Hawaii Tribune-Herald Theatrical concert by Martha Redbone takes audience on a journey of Cherokee heritage B rought to life through traditional Cherokee Indian chants and lullabies as well as bluegrass, gospel, jazz and rock ’n’ roll, musician Martha Redbone’s “Bone Hill — The Concert” is like nothing Big Island audiences have ever experienced before. Inspired by Redbone’s own life, “Bone Hill” is a musical tale of her family lineage in the Appalachian Mountains. It’s a story of her return to her homeland on Black Mountain and the coal mines of Harlan County, Ky., where her family has lived for centuries. Redbone, an award-winning voice for American roots music, invites audiences to share in an untold piece of American history. “Bone Hill — The Concert” was written by Redbone, her partner Aaron Whitby, and Roberta Uno, with music and lyrics by Redbone and Whitby. Redbone and a band of six other musicians have scheduled two Big Island performances: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at the University of Hawaii at Hilo Performing Arts Center and 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Kahilu Theatre in Waimea. “‘Bone Hill’ is a theatrical concert with dialogue and music,” explains Redbone. “We take you on a journey through storytelling and song. It’s a walk through my history in Kentucky and through four generations of Cherokee women. It’s about how our family has remained connected to the land despite all the things that have taken place to disrupt us and remove us.” Redbone says hers is a story of survival and preservation of heritage. “It’s about how we still manage to hold on to who we are and our tribe, our culture and our language,” she says. “In doing some of the research for this concert, I felt shocked at some of the documentation I found. It was so painful and absurd and unfair and unjust, that I felt like it was easier for me to put something that By KATIE YOUNG YAMANAKA Special to the Tribune-Herald See REDBONE Page 8
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