2002 Lineup

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
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.
10:00pm-11:30pm Dual Headline Acts Direct from Kingston, Jamaica The Musical Sniper 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 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!
11:30pm-12:00am Fire Fabulon 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.
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 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!!!
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.
6:00pm-7:30pm New Flavor 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!!
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.
10:00pm-11:30pm Inner Visions From St. John US Virgin Islands 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!
12:00am-1:30am The Jah Kings Hometown HeroesJamming 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 chantMORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE!MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE!