By Daniel Frankston

For the past decade, reggae and world music aficionados have gathered together each year to partake in some of the finest music at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival.  This summer solstice musical celebration is unique in it’s ability to bring together a cornucopia of sounds that includes reggae’s ‘foundation’ singers along with up-and-coming roots artists and some of the best known reggae acts.  Add some of the finest world music and non-Jamaican reggae into the mix and you have a recipe for a perfect festival.  And the 11^th Annual Sierra Nevada World Music Festival is looking like it is going to be one of the best festivals ever. 

Taking place in Angels Camp from June 18-20, 2004, this year’s festival will include reggae legends such as Burning Spear, Israel Vibration, The Mighty Diamonds, Don Carlos, Ras Michael, Beres Hammond, Marcia Griffiths and Maxi Priest.  Accompanying these headliner acts will be classic ‘foundation’ artists such as Alton Ellis, Linval Thompson and Winston Jarrett that the people might otherwise never get to hear perform live. 

California is known for its love of modern roots music, and that genre of reggae will be well represented at the festival.  In addition to Latin-roots band Dubwize out of Santa Cruz and Southern California’s Elijah Emanuel and the Prophets, this year’s festival will include a slew of artists from the island of St. Croix.  The potency of the roots music emerging from this ’virgin’ island right now is very reminiscent of the Jamaican music scene in the early 70’s.  The highly acclaimed group Midnite, who will be making their third appearance at this festival, is certainly at the forefront of this movement.  St. Croix’s roots empress Dezarie will also be gracing the SNWMF massive with her incredibly penetrating voice and conscious lyrics, as will Afrikan Roots Lab recording artist Ikahba.  Sabbattical Ahdah will complete the St. Croix musical eruption with a performance in the dancehall on Saturday night. 

German based reggae/dancehall artist Gentleman, who has made a huge name for himself throughout Europe in recent years, will be making his very first appearance in the United States at this festival.   Other first-time appearances will include Basque separatist Fermin Muguruza and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, whose dynamic recordings and energetic performances have garnered a huge following in Japan.  Rounding out the ‘international’ reggae and dancehall artists is Mexico’s own El Gran Silencio.  Although these artists may have a small following in the United States, this writer is confident that virtually everyone will be impressed with the music they bring to SNWMF.  

With the highlife, jazz, funk, and traditional African rhythms of Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, the world beat sounds of Hamsa Lila and the urban hip hop-soul-afro Latin grooves of O-maya, the 11^th Annual Sierra Nevada World Music Festival has something to offer to all music lovers.  They also have a wide variety of children’s activities that include arts, crafts, storytelling and workshops that makes this festival most suitable for all family members.

Their web site states “The Sierra Nevada World Music Festival is dedicated to nurturing a world family peacefully united in celebration of the universal spirit of music.” For the past decade, SNWMF has more than lived up to this mantra, and this year will be no exception.  So grab all your friends, pack up your camping gear, dancing shoes and good vibes and head to Angels Camp for the experience of a lifetime.