Berkeley World Music Festival on June 11, 2016 in Berkeley, CA : The free 13th Annual Berkeley World Music Festival steps up to a two-day event on Saturday and Sunday, June 11th & 12th, Noon – 9 pm. The Festival sh owcases Bay Area's rich world music scene and it's all free! Each day offers dance concerts led by internationally renowned musicians including: John Santos (Afro-Latin Jazz), Fanna-Fi-Allah (Sufi Qawwali) & Trio Garufa (Argentine Tango). Saturday & Sunday finales are dance parties at the newly opened Tap Haus on Durant Ave, just east of Telegraph.
On Saturday at Peoples Park multi-Grammy nominee & 2016 grand headliner, John Santos leads an all-star line-up. The dynamic Moroccan band AZA opens up the Amoeba Music concert, with Tamazight “Berber” rhythms, a female horn section and soaring vocals. Then The Dogon Lights' electrifying West African harmonies transport the audience into “Afro-Galactic Hip-Hop”. Santos brings his illustrious sextet and special guests: Cuban timbales legend Orestes Vilató, multi-instrumentalist Jose Roberto Hernandez & Latin hip-hop to folk artist Rico Pabón, who brilliantly connects jazz to it's Afro-Caribbean roots. A crafts village with kids zone adds to the People's Park festivities.
Visitors will also enjoy a musical feast throughout the weekend at various Telegraph Avenue venues. Margaret & Kristoff open the Festival at the Med Caffe on Saturday with Celtic and Renaissance music of the European countryside. Simcha Orchestra (Klezmer) then sets up in front of the Berkeley Hat Company. Ensohza brings traditional Japanese Folk Music and Dance. Sadza Marimba with special guest Julia Chigamba draws the audience into the joyful rhythms of Zimbabwe. Both Ensohza & Sadza perform at Telegraph & Haste. Virtuoso ambassador Neema Hekmat, on stringed Santur, journeys through Persia's mystical music and poetry at Moe's Books.
Saturday evening showcases emerging stars Gabriel Navia ...read more