TESTAMENT Vocalist Chuck Billy to Join Panel on Music’s Cultural Roots at RUMBLE: A Celebration of Native Music, Film and Culture on April 30

TESTAMENT Vocalist Chuck Billy to Join Stevie Salas, Pura Fe, Pat Vegas and Mike Inez in Panel on Music’s Cultural Roots at RUMBLE: A Celebration of Native Music, Film and Culture on April 30 

A True Kids 1 Weekend Celebration Unifying the Power of Art, Music and Culture in Media

TESTAMENT vocalist Chuck Billy joins a panel of musicians discussing the cultural roots of music at RUMBLE: A Celebration of Native Music, Film and Culture the weekend of April 30-May 2.

RUMBLE: A Celebration of Native Music, Film and Culture revolutionizes how the history of music is seen, as the roots of some of this country’s greatest music, including blues, jazz. folk, pop, rock, heavy metal, are examined.

“I am very proud that Native people are being recognized for their music and creativity,” Billy says. “I’m also proud to be representing my Pomo tribe from Northern California.”

This New Mexico-based, free nation-wide virtual event features a weekend-long streaming of Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World. From its inception at Sundance to its PBS and Theatrical Release, it has impacted millions through telling the profound, essential, and until now, missing chapter in the history of American music: The indigenous influence on our nation’s most legendary music makers. 

Attendees have an opportunity to meet the movers and shakers behind this story, from the filmmakers to leading performers in conversations as well as specially recorded performances.

Participants will have access to conversations with Chuck Billy, Executive Producer Stevie Salas, Pat Vegas (Redbone), Pura Fe, Mike Inez (Alice in Chains) and special guest Dr. Joely Proudfit.

Panel times are:

  • Friday, April 30 – 2 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT: Stevie Salas, Pat Vegas, Pura Fe, Mike Inez and Chuck Billy
  • Saturday, May 1 – 10 a.m./1 p.m. PDT: PJ Vegas, Kenneth Shirley, Jeneda (Sihasin) and special guest host Dr. Joely Proudfit

There will also be exclusive recorded performances by Native American musicians including PJ VegasArtsonKenneth ShirleySihasinRising AppalachiaPamyuaPo.10.CeeAnakaela Trujillo (winner of the 2020 Rising Star Award at the NM Hispano Music Awards) and the San Juan Elementary Dragons, whose music video is a finalist in the 2021 NM Music Awards. Performances will air beginning at 7:30 p.m. EDT/4:30 p.m. PDT.

Panels and performances will re-air over the weekend.

The list of voices heard throughout this revolutionary weekend are some of the world’s most iconic rock stars and influential musicians, including Buddy GuySteven Van ZandtTony BennettTaj MahalCyril NevilleIvan NevilleQuincy JonesJohn TrudellSteven Tyler, Taboo (The Black Eyed Peas), Pat Vegas (Redbone), Robbie RobertsonBuffy Sainte MarieIggy Pop, Wayne Kramer (MC5), Marky Ramone (The Ramones), Slash (Guns N’ Roses), Rhiannon Giddens (Carolina Chocolate Drops), Derek TrucksAlvin Youngblood HartJackson BrowneJoy Harjo, Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Pura Fe (Ulali), Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses), Robert Trujillo (Metallica), Link WrayJesse Ed DavisRandy Castillo and many others.

RUMBLE: A Celebration of Native Music, Film and Culture is presented by True Kids 1, a youth media education nonprofit organization based in northern New Mexico. The event will take place April 30 through May 2 from 10 a.m.-12 midnight EDT/7 a.m.-9 p.m. PDT, with Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World streaming all day.

The event will be covered by New Mexico students in partnership with PBS Student Reporting Labs. The event is provided by Adobe, OWC, Watchbeem, Regional Development Corporation, Rock and Roll Forever Foundation, National Science Foundation Pueblo Connect Project and the New Mexico Public Education Department.

For more information on RUMBLE: A Celebration of Native Music, Film and Culture and True Kids 1, contact Rosey Hayett at [email protected], (575) 779-4400.

TESTAMENT online:

True Kids 1 online: