Cactus Rose NYC

about

CACTUS ROSE NYC is a native americana trio featuring indigenous singer/songwriter/activist/model KANDIA CRAZY HORSE (Pamunkey & African descent), indigenous guitarist LONNIE HARRINGTON (Seminole/Shawnee/Choctaw/Cherokee/black) & guitarist NICO ZACA. Since the release of her critically acclaimed debut Stampede, Kandia has graced stages with Cactus Rose NYC including performing at the Brooklyn Americana Music festival, the Another Country festival, the Grand Ole Echo @ SXSW, Make Music New York, Porch Stomp 2025 & 2026, and beyond. Kandia has organized and performed at benefits for Indian Country including the “Sacred Water Medicine Show” she curated at Decolonize This Place (Artists Space) in Manhattan and a “Benefit Concert For Water Protectors at Standing Rock” at Brooklyn, NY’s Jalopy Theatre. Influenced by Buffalo Springfield and indigenous artists Richie Havens, Gene Clark, Cherokee folk singer Karen Dalton, Kiowa Apache Mary McCaslin/Mary Noel Singing Bear, and Buddy Red Bow, Cactus Rose NYC’s music focuses on experiences of urban natives and the breadth of Indian Country. Kandia’s songs also mine her unique experiences growing up between various countries in Africa and Attan-Akamik (Washington DC & Virginia) to forge her compelling style of Americana that draws on southeastern indigenous elements, Appalachian folk, and Laurel Canyon sounds. In December 2023, Kandia received the Color Me Country grant from Newport Festivals Foundation. In March 2026, Cactus Rose NYC performed at FWAAMFest in Fort Worth, Texas. Kandia is also a voting member for the annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees and the Americana Music Association Honours. As of September 2025, she serves on the Board of Directors of Indigenous In Music & Arts headquartered in Florida. She made her modeling debut at the inaugural Indigenous New York Fashion Week in Manhattan founded by Relative Arts NYC. Kandia now serves as a model represented by the US's largest indigenous casting agency Bear Robe & the International Indigenous Fashion Council-Model Sector. Cactus Rose NYC’s music has been in rotation on indigenous radio programs including Indigenous In Music With Larry K, NativeRadio.com’s Stream 6 (Contemporary native American music), Moccasin Tracks, Decolonize Your Playlist w/ Josh L on Uncertain.FM & Tunes From Turtle Island (Europe). And Kandia has appeared on Rissi Palmer’s Color Me Country show on Apple Radio, PlayMyMusic podcast, Country Soul Songbook Summit, Jack Dappa Blues Radio, LIFT OFF w/ Veronica Cross podcast, & gotten coverage from Rolling Out, SAY magazine, Rolling Stone, Canvas Rebel, Wall Street Journal, No Fences Review & Rockcritics.com. Kandia Crazy Horse solo or Cactus Rose NYC has shared stages with myriad artists including Dan Zanes, Morgan O’Kane, Jake Blount, Sunny War, Olivia Ellen Lloyd, Alex Battles, Paisley Fields, Emily Johnson-Erday, Matt Basile, Hurray For the Riff Raff, Stephanie Marie Hall, Ebony Hillbillies, and opened some dates through the Northeast of Valerie June’s “Owls Omens & Oracles” Tour in May 2025 starting at Town Hall in Manhattan. Praised for their fluency with varied Americana and cosmic country traditions, Cactus Rose NYC’s music unifies the ancient with indigenous futures.