HONKY TONK DANCE WITH AGALISIGA MACKEY & A FULL COUNTRY BAND
Agalisiga “The Chuj” Mackey, a 21-year-old Cherokee singer-songwriter from the small traditional community of Kenwood, Oklahoma, brings a distinctive blend of classic country and blues to Glen Echo Park for a Honky Tonk Dance. Mackey’s deep baritone voice, shaped by his upbringing in Cherokee ceremonial singing, pairs with his guitar work to produce music that sounds like it was written in the 1970s yet is sung in the Cherokee language. After starting out covering vintage tunes down by the creek, he now performs on major stages across the Midwest, winning over both country western fans and Native American audiences with his authentic folk presence. Offstage, Mackey serves as a language and culture educator at the Cherokee Immersion Charter School, teaching ceremonial and contemporary Cherokee music to children from Pre-K through 8th grade. For this event, he is joined by a full country band consisting of Bryan McDowell on fiddle, Ahren Buchheister on steel guitar, Alex Lacquement on bass, and Chuck Navyac on drums. The evening kicks off with a free beginner two-step lesson led by Alex Lacquement of Baltimore Honky Tonk, followed by live dancing with the band.
When: Friday, August 21, 2026, with doors opening at 7:00 PM and the event running until 10:30 PM.
Showtimes: A free beginner two-step lesson takes place from 7:30 PM to 8:00 PM, followed by dancing with the band from 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM.
Tickets: Discounted advance tickets are $22, available online only, with sales ending at 11:59 PM on Thursday, August 20. Same-day tickets are $27, available online or at the door (cash, check, or credit card). A Dual Dance Ticket ($40) covers both this event and the Honky Tonk Dance with Karen Collins & the Backroads Band on July 17, 2026; advance dual tickets are online only with sales ending at 11:59 PM on Thursday, July 16. A Same-Day Dual Dance Ticket ($45) is available online (sales end at 6:00 PM on Friday, August 21) or at the check-in table. All sales are final.
Lineup: Agalisiga “The Chuj” Mackey (vocals, guitar) with Bryan McDowell (fiddle), Ahren Buchheister (steel guitar), Alex Lacquement (bass), and Chuck Navyac (drums). The free beginner two-step lesson is led by Alex Lacquement.
Run time: The lesson runs 30 minutes, and the dance portion lasts two and a half hours (total event time 3 hours).
Ages: No age restriction is stated; the event is open to the public and family-friendly, though typical dance events at Glen Echo Park welcome all ages.
Venue: Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD 20812.
Note: No partner or prior experience is required. Free parking is available, and the park is accessible by public transportation. Food and drink are available for purchase. The venue is climate-controlled.