World Music Artists Reunite in California For The 8th Annual Berkeley Music Festival On June 4th
Submitted by: PR Marketer
2011-06-01 15:58:36
Berkeley, CA (OPENPRESS) June 1, 2011 - Formed from the vision of gathering people from different perspectives to rock the world, the Annual Berkeley World Music Festival is set to gather a an amazing collection of musical geniuses on Saturday, June 4th, 2011. Now on its 8th year, the Berkeley World Music Festival started out as a block party. Currently, this artist-run community festival is constantly growing due to feedback, support, help and networking.
The 8th Annual Berkeley World Music Festival showcases a mix of mainly café performances in Telegraph Avenue cafes and shops, near UC campus, as well as the featured concert in People's Park from 1:00 to 6:00 PM, sponsored by Amoeba Music. The Festival Epicenter with information booth is on Telegraph Avenue at Haste Street.
Showcasing the Bay Area's vibrant world music scene, the yearly world music festival in California is quickly gaining avid participants. Freelance music writer and musician Tom Chandler, says: "I love the Berkeley World Music Festival! It's the perfect grass-roots event, done only as Berkeley can. My only problem is trying to decide what to see."
The 8th Annual Berkeley World Music Festival will have People's Park headliners Fito Reinoso y su Ritmo y Harmonia (Cuban Son, Rumba & Timba), Riffat Sultana & Sukhawat Ali Khan (Pakistani Qawwali Sufi) and Druid Sisters Tree Party leading an all-star line-up. It will also treat visitors to a world music tour at various Telegraph Avenue venues with featured lead performers renowned in their respective genres.
Performers at this year's festival include clarinetist and composer Beth Custer; Mali blues trailblazer Mamadou Sidibe; bamboo flute master Burhan Sukarma; Chilean singer Rafael Maniquez; Chinese Pipa virtuoso Jie Ma; and multi-instrumentalist Eliyahu Sills, along with their respective bands.
Authentic regional dance music is also the order of the day with the electrifying Forró Brazuca (Brazilian accordion powered music), San Francisco Balalaika; Ensemble (Russian Folk Music); Sadza Marimba (Zimbabwean Dance Music); and Belly Dance Bazaar (Middle Eastern Cabaret), and festival finale, The Helladelics (Greek Roots Music).
A Berkeley World Crafts Bazaar - to be set up as a village where artisans, music makers, Dreamtime circus performers and community intermingle - adds to the festivities, framing the People's Park Concert as well as the nearby 2400 block of Telegraph Avenue, between Dwight Way and Haste Street.
The After-Festival Party at Ashkenaz on a 9:30 pm show is not to be missed. With just $13 general and $10 students admission tickets, participants can enjoy performances from Baba Ken Okulolo's West African Highlife Band.
Festival sponsors are Amoeba Music, Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center, City of Berkeley, East Bay Express, KPFA, Oyé Productions, Pagan Alliance, SF Bay Guardian, Telegraph Business Improvement District, UC People's Park, UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, Wanda Picks, Whole Foods Market, and Telegraph area businesses.
Interested attendees and participants to the 8th Annual Berkeley World Music Festival may log on to http://www.berkeleyworldmusic.org for the renowned world music and crafts bazaar that brings together musicians from every nook and corner of the world.
