Summer Solstice and World Peace Day combined to provide a most fitting backdrop for the theme of this years 10^th Annual Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, A Tribute to Roots Reggae held on June 20-22, 2003 in historic gold rush country's Angles Camp, California. Once again, the organizers of Sierra Nevada World Music Festival miraculously pulled together every possible aspect of conscious roots reggae music and gave fans an artist line up that included some of Jamaica's best and most loved Roots Reggae artist. Opening the festival on Friday, June 20^th was a brilliant performance on the main Valley Stage by Yami Bolo, Cocoa Tea and Capelton and his David House artists that included guest performer Bongo Herman and all backed by the Prophesy Band, one of the hottest bands in Jamaica. On Friday, the late night crowd was rocked throughout the night by the Stone Love sound system.

A rare and brilliant performance came from Clarendon, Jamaica's sweet and loveable Cocoa Tea (b. Calvin Scott) backed by the Prophesy Band. Cocoa Tea opened his show with a splendid selection of his songs including the Nyahbingi spiritual "Rastaman Chant" (Fly Away Home), the wicked "Time Will Tell" and "Rikers Island." Cocoa Tea made the ladies swoon on his songs "Love Me Truly" and after the song you could see that a lot of girls wanted his loving that night! Cocoa Tea gave the audience a beautiful sampling of many of his most treasured songs including "She Loves Me Now", "Live Some Life", "Never Gonna Let You Go" and the song that makes you long to pack up and go to sweet Jamaica, "Montego Bay." Riding the very familiar Dawn Penn riddim from "No, No, No" Cocoa Tea performed his new song just released, "This Can't Be Real." Hailing King Haile Selessie His Imperial Majesty, Cocoa Tea brought us straight home to Zion when he sang "Israel's King", "Holy Mount Zion", "Rivers of Babylon and "Stand Up Straight Ethiopians" and giving us the Teaching of His Majesty he mashed it up on Bob Marley's "One Drop." Last year many of us were disappointed at the announcement that Cocoa Tea would not perform as scheduled but this year's Sierra Nevada World Music Festival deserves thanks and praises for finally bringing this article Rastaman to the stage.

Cocoa Tea, Capleton & Bongo Herman

Closing the opening night show on Friday was Capelton and the Prophesy Band with Bongo Herman. Opening the show for Capelton was his David House artist and also a special performance by percussionist Bongo Herman who sang the wonderful R&B style songs "Let Him Try" and the Gregory Isaac's song, "Number One." Bongo Herman then established the spiritual fire with a Nyahbingi chant and fired up the crowd for the entrance of the real fire man, Capelton who erupted on stage singing "Jah Jah City" which quickly triggered a massive sing along. Capelton blazed into a wicked retrospective of his latest songs, "Mashing Up The Earth", "Whoa/New Way", "Cooyah Cooyah" (a tribute song to his mother and father), "Mi Deh Yah", "Punchline 2 Hit" and Capelton also dedicated the beautiful Rasta love song "In Your Eyes" to "mi ladies and mi babies" -- all tracks from his powerful 2002 CD release, Still Blazing on VP Records. Never releasing the ladies, the fireman kept the fire blazing with his lyrically alluring song, "Good In Her Cloths" and sent the audience into overdrive with his firehouse performance.

The band also backed the original Dread At The Controls, Mikey Dread, who delighted the crowd when he performed songs from his brilliant new CD release, Rasta In Control. Fully and the crew also backed other artists including Peter Rowan, Leroy Sibbles, Johnny Clarke and the great Daddy U Roy who opened his wonderful show with his masterpiece "Chalice In The Palace" and a classic performance of "Pass the Kutchie"/"FullUp"

Sibbles' original bass line for "Full Up" has and continues to be highly regarded and inspires many versions of the song. Sibbles was also instrumental in the foundation of other well know reggae riddims like "Declaration of Rights, "Love Me Forever" by Carlton (Manning) & The Shoes and "Queen of the Minstrel" by Cornell Campbell among many, many others. Leroy Sibbles opened his show with an abundance of brilliantly delivered songs including "We Got To Live Some Life", "You Need First Aid", "Only Sixteen", "Treat Me Right" and the bittersweet "RockSteady" (Why Did You Leave Me to Cry). Sibbles delivered a wicked bass line instrumental on the song "Full Up" and sang out, "I didn't know what I was doing when I made this one, I never knew this riddim woulda last this long." When Leroy Sibbles finished his performance of "Full Up" the crowd yelled out for more! Sibbles graciously answered the crowd saying he wanted to let Daddy U-Roy lick this one later! Leroy Sibbles not only gave the audience a wonderful show but a continual lesson on where riddims are born when he performed a wicked bass line on "Satta Massagana" stylized by the original Abyssinians. Sibbles also shined when he performed the song, "Dedicated To You" (Dance With Me) and the song "I Shall Be Released" popularized in the U.S. by Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Free." Leroy remarked that his next song was honored as one of the 100 best songs of the world and turned the page to perform the country-reggae flavored, "The Book of Rules." Never giving pause Sibbles mashed it up on "Rock With Me" and carried out a stunning reworking of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On". Closing his show Leroy Sibbles tickled the crowd when he sang his signature 1966 Heptone hit, "Fattie Fattie" singing, "I need a fat girl tonight, I'm in the mood, I need some food, I'm being rude." Leroy Sibbles gave a bittersweet farewell to the audience singing his touching parting words, "Good night people, pleasant dreams people, be good people and may your tomorrow be sunny and bright and bring you closer to Jah. Before I go there is just one thing I want you all to know…you keep this love for me and you never grow cold." Lerory Sibbles was truly one of the highlights of the festival ¾ a wonderful performance by a consummate entertainer.

Johnny Clarke showcased so many of his extraordinary classics it was truly a mind blowing musical experience. Sending out respect to the ladies in the house, Johnny performed the lovers rock song, "Take My Hand" (I'm a stranger but I love you). He also performed the songs "Move Out of Babylon" and was brought back on stage for an encore to sing "Left With A Broken Heart."

Pablo Moses

Sister Carol

Saturday, June 21 also included excellent roots performances by Pablo Moses and Sister Carol who performed her rastalivity songs "Reggae Arena", "Womb-man" and "Rasta Girl" and Mother Culture also sang "Wild Thing" from the Johnathan Demme film of the same name. Sister Carol who was remarkably the only female headline performer at this year's show held high her regal position and performed songs from her upcoming CD release, Empressive. Both Sister Carol and Pablo Moses were deftly backed by Seattle, Washington's Revolutionary Dream Band.

After an article performance by The Wailers the late night crowd partied on with dancehall excitement brought by sound systems Mighty Crown and Stur-Gay HiFi with Brigadier Jerry.

Della's performance beautifully ushered in the Twinkle Brothers Ralston and Norman Grant who gave the audience a show that left them breathless when they sang, "Leave Out of Babylon" which included a wicked dubwize instrumental Twinkle style. The Twinkle Brothers always display an incredible wealth of talent evident to all at this year's festival, especially when they performed their songs "When I Throw The Comb Away", "Jahovah" and "Never Get Burn." The Twinkle Brothers took us all to Skaville when they gave us a dance lesson on their 1962 riddim "Somebody Please Help Me" and smoothly sailed us back to 1950 for the song, "Give Rasta Praise." This year's crowd was fortunate to also get to hear the Twinkle Brothers perform songs for the first time from their brand new album, Will This World Survive on the Twinkle Music Label.

Big Mountain

Also garnering thanks and praises on Sunday, June 22 was a wicked performance by Big Mountain who sang the charming "Baby I Love Your Way" which was recorded for the soundtrack for the film Reality Bites. Big Mountain also enchanted the audience when they performed songs from their current album release, New Day.

Absolutely no one can say that the smaller Village Stage was not jumping with roots reggae on Sunday, June 22 when the stimulating and intellectual St. Croix group Midnite brought a fantastic close to this year's show as they performed songs from their latest CD release, Cipheraw along with gathering praises for performance of songs from their previous first class releases, Unpolished and Seek Knowledge Before Vengeance.

Midnite's Vaughn & Ron Benjamin

Likewise, the new prophet among us was personified in the youthful and comely performance of Warrior King who chants, "never go in the wrong congregation 'cause Rastafari burn pagan…never go where pagans go, never do what the heathens do 'cause Rastafari give I the guidance." The awesome Detour Posse backed Warrior King and started the set with their songs, "Glory Hallelujah" and "Chariots In The Sky". Warrior King truly mashed up the scene and definitely warmed up the crowd who prepared to see Midnite. Warrior King sent chills down my spine when he performed his songs, "Never Go Where Pagans Go", "Breath of Fresh Air", "Jah Is Always There", "Power to Chang", "Africa Shall Be Free" "It's Been A While" and "Rough Road."

Give Thanks to Warren Smith and Gretchen Franz of San Rafael's Epiphany Artists for making this year's festival possible. I would also like to send a Big Up and Give Thanks to all the singers and players of instruments that I may not have mentioned (you know who you are) and all the wonderful staff, volunteers, vendors and irie fans who continue to support and help make Sierra Nevada World Music Festival the best reggae music festival in the world!