Amuma Says No has been a staple of the Boise Basque music scene for almost 2 decades. Not only are they at every Basque event in Boise, but they travel the country spreading Basque sounds wherever they go. At Jaialdi 2025, you could find them on the stage in the middle of the Basque Block or in the Idaho Central Arena, one of the three acts including Neomak and Gatibu that rocked Saturday night.

• Amuma Says No grew out of the traditions of Basque dancing in Boise – more than one member was part of the Oinkari Basque Dancers and grew up with the sounds of people like Jimmy Jausoro and Domingo Ansotegui. They play a mix of traditional music centered around the trikitixa with more modern sounds including rock.
• The band has come to embody the Basque American spirit and has represented Basque culture throughout the country, traveling to various picnics and fiestas all across the American west. They even performed at the Kennedy Center and in 2010 at the Library of Congress.
• The current – and original – line up includes
  • Dan Ansotegui on accordion. Dan was an Oinkari and has been a part of the Boise Basque community for a while, owning in the past both Bar Gernika and The Basque Market and playing in Jimmy Jausoro’s band. He current also owns Ansots, a restaurant and caterer in Boise.
  • Jill Aldape, vocals. She has served as both President and head instructor of the Oinkari Basque Dancers.
  • Sean Aucutt, pandero, was also a dancer for the Oinkaris.
  • Micah Deffries, guitar (Dave Manion).
  • Rod Wray, bass (previously Erik Snodgrass).
  • Aaron Atkins, drums (previously Spencer Basterrechea Martin).
• The band was formed in 2006. Dan and Sean had met when they both had been teaching for Txantxan Gorriak, a musical group teaching Basque music to children. They knew Jill who was an instructor for the Oinkaris. Spencer, who has Basque roots, had just moved to Boise and wanted to play drums. He was directed to Dan, Sean, and Jill. They put together some songs for a December dance and the reception was so great that the rest is history.
• In 2011, the group accompanied the Oinkari dancers for a few performances in the Basque Country.
• Over the last few years, they have been in semi-retirement, but they came back out to perform at Jaialdi 2025.

A full list of all of Buber’s Basque Facts of the Week can be found in the Archive.

Primary sources: Amuma Says No, The Kennedy Center; Amuma Says No, Jaialdi; ‘Frontoitik kalera’: Basque-American band Amuma Says No hits the streets with its debut album, Euskalkultura.eus; Amuma Says No, Wikipedia.

Thanks to Annie Gavica for several corrections and clarifications to the original post!