Pamyua brings Inuit soul to Polson

Pamyua brings their unique, infectious fusion of Inuit soul music to the Polson High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 for the next installment in the Mission Valley Live series.

The Alaska-based band mixes traditional Inuit songs with R&B, soul and gospel. The group combines traditional Yup’ik dancing, which is an ancient form of Inuit dance, with their music, says co-founder Philip Blanchett.

He and his brother, Qacung, founded the group in 1995, when they started singing a mix of music from their youth. Their mother is Yup’ik and their father, African American.

“We’re probably going to begin our show with a showcase of traditional dancing, so that the audience can get an idea of the context of the rest of the show, which is a real special, unique fusion of arrangements and musical styles,” says Phillip.

Audiences can expect “a traditional and contemporary experience of music from the North,” he says.

A recent reviewer at the LA Global Fest gave a glowing write-up, saying “the funky dance/drum tribal beat was infectious.”

The most famous Inuit band in Alaska, they’ve “toured around the world — including the far reaches of Siberia — singing and dancing their potent, joy-filled blend of ‘Inuit soul,’” wrote the LA Times.

Qacung says Pamyua (pronounced BUM-you-a) is more than a band – “it’s a calling.”

“(W)e’re making our music to save lives — to keep our culture alive.”

The six-member ensemble is just finishing a nine-week Arts Midwest World Fest Tour before coming to Montana.

“The community can really experience something that is culturally unique,” Phillip says of their show. “We offer a very interactive show and will be having a lot of fun with the audience. They are part of the entertainment, not just watching.”

There’s an educational component too. “They will be learning something unique to the Indigenous ways,” he says.

Tickets are available online at missionvalleylive.com or at the door.