Bay Area’s finest artists offer a dazzling range of continuous music Noon – 9 P.M. in Telegraph Avenue cafes and shops, near UC campus, as well as the People’s Park concert (1 to 6 P.M.). Schedules and maps will be available at the information center at Telegraph Avenue and Haste Street.
The annual Festival, now in its 9th year, showcases the Bay Area’s rich world music scene. Six-time Grammy nominee Maria Muldaur and Bay Area’s premier Cuban bandleader, Fito Reinoso, headline at the People’s Park dance party. Maria Muldaur & her red hot Bluesiana Band offer spicy New Orleans flavored Blues, R & B and “Swamp Funk”. Fito Reinoso & y su Ritmo y Armonia’s sizzling rhythms reflect Cuba's street beat and broad musical heritage. Druid Sister’s Tree Party opens the party with riveting Celtic and Gypsy tribal grooves. A colorful crafts bazaar (Noon to 6 P.M.) adds to the festivities in the park.
Throughout the day various Telegraph venues feature innovative artists rooted in ancient traditions. Award winning Patrick Landeza is a leading West Coast Hawaiian slack-key guitarist. Ultra World X-tet is a jazz fusion group that includes Yangqin Zhao, China’s foremost player of the Yangqin, a hammered dulcimer that bears her name. True Life Trio, weaving vocal harmonies from the Balkans and beyond, first met as members of the internationally renowned Kitka Ensemble. Trio Garufa is distinguished as the only US Argentine Tango group who play in top “Milongas” dance halls of Buenos Aires. With Bouchaib Abdelhadi (No. African and Sufi rifts), Duo Gadjo (French Gypsy Jazz), Fely Tchaco (AfroPop & Ivory Coast Rhythms), guitarist Baron Rubenbauer (Neo-classical / Spain to India) and street performances by Sadza Marimba & Mbira (Zimbabwean Dance Music), Simcha (Klezmer), and world accordion artist Alex “the Kombrig” Yaskin there’s something for everyone!
