dig if you will the line up for 2009. set times next to band names. click on artist names to go to websites.

nortec collective: bostich & fussible (SAT  8:50pm) (TIJUANA) Tijuana, Mexico is home base for the Nortec Collective. Sampling instrumental parts from dusty tapes of tambora (traditional music forms of the northwest of mexico) and norteno band rehearsals – combining the use of electronic and dance music aesthetics with the hard driving sounds and rhythms of traditional northern Mexican street music = “nor-tec” a contraction of norteno and techno. The latest release from the collective is Bostich + Fussible "Tijuana Sound Machine". Fussible (Pepe Mogt) and Bostich (Ramon Amezcua) co-founded the collective and have contributed to previous releases as well. This time around the artists combined acoustic recordings with their electronic counterparts. Instruments varying from accordions and tubas mix with drum machines and synthesizers. This effect is put into greater use live, as electronics create the foundation while live horns and other instruments keep crowds moving. This blend is at once traditional and avant garde, equally recognizable and new. Dig the sounds of Nor-Tec revolutionizing the culture of Mexico & the World. VIDEO

porter batiste stoltz (saturday 6pm) (NEW ORLEANS) George Porter, Jr. Russell Batiste. Brian Stoltz. Three funky kings with deep musical resumes steeped in Crescent City funk’n history. “We have a deep respect for the groove” says the understated Russell Batiste. Porter, the pioneering bassist (joined the Meters in ’65), is widely recognized as “simply one of the best bass players on the scene”. His credits and contributions to funk and R&B are too great to list. Russell Batiste was born into the legendary musical New Orleans family and has been behind the kit since the age of 4. He joined the Funky Meters in ’89 and has worked w/ Maceo Parker, Robbie Robertson & Harry Connick, Jr. Brian Stoltz is a most sought after guitarist having played w/ The Funky Meters, the Neville Brothers, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, & Daniel Lanois. His virtuosic guitar work rides the explosive Meter grooves. “More like a funk rock kind of thing w/ a strong pocket” says Porter. VIDEO

kraak & smaak (saturday 10:15pm) (AMSTERDAM) Heineken, Van Gogh, Kraak & Smaak. The three most famous things to come out of Holland. Ever. In that order. Ok so maybe a bit of an exaggeration but the last three years have been an incredible ride for the band considered to be Holland’s hottest live act and as they release their second album things seem set to get even crazier. Hailed as a “Must see live band” they’ve supported the stadium-rocking Faithless on their European tour and played some of the most prestigious gigs in the USA including Coachella Festival, SXSW Festival, the Miami Winter Music Conference as well as playing headline sell-out gigs on the West and East Coast on their last tour. Although Kraak & Smaak originally started out as a studio project for the founder members Oscar De Jong, Mark Kneppers & Wim Plug it quickly became one of the hottest live properties in dance music. The live band has the addition of Rose – vocalist, Seb – MC and vocalist, Andre – drums and Marc on the bass guitar. Coupled with the keyboards, FX and percussion played by the band themselves it’s a formidable slice of future funk on the floor with the epic moments provided by K&S’s more leftfield output. VIDEO

rupa and the april fishes (saturday 7:25pm) (SF)  Slinky, fevered, hypnotic and intoxicating. “If Rupa were a movie, she’d be Amélie meets Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown meets Do the Right Thing. She'd be set in India and Berkeley. She would be (and, in fact, is) an instant cult classic among the smart, idealistic, international set” Hiya Swanhuyser, SF Weekly. While their music defies categorization, they’ve drawn comparisons to Manu Chao, Pink Martini, Dengue Fever, Gogol Bordello and Keren Ann. Rupa’s nomadic upbringing has led her to write songs in a multitude of languages, including French, Spanish, Hindi and English. With themes ranging from love and death to politics and philosophy, the songs offer a magic carpet ride through time and place and embody Rupa’s goal of breaking down borders both real and imagined, arranged for cello, accordion, guitar, trumpet, upright bass and drums. "These folks are the shining embodiment of globalization-gone-good…..”  SF Bay Guardian.  VIDEO

BoomBox (friday 11:50pm) (SF-Muscle Shoals) BoomBox is the creation of producer Russ Randolph (known for his work w/ Sugarland, Chuck Berry, Los Lobos, Rex Foundation) and singer, songwriter, producer, dj, drummer, guitar player Zion GodChaux. Both come from musical families; Russ grow up in musically rich Muscle Shoals, Alabama and Zion traveling with his mom (Donna Jean Godchaux) on tour with the Dead. They got together while producing Donna Jeans’ Heart of Gold album, and the rest, as they say, is history. Their brilliant debut album “Visions of Backbeat” is a melding of vintage psychedelic rock, house and muscle shoals soul. Live sets are a dancathon. Experiencing a live show and you understand why BoomBox followers are wide eyed fanatics.  VIDEO

gandalf murphy & the slambovian circus of dreams (saturday 2pm) (Sleepy Hollow, NY) Formed in Sleepy Hollow, New York in the late 90's, Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams create an enchanting atmosphere using traditional folk instruments, tasty electric guitar & the distinctive singing and songwriting of Joziah Longo. Citing influences as diverse as Hank Williams, Dylan, Bowie, Incredible String Band and early Pink Floyd, Longo describes the band's music as "punk-classical-hillbilly-Floyd", a mental rollercoaster of whimsical, thought-provoking songs. The Circus' live shows are where the real magic comes down, earning them critical acclaim as well as a fiercly loyal following. “It's as if David Bowie recorded 'Hunky Dory' with the Band in the basement of Big Pink" Reinhard Holstein, Glitterhouse Records. "Whenever I watch The Circus it reminds me to write and perform with my whole heart and soul" Dar Williams. "A riveting, mesmerizing, crazy, amazing machine of music" Chronogram. "Gandalf Murphy's repertory is filled with lively songs that are imbued with mystical stirrings and idealism suggestive of the 1960's" New York Times.  "Joziah is an awesome songwriter" Garth Hudson of The Band. VIDEO

ganga giri (friday 10:25pm)   (AUSTRALIA) Dig the deep earth dance experience that is a live Ganga Giri show. Tribal. Technological. "I love the mix  of his ancient & primitive didj with great dance grooves" says Peter Gabriel.  Red natural elements meet fat tribal beats and dirty funky bass lines. Explosive and pulsating, at times ambient and flowing, the music is a pumping percussive multi-layered expreience of of complex grooves and raw, deep natural sound. Energetic and innovative.  The Ganga Giri group represents an interpretation of Australia .....NOW!  They have taken their musical message to festivals around the world....Glastonbury, Shambala in Canada, Fusion Festival in Germany, Swisseridoo and many more.  If you were here in Joshua Tree in 2007 or 2005, you'll no doubt recall the energy created when they take the stage.  Relive it in May....... the Sunday evening sunset communal throwdown !  VIDEO

ocote soul sounds (friday 7:35pm) (BROOKLYN-AUSTIN-MICHOACAN)  Ocote is the funky creation of Martin Perna (founder of Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra & frequent TV on the Radio collaborator). Adrian Quesada of Grupo Fantasma co-directs the ensemble. Bandmates include members of Antibalas, Grupo Fantasma and Maneja Beto. The Octoe Soul Sounds are found at the interstection of the downtown dancefloor, the sweaty basement bembe’, and the smoldering campfire at the remote beach. The songs were born on Brooklyn rooftops, Mayan pyramids, and Texas traffic jams. The music carries traces of long lost corridos of mexico, echoes of Yoruba godparents, of wistful soul music and Sufi poetry sung behind closed doors, blazing a path of love and mystery.

zydepunks (friday 9pm)  (NEW ORLEANS & the WORLD) Innovators, rebels, and survivors. Despite the turbulent times in Louisiana's recent history, the Zydepunks have grown from their New Orleans home to be a regional and international phenomenon. "Everyone jumped for joy to the speed-core melange of klezmer tornadoes, Balkan dances, Celtic reels and bayou-squeezbox war" Rolling Stone. "World music never sounded like so much frantic, frenetic and sweat-soaked fun." Hal Horowitz, Creative Loafing. "The Zydepunks are one of New Orleans' most rousing live performers... they surprise with sublime accordion-fiddle fueled playing." Offbeat Magazine. Yiddish riddles, Irish ballads, Cajun punk, and vocals in six languages are a small demonstration of why they astound new audiences. Wild folk dances fronted by accordion and fiddle and backed by relentless drums and bass are a testament to the high-energy folk-punk dance craze that is a Zydepunks show.  VIDEO

underground orchestra (sunday 4:20pm) (LA) Based in the entertainment-super-hub of the world, Underground Orchestra is a Los Angeles band captivating crowds from coast to coast. Special guests Steve Molitz (Particle, Phil Lesh) and Chris Michetti (RAQ) will be joining UO for this raucous 90 minute set. In 2006 they were crowned with two of the most prestigious LA music awards for Best Single and Best Jam Band. High energy live shows.  Having amazed audiences locally from the start, they have become a must see among musical acts on the West Coast. After releasing the debut album, Active Ingredient, in 2006, the band’s unique approach to song writing and sound became apparent. 'Active Ingredient' stayed on the Homegrown Music top 25 top sellers list for months garnering them bills with Umphrey's McGee, Tea Leaf Green, Perpetual Groove and ALO in their debut year…things looked positive from the start.

medicine drum (saturday 11:55pm)   (NorCal) Progressive electronic dance music, deep tribal rhythms & live vocals, MEDICINE DRUM are recognized as one of the early music pioneers to cross the boundaries of electronica, where organic meets digital. Founded in London in 1994 by percussionist (and Earthdance founder) Chris Decker, their music is a rich hybrid of styles and textures. Not quite psy-trance, not quite techno and not quite future-dub, Medicine Drum blend all these styles while interlacing them with driving, earthy tribal percussion and world music influences. Medicine Drum's sound and style has always been individual and mystical. The band has supported some of the biggest names in dance music including Moby, The Chemical Brothers, The Orb and STS9 and has played all over the world. Their late night sets at Reggae Rising and Harmony Festival were clearly the dance floor favorites. Medicine Drum are back with a new all star line up featuring Greg Ellis on drums (Juno Reactor, The Matrix), Rara Avis on electronics, Lizbeth Scott on vocals (Peter Gabriel's Last Temptation, Narnia) and special guests MC Wisdom and MC Dakini Star (The Goddess Alchemy Project).

yossi fine (all about da bass!) (saturday 12:35pm) (SF/ISRAEL/EL MUNDO) Yossi, his bass, loops & effects will blow your mind. "I'm more groove/beat & sound oriented.....I concentrate on the low end aspect & how that vibrates the room & the bodies in it" says Fine.  Born in Paris to a West Indian vocalist & Israeli guitarist, Yossi picked up the guitar by age four, and by his early teens was an in-demand session artist in Israel.  A career spanning two decades and six continents includes seven gold & platinum cd's, Yossi fully engineered & produced over 25 albums, while contributing the bass on more than 150. David Bowie, John Scofield, Lou Reed, Ruben Blades, Hamsa Lila, Prezident Brown, Me'Shell N'Degeocello, Stanley Jordan, Vieux Farka Toure, Hamsa Lila & Brian Eno have all  worked with Yossi. The ALL ABOUT DA BASS show is a phenomenal display; global musical infuences channeled and layered and looped via one man and his bass resulting in truly one nation, under a groove. Check out this VIDEO.

extra golden (sunday 2:55pm) (KENYA/US) Extra Golden was born in the BURU BURU neighborhood of Nairobi. The music is a unique and wonderfully wicked blend of Kenyan Benga music and American Rock.  Ian Eagleson, Alex Minoff,  Otieno Jagwasi and Omari began fiddling with each other’s compositions one day.  The next afternoon, the four musicians met at the Annex Club in Kariobangi.  Positioning themselves on a concrete slab between the tables and the restrooms, they set up a laptop and mixing board, a broken-down drumset, a couple of amplifiers and several microphones. Three hours later they packed up and left, the majority of Ok-Oyot System completed. The album met with widespread critical praise, and immediate demand for Extra Golden concerts was deafening. After months of hard work and determination, that demand was finally met, as the group (now featuring popular Benga star Opiyo Bilongo) arrived at the 2006 Chicago World Music Festival. These artists have risen above monumental challenges: the loss of a member, the chaos and riots in kenya, and visa hassles (they made their gigs in the states last summer only because OBAMA went to bat for them. dig the song on their new album entitled "obama").  Check out this video.

edward sharpe & the magnetic zeros  (sunday 1:30pm) (LA) A celebration of life. A love explosion. A musical orgy.  Edward Sharpe is the alter-ego of Alex Ebert, the lead singer for the Los Angeles-based band, IMA Robot. Edward Sharpe and the Zeros froth up peeps into a lather of light and dance induced sweat. They are thrilling, eclectic and inexplicable. A magical mystical revival in the high desert.  He is recognizable for his frenetic onstage performances, unique fashion sense, and peculiar haircuts. Alex’s interests include shrubbery, fish tacos, and snails.  Quirky, smooth Magnetic Love !

the monophonics (sunday 6pm) (SF) SF Weekly's Best of the Bay award winners, the Monophonics, bring a unique blend of old school soul/funk and rare groove. “ The crisp, tough horn section first snapped us to attention, but it was the rough rock thread underneath that kept us all planted during their multiple sets” Jambase. Steeped in the funk foundations of the JB Horns, Stax/Volt, the Meters, & Tower of Power, the Monophonics are tight, bold and eager for your approval. Their renegade rooftop sets at High Sierra were highlights of the fest. If you dig the Greyboy Allstars & Herbie Hancock fusion era grooves………then get ready to jump back kiss yo' self !

materialized (saturday 3:25pm) (OAKLAND) Two-man dynamo Materialized forge a focused, hi-octane sound from their long history of musical influences. Leaning on their limits, consisting of Dale Fanning (living daylights, axis brothers) on Drums and Mighty Dave Pellicciaro (axis brothers, star sapphire presents, gooferman) on Keys Materialized comes out down-to-earth, freaked out, raw, refined and movin’ Live Experelectronical Rock.  Listen for yourself and boogie at will.  But don’t blame them, their goal is clearly stated: Connect to the people listening, push themselves, groove deeper, play harder, & live maximally.

bhi bhiman (saturday 11:10am) (SF) The first thing that strikes you when listening to a Bhi Bhiman song is his voice; a vibrant, piercing tenor that's as rich with vibrato as it is with heartfelt emotional heft. It's a voice that's instantly iconic, recalling, at once, the power of Barrington Levy and the warmth of Bill Withers. "He sings like a traveling Dust Bowl folkie crossed with Nina Simone." It's a voice that has roots in Sri Lanka, where Bhiman draws his heritage, branches from the blues of his hometown St. Louis, across the Midwestern folk of Bob Dylan, through the urban soul of Motown in its heyday, past the Jamaican reggae of Bob Marley, and finally settling in the Bay Area, where Bhiman writes his songs. His voice would simply be a gimmick if the songs weren't there to back it up, but they are in a big way. The songs are richly observed slices of emotional life.

jef stott fea. hooman fazly; embarka sound project (friday 6:10pm) (SF) SIX DEGREES world remix artist, producer & composer Jef Stott powerfully fuses Middle Eastern musical traditions with breaks, dub & electro. Hooman Fazly lays down the Experimental Fusive Mystical Sufi Vocalizations. As a musical anthropologist, Jef has studied with master musicians from Morocco, Algeria, Iran, Egypt & Turkey, which led him to be accomplished on several traditional stringed and percussion instruments of the middle east. His first full length release, SARACEN (Six Degrees Records), is a powerhouse mix of electronic and Middle Eastern music that fires on all cylinders. An amalgamation of years spent studying with musicians from around the globe. Jef plays the oud, saz, cumbus, tarr, bendir and more on the album. Hooman adds vocals, as does MC RAI & Reda Darwish. Yossi Fine assists with the mixing and on bass. The result is an irresistible global groove !!

loyd family players (saturday 4:50pm & sunday 11am) (the PLAYA  & the WORLD) Combining elements of samba, funk, heavy metal, dance-hall & reggae this 8 to 14 piece non-traditional bateria has quickly earned a reputation as one of Oakland California's most raucous and jubilant party bands. "The Bay Area's fiercest female percussion section." says the SF Guardian. There is no doubt about it, when the Loyd Family arrives they lay down real groove with a thick mix of rhythm's from all over the world. Using a sub sonic fleet of surdo's and machine gun snare drums, the Loyd Family Players draw from a vast history of rhythms and showcase them in a style that has come to be their very own. With influences ranging from Carlinhos Brown to Rage Against the Machine the Loyds mix together a bevy of breaks and textures with great precision for a hot and furious dance party. Utilizing everything from sultry R&B covers to tongue-in-cheek punk rock sing - alongs the Loyds will whip the dance floor into a frenzy and turns you into a dashboard drummer for days on end.

chris pierce (sunday 12:05pm) (los angeles) Chris Pierce is a soul singer. Chris Pierce is a song-craftsman. He is a gifted performer. With his second all analog studio recording under his belt entitled "Walking on the Earth," and over 350 live performances in the past two years, Chris Pierce is living by his own words, "Keep on keeping on". Born and raised in Southern California, Chris has been performing in clubs, on television and on concert tours since before he could drive. Still a young man, he has earned the notoriety of an underground music legend. Chris Pierce is often described as an old soul and his music is often compared to greats like Bill Withers, Al Green and Otis Redding, yet he has a voice that stands alone. He believes in making albums that not only feel good as a whole but can also be broken down and be rediscovered again and again, one song at a time.  "Chris is one of ten homegrown artists you ought to know." LA TIMES. "Chris Pierce is off to an auspicious start. A strong collection of soulful tunes." RELIX.   Nic Harcourt of KCRW selected Walking on The Earth as “Best album of July 08.” Chris has a new album out this spring and a tour with BB King. Get some serious "Church" on sunday morning at the fest.

mamuse (saturday 10am) (CHICO) A  tenderness lives and breathes between Ma Muse and their audience. It is that precious communion of sharing roots music that bonds strangers, draws loved ones close, suspends applause, and lifts a house to its feet. Singing with a voice of heritage, the songstress duo of Sarah Nutting and Karisha Longaker is dedicated to uplifting community through song and joy. With a hauntingly rich a capella presence, these alto-sopranos weave a blend of whimsy and emotional depth. This texture is spun with upright bass, mandolin, bazuki, guitar, flute, kalimba, ankle bells, train whistles, gospel claps, jazz snaps, laughter, calls, response, and- a unicycle.  The dynamic and genuine following of fans knows Ma music is soul music. From the first verse, everyone seems ready to return, and ready to celebrate.  A sound as pure as the talent and intention given to it.

the evaro family (friday 4:45pm) (JOSHUA TREE) New to the high desert, these young (old) souls were born out of the love of music. Siblings Bryanna (bass), Shavaughn and Gabriella (vocals), and frontman Gene; along with Ben Kennedy on drums, create a  multi-genre musical style.  Ravenous harmonies and crooning, an infectious presence & innovative sounds guarantee a groovacious dance experience. Playing less than 6 months together, the Evaro's are serious about their music and their love for one another. Be sure to catch their set early friday evening !

ari lesser (all weekend)  (EUGENE, OR) Artist at large, mc, man about the fest. Ari Lesser is an intelligent, conscious, political, funny, revolutionary, conspiracy, spoken word, folk, rock,  reggae, lyrical genius. For real. "I just rap, sometimes to a beat, sometimes with live musicians, sometimes accapella." His tools are his brain and his mouth. All of 22, with a new album out in spring, Ari writes and performs intelligent, conscious, and often political word plays.  Dig him on stage working it between the musical acts. If ya see him walking around the fest ask if you can pick a flavor !

alfred howard (all weekend) (SAN DIEGO) Poignant, powerful and prolific. Lyrical force behind the K23 Orchestra. Author. He has been witnessed furiously writing words on a napkin amidst  the frenetic dance floor fray of a wicked Karl Denson set.  Can't help himself.  Beautiful, righteous words and thoughts simply ooze and flow out of the man. You've seen him in Joshua Tree rocking it hard and deep in the pocket with the K23 orchestra in the past. Dig him dropping nuggets between musical sets, sporting an infectious grin, and making us all richer for having heard his words of wisdom.