Epiphany Artists is proud to present the 23rd annual Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, which takes place June 17-19 at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds located in Boonville, California. This three-day music and camping extravaganza features some of the greatest names in world and reggae music as well as an extensive children’s program, fire dancers, a daily parade, stilters, hooping and music workshops. The festival village includes two music stages, a “Jamaican-style” late-night dancehall, a kids zone, international foods, arts & crafts and morning movement with Solstice Yoga.
This year’s lineup is now complete and single day tickets are now available as are three-day festival tickets and camping passes. The organizers have once again developed an impressive lineup of performers, many of which signify the true essence of cultural preservation, performing on stages around the globe as ambassadors for their craft.
The festivities kick off on Friday evening with the SNWMF debut of New Kingston on the Valley Stage, followed by California’s own Fortunate Youth. Next up will be Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, the octogenarian who will be returning to SNWMF for the first time in 15 years. Reggae legend Don Carlos will close out the Valley Stage music to be followed by some amazing fire dancers.
The Village stage will be thumping all night long with the Boonville debuts of Tuff Like Iron and Alaine. No-Maddz gave a very impressive performance at SNWMF last year and they will be returning to Anderson Valley yet again for 2016. The revolutionary Pablo Moses will bring down the curtain on the Village Stage Friday night. Meanwhile, things will be jamming in the Dancehall from 8:00pm until the wee hours of the morning, with Comanche High Power laying down some serious grooves for your listening pleasure. He will be followed by Jah Warrior Shelter Hi Fi along with Special Guests. Anderson Valley will be ‘feeling the bass’ with the return of the mighty Jah Shaka, who will close out Friday night’s music.
The Valley Stage has always featured roots reggae on Saturday, and this year’s roster will be a blockbuster. No-Maddz and Etana will get the day rocking, to be followed by the return of Kabaka Pyramid backed by the Bebble Rockers Band. Tanya Stephens will then bless the people of Boonville for the very first time prior to Richie Spice taking to the stage. Israel Vibration will get Saturday night started, before ‘The Voice of Jamaica’ – Beres Hammond makes his only California appearance this year at our 23rd annual summer solstice gathering. Saturday night’s capper will be the one and only Toots and The Maytals, who will be making thier very first festival appearance since Toots was injured nearly three years ago.
Saturday’s Village Stage will get started in the morning with Piracy Conspiracy out of San Diego, followed by the US debut of Italy’s own Mellow Mood. Asheba will perform in the afternoon, followed by World Music in the evening from the Bay Area’s Candelaria. Koradub, who hail from Chile, will be up next followed by the newly reborn Zulu Spear band. And the party band extraordinaire – Afrolicious will keep things hot on the Village Stage on Saturday night. More musical fire will be presented in the Dancehall from 8:00-2:30am as Comanche High Power, Ras Kush and Rorystonelove Black Dub lay down some wicked tracks all night long.
Sunday morning’s musical offerings on the Village Stage include the debuts of Lee Tafari and one of Jamaica’s up-and-coming roots bands – EarthKry. They will be followed by some great dancing music courtesy of Lost Coast Marimbas, before Italian musical selector Paolo Baldini DubFiles takes to the stage. Next up will be Sara Lugo, who hails from Germany. Latin ska is in popular demand, and festival goers will get their fair share of it when The Delirians close down the music under the redwoods.
Sunday on the Valley Stage will truly be an ‘international world -wide affair,’ taking you from Indonesia’s Ras Muhamad to Italy’s Mellow Mood. From there, you’ll journey to the barrios of Mexico for the Grammy Award winning sounds of La Santa Cecilia, before heading down to Brazil to hear the eloquent voice of Céu. Then it’s up to Florida for the ‘bad boys of reggae’ – Inner Circle, before heading to Canada for the SNWMF return of the sweet sounds of Leroy Sibbles. The Ivory Coast will be the final leg of this musical sojourn, as Alpha Blondy and Solar System close out the musical offerings for 2016.
With 2 stages along with a “Jamaican-style” Late-Night Dancehall, SNWMF is a great way to kick off your summer. Our festival is very “family-friendly” because we offer an extensive array of children’s activities. Draped with beautiful streaming colors and exotic aromas, the international festival village is an attractive marketplace of food and craft booths. Through the collective efforts of the staff, volunteers, artists, vendors and ticket buyers, each year the fairgrounds are transformed into a magical place filled with love, smiles and plenty of good vibes.
