Gareth Laffely
Gareth Laffely, 17-year-old NAMMY Rising Star Award recipient and NAMMY and ISMA multi-award nominated Native American flutist, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer from Nashville, will be featured in concert at the first annual Native Sounds Native American music and cultural Festival to be held at Raccoon Mountain Caverns on Oct. 3.
Native Sounds is an annual Native American Music and Cultural Festival working directly under Native American Services and its purpose is dedicated to raising the necessary funds to erect the Cherokee Heritage and Cultural Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary. Native American Services has been granted a parcel of land in which to develop the museum and sanctuary. It is the organizations ongoing mission to educate people about the Native American culture.
Gareth Laffely will be headlining the event and takes the stage at 6 p.m.
Review for Gareth Laffely:
Gareth has a revolutionary style that combines rock, pop, and world music. He is of Mi'kmaq/Cree descent and from Gallatin, Tenn. Gareth will be performing songs from his award winning CD, "The Journey" and from his newly released CD, "Sky Before a Storm," which features an instrumental duet with GRAMMY Award winning Laura Sullivan on "Regen's Song," a song dedicated to a 12-year-old Regen Morris from Sevierville who lost his battle with cancer on Christmas day 2013. The title track of "The Journey" was written to honor those who lost their lives on the Trail of Tears.
Gareth was invited to perform at the Tennessee House of Representatives for the history making, Resolution of Regret, issued by the State of Tennessee in 2014 to all Native Americans for the states involvement with the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the forced removal known as the Trail of Tears.
Other performers at the event include: John Sarantos, Daniel Bigay, Jack Holland, Jamie Russell, and Gaby Nagel along with Native American dancing and drumming. There will also be arts and crafts, renowned flute makers, food, exhibits and more.
Festival hours are from 10 a.m. until dusk.
Admission is $10 for adults, $8 seniors (over 65), children 12 and under are free. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.