Issential Knowledge

Greetings, what a gwaan!?This is the point in the year that California Reggae fans start getting antsy because we wait patiently for the lineups of our Summer Reggae festivals.  I’m especially excited for this year’s Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (SNWMF) after my first experience at the festival last year.  As many of you know I have been going to Reggae on the River (Reggae Rising) for18 of my 23 years and have witnessed it transform into the biggest Reggae festival in the world.  Though I am eternally grateful for Reggae Rising, it is safe to say that it has sacrificed a certain level of “Irieness” to exist in its current form.  There was the bitter legal dispute with Reggae on the River, the constant price hikes changing the makeup of the attendees, and the infusion of rave music into the after hours scene.  This is much different from the Roots Reggae and naked hippies that I remember from my youth. This has forced many Reggae purists to search elsewhere for the true Roots experience.  Sierra Nevada World Music Festival has come to the rescue.Located at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in the beautiful Anderson Valley, this festival has vowed to fill the Nyabinghi void.  With tons of arts, crafts, food and kids activities, as well as two stages there is never a dull moment at SNWMF.  Your first clue that you are at the right Reggae concert is when you see the elder Rasta community mixed with the expected college crowd.  They are there for the music.  SNWMF knows what their fans want with lineups cemented by legends of Reggae.  2009 is no exception.  The preliminary lineup for this year includes Fema Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Michael Rose, Zap Mama, The Abyssinians, Michigan and Smiley, and Anthony B.  There will be at least another dozen artists added before the party kicks off in June but I would say that that lineup alone is worth jumping on the special early bird tickets.  Check out the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival web site for more information and I hope to see you there.***Recent Additions include the legendary Gregory Isaacs, The Itals, The Easy Star All-Stars, and Tarrus Riley.Jah Bless – One LovellCheck Some Videos from past years at SNWMF