Red Ponie Band

Click for free tickets!Red Ponie - Native American Rocking Blues Band!

Guitar driven, with powerful vocals and rhythm - they bring an intense, almost spiritual energy to the stage. From their blues and rock covers to their originals, Red Ponie can transform any ordinary evening or event into a whole lot more.

Since its inception in 2003, Red Ponie has been privileged to appear with such legnds in Native music as Floyd Red Crow Westerman, Mitch Walking Elk, Jackie Bird, her father Gordon Bird and their family, Martha Redbone, Wade Gonzalez, John Trudell, Buggin Malone, Minnesota’s own Johnny Smith and 2-time NAMMY nominee Blue Dog.

Initially a "Community Band" Red Ponie has built a subtantial following in Minneapolis, Minnesota and beyond. Well known to the Minnesota Native Community through frequent appearances at the Wolves Den coffee shop (Miigwech Mike Forcia!) and the American Indian Center on Franklin Avenue (The AVE to locals) their appearances at the Native American International AA conventions for the past 3 years has spread the news of this band across the country. Their single Journey to the Spirit World/One Day At A Time - a Red Ponie remake of the well known Christy Lane song - has become an anthem for recovery in Native Circles across the country. They have received invitations to play from the Yakama in Washington State to upstate New York (but alas - no gas!) Red Ponie also regularly appeared on the Webcast AIM show, Wolf Spirit - broadcast live from Wolves Den, resulting in their CD, Live From The Wolves Den which sold well locally and is still available for sale.. Thier more recent effort URBAN REZ, was mixed and mastered by none other than Prince’s own Craig Anderson - check it out!

Red Ponie is:

Glennie Blacksmith, Rosebud/ Yankton Lakota from South Dakota! Now residing in Minneapolis, Glen has been refining his axe for over 40 years and has lost track of all the bands he has headed or played in. A 1990 Graduate in Advanced Guitar Playing at Music Tech School in Minneapolis (not that he needed it) Glennie lays it down with the best of them. Also owner/producer of the 24 track Blacksmith Recording studio in Minneapolis, MN

Ellsworth (Peanut) Ten Bear - Crow/ White Earth Ojibwe, hails from Crow Agency Montana. He began his musical career while still at Flandreau Boarding School in 1973. He credits his sobriety for bringing him back full circle to his music where he shines on hand drum, percussion and regular drums as well as writes songs. His Wounded Warrior is a reflection of his gratitude and honor for those traveling that painful road of addiction before us, blazing the path for the renewal of our communities. His dream is to continue carrying the message through music.

Bassist Don Yellow - Lower Brule’ Sioux -and Red Ponie’s newest member - was raised in a farming community outside of Standing Rock but now resides and works in Minnesota. Starting at 15, he found performing live music to be his inlet/outlet to being closer to his Native roots. Well versed in a variety of styles on guitar, playing bass has been a smooth transition for him and his skills at colloborating and laying down that phat line for the band are formidable. Right off, Don briought RED PONIE a whole new sense of direction and a leaner, more rugged sound. He says "I really enjoy reaching in and giving back - one of our gifts - Live Music!" We really look forward to continuing our collaboration and deepening our new friendships and the fruits they will bring

Samantha Winona Freeman (or Fry bread Diva!) is the Heinz 57 descendant of Medicine Bottle of the MN Wahpekute Dakota, eradicated from MN in 1863 (still seeking relies in WI & Santee NB) Born and raised in Minneapolis, MN she has been singing (and annoying her family) since she was 8. Although singing professionally in Mpls & St. Paul at 21, Sam took a long hiatus from music until 2003. After meeting up with Glen Blacksmith, former member Windy Downwind and Ellsworth Ten Bear at the historic Minneapolis American Indian Center, they convinced her to give singing and songwriting another try. Her Native Son - a powerful tribute to those incarcerated ones and the continued decimation of Indian Country by an overwrought and racist judicial system, touches everyone who hears it. She remains grateful for the expanding opportunities to give back to the community Red Ponie has given her.

"As a mixed blood, the blessing of being able to do this, create music for others and medicine for ourselves at the same time in Red Ponie - carry it to the communities and have it come back ten-fold - is the most amazing and humbling thing! Sharing the stage and traditions of all my musical and cultural heroes, it doesn’t get any better. Wopida, Chi - Miigwech to all our friends, families and fans!"

Well worth a listen, you can check out Red Ponie at their website or contact them at: Ellsworth Ten Bear 612-721-0319 or Samantha Freeman at 612-227-8654.