The Red Sky Drum Group is a traditional music and dance ensemble based in Towaoc, Colorado. Representing the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, the group performs at cultural gatherings, educational events, and community celebrations across the Southwest. Through drumming, song, and dance, they share and preserve the heritage of the Ute people.

We are honored to welcome the Red Sky Drum Group to Lake City for a special public performance on August 16, 2025. This event offers our community a rare opportunity to experience living Indigenous traditions firsthand.

Cultural Significance

Drumming and dancing are central to Ute cultural expression. Red Sky Drum Group upholds and shares traditional practices such as:

  • Snow Dances – Performed in winter to honor seasonal transitions and teach through movement and story.

  • Bear Dance – A spring ceremony rooted in renewal, strength, and community bonding.

  • Traditional Songs – Accompanied by handmade drums and rattles, these songs reflect spiritual and environmental connections.

Their work ensures these traditions remain alive and relevant.

About the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is one of three federally recognized Ute tribes and descends from the Weeminuche band. The tribe's reservation was established by the U.S. government in 1897, with its headquarters in Towaoc, Colorado. It encompasses over 550,000 acres in southwestern Colorado, as well as lands in New Mexico and Utah.

The Ute people are one of the oldest continuous residents of what is now Colorado, with a deep connection to the San Juan Mountains and Four Corners region. Traditionally hunter-gatherers and skilled horsemen, the Ute were known for their resourcefulness, spiritual traditions, and strong kinship networks.

Today, the tribe governs its own affairs, preserves its language and customs, and operates several enterprises, including the Ute Mountain Casino Hotel and tribal park tours. Cultural preservation remains a vital part of community life—supported in part by groups like the Red Sky Drum Group.

Support the Red Sky Drum Group

You can help bring the Red Sky Drum Group to our community by making a donation in support of their upcoming performance. Your contribution ensures we can honor and share Indigenous traditions through meaningful, in-person cultural exchange.

Your donation helps cover:

  • Travel expenses for the performers from Towaoc, Colorado

  • Lodging and meals during their stay in Lake City

  • A performance honorarium supporting the group’s ongoing cultural work

  • Event setup, publicity, and outreach to make the experience accessible to all

This performance is more than a concert—it’s a chance for our community to witness and learn from a living cultural tradition that has shaped this region for centuries. Your support helps us preserve and celebrate that connection.

To contribute, please donate below, mail a check, or visit us in person at Lake City Arts.
Our mailing address is:


P.O. Box 876

Lake City, CO 81235

We’re open Tuesday through Sunday from 12:00–4:00 PM.

Learn more about the Red Sky Drum Group, view photos from past performances, and get in touch by visiting their official Facebook page:
Red Sky Drum Group

Thank you for helping us honor and support this important cultural event.

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