas provided for blankets and cushions in the grass. Food will be available to purchase on site for festival attendees.
Admission to the festival is $65 for four days admittance to the festival and all evening performances, $20 for one day including that evening’s performances, and $15 for each night of evenings performances, which is discounted for GSMHC members to $10.
RNAFF’s intent is to respect and hold in high regard the experiential traditions that are and will continue to become the ongoing history of North America’s indigenous flute. RNAFF was originally envisioned in 1972 by R. Carlos Nakai and Ken Light at the Chant of the Wind Whistlers gathering in Grand Junction, Colo. The organization’s goal is to continually acknowledge all aspects regarding the Native American flute, including craftsmanship, performance and derivations that serve to reinforce the importance of the musical instrument in the cultural realm, both past and present. Please visit http://www.rnaff.org/ for more information.
For more information about Blount County, please contact the Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority at (800) 525.6834 or visit www.SmokyMountains.org. Follow the Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority at www.Facebook.com/PeacefulSide and Twitter.com/PeacefulSmokies.