The high pitched chant and the sound of the drum filled the arena, as tribes from California slowly filled the sacred circle (a space that had been blessed) in reverence to the Great Creator. Each dancer carries stories, woven into symbols and colours on their distinctive regalia (Native costume) and for some, as they dance, each individual dance step is offered up as a prayer. Read More
It was an honour to be invited to a gathering of tribes on the Santa Ynez Chumash reservation. A people group that numbered tens of thousands along the islands and coastline of Santa Barbara yet are now down to the last couple of hundred. Sadly, through missions and the European settlement, the Chumash started to speak Spanish and even took Spanish names trying to hide their Indian identity. The last fluent Samala speaker died in 1965. Read More
As the early morning mist hovered over the fields like a soft blanket, I walked uphill towards the prayer tower on Gottesacker (God’s acre). Gravestones etched with the marks of time loomed eerily out of the haze and I pondered on the stories that they held. Read More
A wonderful afternoon at Barona reservations 7th annual Gathering listening to traditional bird singing and watching the dancers. Unlike many other tribes, where the drum is the instrument of choice, a gourd or tortoise-shell rattle filled with native palm seeds accompanies the Kumeyaay bird songs. Read More
Enjoying the amazing city of Geneva where you can hear most of the world’s language’s as you walk down the streets. I played at a wonderful gathering of the nations. 12 hours of musical expression, praying for the country and it’s people. This is the city where many organisations have their headquarters, including the UN, International Red Cross and World Health Organization’s. I was amazed to go to the church where the International Red Cross was started – a vision in 1863 that now has around 97 million volunteers! WOW! This weekend is the 200th year celebrations of Geneva joining the Swiss Confederation.
Just got sent a video of a track I worked on in 2009 in the UK with my friend Dave Bankhead. He had produced the backing track and they have now recorded a vocal arrangement out in Rwanda.
Read my report of travels in Rwanda, July 2000 here. ♥
A bit of a road trip on the way back to San Diego from Monterey down the Pacific coast highway. We had been invited to play in Monterey with some musicians we had met just a couple of weekends ago. Not only did we play some wonderful music but we stayed in amazing log cabins, shared a fantastic meal and enjoyed wonderful conversation and laughter. If that wasn’t enough we then had a wonderful couple of days, wandering southwards, enjoying the amazing rocky coastline. A very thankful boy!
Pictures …….. Read More
Today, I had the unexpected honour to play with Lew Silver, a Chumash Indian. Lew played Native flute, Michael played traditional First Nations drum whilst I accompanied them with my Irish bodhran. Read More
This weekend I heard a story about how whilst driving in a Hopi reservation, a wrong turn was taken and a group of people found themselves in a cul-de-sac. As they turned around to retrace their tracks they noticed what seemed like eagle sculptures on each of the 5 house roofs. On closer examination, they were astounded to see that they were in fact live Golden eagles! Apparently the Hopi people in years past used to bind their prayers to their feet, a bird that flies higher than any other, in order that they would carry their prayers closer to God. They would risk climbing cliffs and the attacks of the mother birds in order to catch chicks, which they would then raise and train for this special tradition.
We are very honoured to have been invited to be part of a gathering of First Nations people this weekend at Morongo and Soboba Indian reservations.
Pictures ….. Read More
Great to be with Paul and Yam in Bangkok. We have had a wonderful few days hanging out and hearing each others stories. We also got to help on a couple of new tracks that they were recording – one which was just drums and voice. Yam enjoys using both traditional and modern styles of singing on her recordings. Her desire is to encourage the Thai church to write their own original Thai worship music.
Stones of Remembrance (Hawaii) CD
Original price was: £7.00.£5.00Current price is: £5.00.
Fragile Warriors (New Zealand)
£15.00
Carry Me On (Hawaii) CD - Exciting news - Remastered version available NOW
£10.00
Garlands for Ashes (Cambodia) CD & DVD - 100% sales to Cambodia
£15.00
Spirit of Four Directions (Native American) CD
£5.00
These Things of Love (Hawaii) CD
Original price was: £12.00.£7.00Current price is: £7.00.
Wake Up Sleeping Giant (Stó:Lō Nation)
£10.00
Voices from the Nations is a registered UK Charity. Charity No. 1127420
Terms & Conditions / Privacy & Cookie Policy
© 2026 Voices from the Nations.
