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dig if
you will the line up for
2010 (so far). keep checking back for
additions.
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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. |
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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. |
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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.”
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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. |
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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 ! |
radio devi
(SF) House of Hamsa presents ! Progressive World
Groove. Ambient Ethno Groove. Radio Devi utilizes a combination of live and textured loops that create a rich and uplifting dance atmosphere. A unique fusion of ancient world instruments over funky grooves and dub basslines with soulfull R
n B vocal stylings. Radio Devi was formed out of the critically acclaimed and award winning world music group
Hamsa Lila. Radio Devi features Ian "Inkx" Herman on drums and Samples (Hamsa Lila, Hugh Masakela, Paul Simon, Foxgluv, Post Junk Trio, Rain Maker, Shabaz) Vir McCoy (Hamsa Lila, Foxgluv, YOU, Kid Kaleidoscope) on Bass, Guitar, Sintir, Saz, Guimbri and other strings, Evan Fraser (Hamsa Lila, The Funnies) on Ngoni, Sanza, Jaw Harp, Synthesizers, Percussion, Lyra, Ney, Flutes, Lap Steel and others. Deja Solis (Hamsa Lila, Qawaalis) lays her soulfull diva vocals over the top. |
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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 ! |
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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. |
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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 ! |
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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. |
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