The diverse lineup is nearly complete for the 14th annual Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (SNWMF) taking place June 22,23, and 24th, 2007 at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds, located thirty minutes west of Ukiah in Boonville, California.

This yearly summer solstice celebration creates a veritable global village where people come to a beautiful setting to enjoy a diverse lineup of new and legendary artists from around the world. This world-class festival features three days of music performed on two stages, convenient camping, kid-friendly activities and an eclectic group of ethnic food and craft vendors in the Festival Village.

As festival organizer and founder Warren Smith notes, “There are so many great artists, bands and DJ’s in World and Reggae and this provides us a wonderful foundation to work with as we create the lineup each year.

Our intention is to invite performers and recording artists from both the past and present-some of whom make their first-ever Western U.S. appearances here.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2007 lineup features Toots & The Maytals and Carlinhos Brown. Maytals leader Toots Hibbert is credited with coining the term "reggae" with his hit single "Do The Reggay" back in 1968 and maintains a rigorous tour schedule, including a recent appearance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Percussionist and vocalist Carlinhos Brown is a household name in his native Brazil performing his signature Afro-Bahian sound that has led to numerous hits on the charts.

Coming from Europe are Ojos de Brujo an eight-piece band from Barcelona whose music is centered in Flamenco with elements of hip-hop, and pop and Les Nubians, the African-French sister duo, whose neo-soul genre crossing led to a chart-topping album "Princesses Nubiennes" in 1999.

Adding to the world music roster are Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars who have been in the spotlight with appearances on CNN and Oprah after a documentary featuring their story as refugees from civil war was released. Their CD release "Living Like A Refugee" received the honor of being named one of Amazon.com's top picks for 2006. Markus James joins the SNWMF lineup performing Blues with Malian musicians whose ancient guitar ideas and traditional African instruments are the precursor to the Blues sound as it is today.
The centerpiece of the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival each year is reggae in all of its varied forms and this year's lineup is no different.

Three-time Grammy Award winner Bunny Wailer makes his first-ever appearance at SNWMF. As a founding member (along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh) of The Wailers, Jah B as he is affectionately known helped expose reggae to the entire world. His debut solo album Blackheart Man is among a small handful of reggae albums that personify the essence of roots reggae.

 

 

 

 

 

For over thirty years, Barrington Levy has thrilled crowds with his immaculate voice and intricate scat delivery. This year SNWMF welcomes this artist whose songs such as “Black Roses”, “Under Mi Sensi” and “Murderer” are staples in reggae music and have led Levy to stages around the globe. He will be backed by Los Angeles-based Detour band who will accompany additional artists throughout the weekend as is customary in reggae music. Vocalist Luciano -"The Messenger" of conscious reggae returns to SNWMF for his second appearance .

Clinton Fearon, original member of The Gladiators. Earl Zero, whose song "None Shall Escape the Judgment." remains a '70's reggae mainstay, will perform his own brand of classic reggae that is essential to the festival's distinctive lineup.

The traditions of the drumming and dancing are consistent elements of the SNWMF lineup each year. This year, the group Kusun Ensemble who hail from Ghana, West Africa will perform a new brand of music and dance they have dubbed "Nokoko." Santa-Cruz, California's own group SambaDa will bring its own brand of Afro-Brazilian/ funk flavor to the festival. The Bay Area’s own LoCura will perform what they call “reggaelicious flamenkito” adding another dimension the world/dance theme. The Sierra Nevada World Music Festival has blazed the trail as a presenter in support of reggae music from outside of Jamaica and in particular, music from other parts of the Caribbean. This year the Virgin Islands-based record label I Grade Records presents a showcase of artists including NiyoRah, Abja and Yahadanai. From Mexico come Rastrillos, a band of 15-year veterans on the reggae scene whose unique style Jazz-influenced guitar and horn lines, rapping, and Indian sitar. Hailing from Trinidad is Wadi Gad, who performs the dual roles as drummer/ band leader for the SNWMF house band Jahbandis, as well as that of a solo artist. Wadi will take the front of the stage to deliver his deep roots message to the massive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearing on the 2007 festival lineup as part of the next generation of reggae artists are: Jamaica's Queen Ifrica, Chezidek, and Mark Wonder, and Elijah Emanuel and Malika Madremana both of whom have Puerto Rican heritage and hail from California.

Working the controls in the late-night dancehall held inside a fairgrounds' exhibition hall is the Virgin Islands' self-described "vinyl musician" Aba Shaka. He will be joined by the legendary Stone Love Movement Jamaican sound system who are a mainstay in the SNWMF dancehall. Coming to the turntables with three decades of experience is New York's Downbeat The Ruler sound system who maintain one of the world's most extensive collections of specialty "dub plate" versions of reggae songs.

Three-day tickets are on sale now for $125.00 by mail order, at independent ticket outlets, Ticketmaster.com, and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Single-day tickets, priced at $60 are also available. For event gate times, camping reservations, mail order information and a list of independent ticket outlets please visit: www.snwmf.com for more information.