“Pamyua is recalling the traditional songs and doing the old again by dancing in a new style of encore.”
—SAY Magazine

Pamyua is Alaska’s most famous Inuit band. Their performances honor and share Indigenous Inuit cultural traditions and stories of their heritage through music and ceremony passed down through generations. The group’s compelling performances blend traditional Inuit drum/dance melodies and songs of their ancestors with contemporary R&B and soul music, often referred to as “tribal funk” or “Inuit soul.”

Pamyua showcases Inuit culture internationally through their music and dance concerts, sharing their Indigenous knowledge and history. Their unique style and sound derive from combining traditional melodies with contemporary vocalizations and instrumentation, paired with traditional dances and the artful inclusion of symbolic, native masks.

Founded in 1995 by brothers Phillip and Stephen Blanchett, the group includes Ossie Kairaiuak and frequent guest members. The band is proud to represent Indigenous culture, and believes music and dance create unity. Together, each member masterfully interprets the Inuit traditions with joy and sincerity. The response to their message is tremendous and the group is a symbol of pride for Alaska’s Indigenous people and all who see them perform.

Pamyua was recently invited by the Library of Congress to provide a music video for the Library’s special Homegrown concert series for the Library’s American Folklife Center and permanent video archive. Their concert video and oral history of the group is now online and accessible for free to the public to view anytime.

Pamyua is also busy bringing the indigenous sounds of Alaska to television. They made two special appearances performing their original music live on ABC-TV’s recent hit series Alaska Daily, starring Oscar® winner Hilary Swank. They also scored original music and songs for multiple episodes of Nat Geo’s Emmy-winning docuseries Life Below Zero: First Alaskans, and Pamyua was asked by the BBC to provide more music for the popular show. The weekly series follows new Alaska Natives using the techniques and methods passed down through the generations, as they try to thrive and survive while living in the brutal Alaskan environments, with the challenges presented by today’s rapid climate change. For more information on Life Below Zero: First Alaskans, please visit the press site page. Pamyua also performed and co-wrote the theme to the popular PBS children’s show Molly of Denali and composed original music for Discovery Channel’s Flying Wild Alaska.

For all Millennium Stage performances, a limited number of advance reservations are available on a first come, first served basis. Advance reservations do not guarantee a seat, and patrons are encouraged to arrive early.

Online advance reservations for a given performance date will open on a rolling basis, opening every Wednesday two weeks out from the date.

For live Millennium Stage performances free tickets will also be available at the Hall of States Box Office on the day of the performance, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Seating is first come, first served. Standing room is available behind the seated area as space allows.