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Island Festival 2002
Line-up
Friday June 14, 2002
11:00 am Festival
begins Vendors
will be serving foods characteristic of the Caribbean and will
have arts and crafts for sale. Sample special Caribbean cocktails
from Bacardi, or enjoy an ice cold Red Stripe or Island Ale!
12:00 pm-1:00pm Steel
Vibrations It's
Friday, the sun is out and you just can't wait for the weekend.
Join us for lunch and the relaxing sounds of Steel Vibrations. All
the way from Houston, Texas Steel Vibrations is a Caribbean steel
drum band that plays a variety of styles, including: calypso, reggae,
jazz, and contemporary music.
5:00
pm-6:15pm Steel Vibrations
The day was hectic, you
missed lunch and just don't feel like cooking. No worries, as you
leave the office you smell the enticing aroma of Jerk Chicken, it draws
you near the festival site. As you approach you hear Steel
Vibrations and your week melts away. You now know the
real meaning of Happy Hour!
6:45 pm-7:45pm
Fada Wayne and the High grades
Fada Wayne began taking center stage as a dynamic
vocalist at the age of ten in his Jamaican home. Working for
several years with diverse bands in Indiana, he broke out on his
own in 1998. He excites the crowd with dancehall, roots, and
hip-hop styles. Fada Wayne is joined by :
Jason Oswald-Drums
Mark Yoder-Keyboards
LaDonna Flynn-Backing Vocals
Patrick Bickel-Bass
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8:15 pm-9:30pm
Yoroka
Yoroka is a
professional World Beat band ready to bring high-energy dance
music to every performance. This versatile six-member group
features horns, guitars, bass and drums/percussion. This
past year they rocked to victory at the 107.7 FM Battle of the
Bands. Headed by Nathan Ndjiharine, from Nambia featuring on
lead vocal Sister Myra they play a wide variety of musical styles,
including Soukous, Reggae, Ska and Funk. |
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10:00pm-11:30pm Dual
Headline Acts
Direct from Kingston, Jamaica
The
Musical Sniper
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In the
Jamaican parish of St. Mary at Oracabessa Studios, Musical Sniper
has been under the supervision of long-time producer Paul
Hussey(of Toots & Maytals, Ziggy Marley, Ernest Ranglin, and
UB40 fame) in preparation of the release of his full-length solo
effort for Oracabessa Records entitled 'Rough Upbringing'.
Featuring an all-star cast of Reggae's finest musicians--including
Robbie Shakespeare, Monty Alexander and Glen DaCosta--Musical
Sniper's album is eclectic array of original compositions with
subject matter ranging from hope for a better world ("Stand
Up Strong"), hardship of common folk ("Downhearted
People"), short-term relationships ("No Joking
Thing") to senseless killings ("Sending Them
Away"). With the exception of "Paradise
Syndrome"--co-written by Eurythmics' Dave Stewart--and
"Rough Upbringing"--written by Native's Brian Jobson,
the Oracabessa Records release demonstrates the scope of Musical
Sniper's heartfelt lyrics and inspiring messages. Although he is
already well known among reggae deejay enthusiasts for his earlier
works as Rappa Robert, the soulful vocalist Musical Sniper
promises to become a household name in the new millennium with his
deeply conscious singing melodies and songs
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Direct from the Island of Anguilla:
Daddy
Roots
Wayne Alex
Brooks, a.k.a. Daddy "Roots", cited Rasta in the womb
and was born on April 23, 1977 in North Valley, Anguilla. The
youngest of fifteen children in his family, Roots was unlike any
of his brothers and sisters by adhering to a strict diet of 'ital'
pure and natural foods as a youth growing up in this Caribbean
nation of 10,000 inhabitants. Most recently, Roots was invited to
travel to the birthplace of Reggae in Kingston, Jamaica to record
with the "who's who" in the music industry. Hailing the
late, great and sometimes militant Peter Tosh as a major
influence, Roots believes that he can carry on with the fallen
Reggae icon's message of peace and equality for all of humanity.
Roots' religion is love, and his reaction to anger and hatred is
to walk away with love in the heart and a smile on the face Roots
believes that around the corner of depression lies hope and his
songs titles including "Love And Honor", "I Am At
Peace With Myself", "Walk Away From War", and
"Moving On" express his philosophy of peace and harmony
for everyone. 2002 will prove to be an important year in Roots as
he releases his long-awaited debut album featuring special guest
artists known internationally. In addition, Roots and his band
will embark on a world tour in support of the new release. Look
out for big things to come for this fast rising star.
DADDY ROOTS! |
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11:30pm-12:00am Fire
Fabulon
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A new attraction at Island Festival
for 2002! You will simply have to attend and see what
happens! |
12:00am-1:30am The
Midwest All Stars
Indika |
Many Jamaicans and
Africans have settled in the Midwest. Fortunately in many
cases they have brought their musical heritage with them!
This all star show will feature numerous singers for a lively
finish to the first night of Island Festival 2002. Pictured
left is the award winning Indika featuring Doggie Ranks and Rasta
Kelly. They will be joined other great vocalists including
Sister Myra and Nathan Ndjiharine of Yoroka, and Fada Wayne
of Fada Wayne and the High Grades. |
Also joining the
Midwest all-stars will be Carl Brown currently based in Chicago.
Dubbed as the Beeper man Carl Brown has been winning awards as the
best male singer from Chicago music awards for many years. A
favorite at the Wild Hare, This will be his first appearance in
Kalamazoo, make him feel at home. |
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Saturday June 15, 2002
11:00 am Festival
begins Vendors
will be serving foods characteristic of the Caribbean and will
have arts and crafts for sale. Sample special Caribbean cocktails
from Bacardi, or enjoy an ice cold Red Stripe or Island Ale!
2:00pm-3:30pm Family
Groove Workshop with New
Flavor
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Back by popular demand! This is a
great opportunity to introduce the kids to reggae and world music.
In a world filled with violent images there has never been a
better time to reinforce the values or respect, love, and caring
for each other. Join New Flavor for an interactive workshop
that you and your children will enjoy!
New Flavor is a Hawaiian Style Reggae
with an R&B twist which is up tempo and ideal for dancing.
Founded by Trackmaster T (R&B Flavor) from Chicago and DJ Ruff
(Ragga Style) from Hawaii. This combination provides a new hybrid
of high energy dance reggae music. With their combination of sweet
R&B vocals and Ragga style rapping, you won't be disappointed.
The energy will keep your head bobbing and feet moving. Come feel
the vibe and taste the New Flavor!!!
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4:00pm-5:30pm Seefari
SEEFARI’s reputation as
a dynamic live performer comes from years of honing
his skills on the American reggae circuit. Tour dates
at festivals, concerts, clubs and colleges throughout
the USA are interspersed with regular summer gigs on
the Lake Erie Islands near Cleveland and on the Ohio
River in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky. SEEFARI has
headlined major reggae festivals throughout the
Midwest and South including repeat performances in
Louisville, Houston, San Antonio, Charleston and
Dayton, just to name a few. His acclaim as a unique
interpreter of Bob Marley’s music earned him a
headlining slot on the National Bob Marley Festival
Tour. (’97, ’98, ’99.Well known as a lyrical
dynamo and musical innovator, SEEFARI‘s “rep”
has attracted outstanding musicians to his backing
band. Current and former sidemen have worked with a
who’s who of reggae, r&b, jazz and rock
including Bob Marley, Harry Belafonte, Ras Michael,
Mikey Dread, Big Youth, Toure Kunde, Maxwell, Slave,
Sunn, Ginger Baker, Wilbert Longmire and Roy Ayers
among others.With an ever-growing following as diverse
as the international community and a live show like no
other, SEEFARI is poised to pave the way for modern
roots music in the 21st Century. |
Read
Reviews
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6:00pm-7:30pm New
Flavor
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New Flavor is a Hawaiian Style Reggae
with an R&B twist which is up tempo and ideal for dancing.
Founded by Trackmaster T(R&B Flavor) from Chicago and DJ
Ruff(Ragga Style) from Hawaii. This combination provides a new
hybrid of high energy dance reggae music.
Since the band has started in 1999, we have
shared the stage with numerous reggae greats such as Boom Shaka,
Aswah Greggori, Natty Nation, Roots,Stems,&Branches, Dub Dis,
Indika Band, Michael Black, UK Ragga Legend Tippa Irie, and
recently played with Junior Marvin from the Wailers. Trackmaster T
has played with many artists including, The Staple Singers, Rufus,
Gene Chandler, and Mavis Staples. He has written songs for Prince
Productions and Quincy Jones. DJ Ruff has played reggae music in
the Hawaiian Islands for the past 10 years and together,
Trackmaster lays the music and DJ Ruff writes lyrics. The
combination is WICKED!!
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8:00pm-9:30pm
John
Brown's Body
John Brown's Body is an American 21st century reggae
band that is steeped in roots reggae and takes that classic 70's
sound into the future. They have begun headlining theaters and
have appeared, by popular demand, at major outdoor "Jam
Band" festivals from coast to coast. In the spring they
won Best of Boston for the 3rd consecutive year and were awarded
the honor of Best Roots Band by the Boston Phoenix. |
Read
Reviews |
10:00pm-11:30pm Inner
Visions From St. John US Virgin Islands
Read
Reviews
|
After
seventeen years Inner Visions recorded their very first big
production entitled "Love
One Another". The title track raced up local charts and
rested comfortably at number two on at least one major radio
station. Four years later, proud of their hard work and
achievement they embarked on a second recording venture. They
recorded a single which was released September of 1999. The single
Shala-La spent six weeks on three local stations at the number one
position. One year later Inner Visions was found in the recording
studio cranking out their "Spiritual Dancer" CD, and
again Shala-la (the remix) hit the charts. Of the top one hundred
songs requested and played for the year 2000, Shala-La placed at
number ten. Other songs on "Spiritual Dancer" also
seemed poised to dominate local air waves.
Editors Note: In
preparation for the Island Festival I receive many CD's.
This band is incredible! Reminiscent of roots acts such as The
Itals and Culture,
with bits of Steel Pulse,
Eek-a-Mouse,
and Parliament
Funkadelic thrown
in.
Inner Visions is currently
headlining the Rastaman Vibration Tour all across the US, and we
welcome them to Kalamazoo! |
11:30pm-12:00am Fire
Fabulon
A new attraction at Island Festival
for 2002! You will simply have to attend and see what
happens! |
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12:00am-1:30am The
Jah Kings Hometown Heroes
Jamming in the
world of entertainment,
where spiritual teachings have often become synonymous with
deception, the Jah Kings offer music-with-a-message; Pure and
positive, roots reggae. Their originality and lyrics keeps their
fans' attention, while a melodious blend of funk, gospel, hip-hop,
and reggae keeps the bodies grooving. Witnesses to a Kings' show
have continuously heard the crowd chant
MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE!
MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE!
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Please join us for
Island Festival 2002!
Hey, did you miss island
festival 2002??
No worries mon, check out the Dub
Selector, where you can make your own music!
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