dig if you will the line up for 2010 (so far). keep checking back for additions.

mexican institute of sound (live band) (MEXICO) “The sound of old Mexican cumbias, boleros and mariachi tunes scrambled with samples, effects and beats, from lounge music to funk to low-budget beat boxes.” - NEW YORK TIMES “Camilo Lara works the electro-dance scene like the James Murphy [LCD Soundsystem] of Latin America. Think Hot Chip visiting the Buena Vista Social Club; think traditional samples with bells and beats; think a sweaty indie-dance party below the bustling streets of one of the world’s most populous cities.” - CMJ  Mexican Institute of Sound’s (M.I.S.) third album ‘Soy Sauce’ was released by Nacional Records in USA/Canada, El Volcan Music in Spain, MiCo in Mexico and Cooking Vinyl everywhere else this past Spring 2009. The album traverses Lara’s wild musical imagination with a witty sense of humor for good effect... whether it’s converting the traditional sounds of cumbia to a full-on electronic dance track, paying tribute to hip hop luminaries De La Soul or N.W.A. with Mexican sonidos or singing a love song as if Serge Gainsbourg had spent time in the Mayan jungle.

fort knox five (live band) (DC) - A major force on the international funk and breaks scene. Having released and arsenal of knee knockin floor rockin singles & remixes, Fort Knox Five have the midas touch for producing heavy hitting singles. Their world renowned groundbreaking sound of organic hooks come from their distinct interweaving of live instruments & funky electronic breakbeats, and has resulted in monster re-mixes for Africa Bambaataa, A. Skillz, Kraak & Smaak, Krafty Kuts, Ursula 100, Tito Puente, Louis Armstrong & Bob Marley. The funk truly hits the fan at a live show. Serious sweat inducing palpitations at the dance station.

midnite (ST. CROIX) Time is not counted from daylight but from midnite. Trance induding naked and raw is an apt description for Midnite's musical style, in which they forgo the frills of extensive remixes, overdubbing and other musical refinements. Hailing from the Island of St Croix, Midnite is one of the preeminent roots reggae bands of the millennium. Vanguards of conscious reggae who represent the King's and Queen's music to the fullness of Jah. Midnite's profound and innovative lyrics are sincere and deeply rooted to present the other half of the story. Midnite explodes in live performances with sets that often exceed 3 hours. Their vigorous, weighty sound, driven by the punchy bass lines creates a vibe that penetrates straight to the heart. These epic musical communions have earned Midnite an enormous following throughout the roots community. Dig them live at sunset in the magical Mojave !

gaudi (UK) An international favorite on the electro-dance scene, italian born singer, musician & composer comes to Joshua Tree fresh from the studio with solo album #12 (No Prisoners on Six Degrees Records). His previous release (Dub Qawwali) was #2 on iTunes chart (usa) & the #1 selling electronic album on Amazon. Gaudi's live performances are innovative and unconventional: He is more 'oneman band for the 21st century' than DJ and has adopted the decks into hisset as another instrument in his 'kit bag' - alongside his Moog, Theremin, Megaphone, Tape delay, Dub siren, Stylophone, multi-effect boxes, live dubbed vocals, Melodica and a myriad other percussive and sonic gadgets! His is a unique approach that connects w/ audiences, a signature style of 'Dub n Breakz' that is a bass-driven, dance floor filling mix of irresistible grooves, floor shaking bass, and technological wizardry to engage the body and the senses. Fat tunes ranging from serious electronic to roots reggae and beyond.

bonerama (New Orleans)  - Kickin' brass and takin' names. Even in a city that doesn’t play by the rules, New Orleans’ Bonerama is something different. They can evoke vintage funk, classic rock and free improvisation in the same set; maybe even the same song. Bonerama has been repeatedly recognized by Rolling Stone, hailed as “the ultimate in brass balls” (2005) and praised for their “…crushing ensemble riffing, human-feedback shrieks and wah-wah growls” (2007). Bonerama carries the brass-band concept to places unknown; what other brass band could snag an honor for “Best Rock Band” (Big Easy Awards 2007)? As cofounder Mark Mullins puts it, “We thought we could expand what a New Orleans brass band could do. Bands like Dirty Dozen started the “anything goes” concept, bringing in the guitars and the drum kit and using the sousaphone like a bass guitar. We thought we could push things a little further.”

the mast featuring haale (NY) Haale (as in halle-lujah or jalepeno), is a bronx born woman of Iranian descent whose name means 'halo around the moon.' Her songs are trance-inducing, rhythmically propulsive, and lyrically engaging tapestries that draw on both Persian mystical and American psychedelic musical traditions.  Haale has performed at Bonnaroo, SXSW,  the Mimi_Festival in France, in David Byrne's_series at Carnegie Hall,  and shared the stage with  the_legendary Hugh Masakela and Odetta. " A female rocker who balances electric-guitar frenzy_with the intimacy and alluring elusiveness of poetry." Boston globe. "Pregnant with explosive ideas and genre smashing sonics, the music of_Haale Gafori and partner in crime percussionist-producer Matt Kilmer_engages faith, politics and love in refreshing ways that understand_that lovely and terrible things coexist. Haale's inherent poetry leans_back to Patti Smith and Rumi, Jefferson Airplane and T.S. Eliot -_engagers of the world's saints and sinners that reveal the unseen_realm behind all things." Jambase.

orgone (LA)  - orgone (ôr'g_n) n. A universal life force, a cosmic unit of energy, the creative force in nature. “Nasty, distorted, finger-popping, ass waggling old-school funk goes head to head with the gloss of L.A.'s Tower of Power styled horn charts “ All Music. "Orgone recalls acts like Fela Kuti, Trouble Funk, and War, but with a heavy dose of disco, where the deep groove and diva vocals are so authentic, they could be samples." The Onion. “ Big slabs of grizzled R&B, greasy as fatback and thick as a very particular kind of smoke. They recall the majesty of Sly & the Family Stone, and there's a riot goin' on!” eMusic. Modernized Parliament - Meters old school funkatized with gritty chicano style riffs & afro funk !

staxx brothers (Seattle) Hard Ass Soul ! The Staxx Brothers are a high energy American band, hailing from Seattle, Washington, that has spent the last seven years crafting an the incredible sound they've branded Hard Ass Soul. It's quite simply the most danceable and hip shaking brand of rock & roll to hit US streets since Motown left Detroit. Where modern Rock most often has forgotten its Roll, The Staxx Brothers make it back to the juke joint, and take you back to the black church, dragging modern rock by its collar right back to its birthright - with an epic flare that matches any of the classics. “A huge mob on stage, they've imbibed whatever elixir Bootsy, George and Bernie swallowed back in the day, getting up there and proudly playing rump rattlin' cartoons and then backing it up with whomping good musicianship and tunes you gotta be dead to resist “ jambase.

wally ingram & jerry joseph (Yucca Valley/NY)) Wally and Jerry, along with Dave Schools (Widespread), Eric McFadden, and Danny Louis (Govt. Mule), comprise the super group Stockholm Syndrome (catch them on tour in FEB/MAR). Jerry (renowned for his work with the  Jackmormons), writes complex, image laden songs and performs them with an unbridled combination of attitutde, soulfulness and swagger. Wally (drummer and percussionist extraordinaire and high desert resident),  has created musical imagery, magic and color with his Kit (serious bag of tricks) for an amazing list of musical superstars and geniuses such as Crowded House, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Burdon, Sheryl Crow, Warren Zevon, Keb Mo', James Taylor, Crosby Stills Nash, and David Lindley (toooo long a list !!!).  Together the two longtime friends and musical co-conspirators create a magical musical sum much greater than it's parts !  dig em live, loud and proud in the desert !

d numbers (Santa Fe, NM) Psychedelic live improvisational dancetronic rock. The magic of D Numbers' live performances is in the real-time reorganization of analog sounds from live instruments into intricate webs of loops, samples and digital bliss. These cats create multilayered compositions rich in texture and depth as the audience watches them bob and sway in sync; stomping on pedals and lunging for knobs and faders, all the while locked in to a solid groove. Exploring a wide range of feels and tonalities that range from melancholy ambience to aggressive rock to ecstatic funk, D Numbers takes their listeners on a sonic joyride. check out this interview & VIDEO

dusu   (PORTLAND) Dusu is an authentic African Malian band fronted by Ibrahim Kelly (nephew of the Legendary 'Ali Farka Toure'). Formed in December of 2009 in Portland Oregon, Dusu combines driving intricate polyrhythms with traditional yet original Malian songs. Instrumentation includes many African drums including the Dununba, Sangaban, Kenkeni, and Djembe as well as drum kit. On top of this unique blend of percussion there is violin, guitar, bass, saxophone, and vocals. The music is extremely danceable and hypnotic inspired by the deepest roots of Africa. Dusu strives to bring about joy and unity through the universal medium of music.

geri x (ATLANTA) Bulgaria born singer songwriter, Geri X, traveled the better (or worse) part of europe before settling down in St. Petersburg, Florida. Her classical training on piano & guitar is infused into, and makes for her interesting, emotional stylisings. The music is equal parts pleasure and pain - as riveting and haunting as it is emotional and uplifting. Geri X has been the winner of Best Singer Songwriter (Creative Loafing) in 2006 thru 2008. “combination of the timeless & contemporary. Uniquely hip & eclectic American post folk, but sounds like it learned of love and heartbreak somewhere unfathomably older than here.” Creative Loafing. “She carries the intensity of a Mike Tyson punch with the serene beauty of one of the best female vocalists of this era.” LA post

evaros (Joshua Tree) Peace. Love. Evaro. Beloved high desert musical siblings Bryanna and Gabriella and Shavaughn and Gene create brilliant soulful music.  They've put Herbie Hancock & Jimmy Cliff & Billie Holliday & the Funkadelics into the waring blender to concoct their own magical musical potion. Dance inducing goose bump conjuring sweet soul music.  They performed at the festival last year, and have been hard at work since crafting their sound, family style !

samantha crain & the midnight shivers (Shawnee, OK) Sometimes music is a collision of opposites. Realities clash and coexist, and the tension that results is scary and strange, but undeniably beautiful. Maybe that's why Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers embody so many conflicting unities and clashing identities. With a blow-your-hair-back vocal presence that occasionally yields to whisper- soft vulnerability, Samantha Crain unites the sounds of confidence and desperation. Lyrics about disaster and despair peacefully coexist with anthems of community and reconciliation. Here are darkness and light; here are life and death. Her shadowy arrangements and razor-sharp lyrics blur whatever superficial lines of genre or aesthetic may seem to separate these influences. It seems whatever the ingredients, she has a place for them in her inexplicable artistic recipe. Her sound is deeply rural and southern, but also itinerant and urban. Like Jack Kerouac before her, Crain is lost on the subway, sleeping in boxcars, leaving lovers behind, and dining in small town obscurity all within a few short days. Nearly more remarkable than her creative vision is her practical ambition. At the young age of twenty-one, Samantha Crain already has several national tours and dozens of self- produced recordings to her credit.