The Smithsonian
This is the story of NOKA.Begoña, Andrea, and Cathy Petrissans are members of the group NOKA. They have recorded three albums and are currently working on their fourth. While their music is rooted in Basque tradition, going back hundreds of years, their sound is also influenced by the Basque American culture of California.
NOKA will performed throughout the 2016 Folklife Festival as part of both the Basque: Innovation by Culture and Sounds of California programs. On July 1, they headlined the evening concert on the Ralph Rinzler Concert Stage.
This audio essay was produced by Betto Arcos, and edited and mixed by Eric Pearse-Chavez. Arcos is a music journalist based in Los Angeles and a regular contributor to NPR and PRI-BBC’s The World. His weekly podcast, The Cosmic Barrio with Betto Arcos, features music from all over the world.
For more information on NOKA,
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NOKA singers Begoña Echeverria, Andrea Bidart, and Cathy Petrissans.
The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex. We are a community of learning and the opener of doors.
"At the annual Smithsonian FolkLife Festival, you can meet communities from around the world presenting music, dance, crafts, foodways, storytelling, and other living traditions. Our goal is to strengthen and preserve these cultures by presenting them on the National Mall in Washington, D.C."
For more information on The Smithsonian & its FolkLife Festival, click below.