2009 Festival
"Miami's Best Latin Band" is one of the headline bands to grace the main stage.
LOCOS POR JUANA has leapt from the local to the national stage with the release of their third album La Verdad. With a multi-national lineup that creates the perfect urban-alternative musical representation of Miami as an epicenter for the cultural fusion of our hemisphere, LOCOS POR JUANA seamlessly blends elements of rock and hip-hop with a wealth of Latin American rhythms and the Caribbean groove of reggae and ska. With their sound now perfectly polished on La Verdad, Locos Por Juana has been capturing ears well beyond their Miami base. The band was selected by iTunes as one of the 15 most important Artists to watch for 2008 - and proving that prediction true, Locos Por Juana recently garnered their first GRAMMY nomination - for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album. Between additional dates in Miami (as headliner of the Carnival on the Mile - March 7 & 8), an April 26 th performance on the Congo Stage of New Orleans' famed Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Taste of Durham, May 23rd, Locos Por Juana plans to return to the studio to begin work on their fourth album.
Firmly grounded in the heart of funk and rhythm and blues, this band is a truly a powerhouse ensemble. Featuring a full horn section, full rhythm section and singers, the group's repertoire includes the music of the 70s and 80s from groups like Earth Wind and Fire, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, KC & The Sunshine Band, The Gap Band, Rick James, Parliament/ Funkadelic and more.
Elmwood from Nashville, Tennessee is an example of talented musicians on the rise to stardom. The Elmwood Band is a fusion of many different genres of music that come together to make their unique sound. Drummer Donnie Marple and Saxophonist Derek Haight bring their jazz and Caribbean backgrounds to mix with Rusty Kelly's bluegrass/Dave Matthews style guitar and Nash Johnson's funk rhythms and melodic solos. Together, the four of them make multiple influences and styles coalesce into one straightforward and original sound.
2008 main stage performances
Great Brooklyn-based Latin group, led by Cuban-American Jose Conde.
The music is pan-Caribbean stew, based in clave but bringing in the funk, afrobeat, and other sounds. Jose Conde OLA FRESCA it means "fresh wave" -- is the name of the band. Founded in 2000 by singer-composer-lyricist and arranger Jose Conde, Ola Fresca features some of the best musicians in New York City, coming together for a fresh take on rootsy, funky, jazzy, Latin dance music and have had amazing press, from NYTimes to NPR, etc.
A thundering 10-piece ensemble from Asheville, NC, hot off their SELL OUT performance at THE ORANGE PEEL on Dec 31, 2006. The Afromotive is escorting Afrobeat music into the modern age and taking the dance floor with them. Having created an enormous buzz in the Southeast, thanks to major performances at Smilefest 2006, Lake Eden Arts Festival, high profile opening slots for Spearhead, Cyro Baptista, the Chicago Afrobeat Project, and a guest appearance by Erykah Badu. The Afromotive are taking their high energy, multicultural musical experience on the road. Fueled by a three-piece horn section and an unstoppable rhythm section, The Afromotive's musical dance excursions are steered by bandleader Kevin Meyame.
Originally from Cote D'Ivoire, West Africa, Kevin has performed throughout West Africa and France with drum and dance troupe Tanably. Singing in French, English, and his native language of Baoule, as well as providing polyrhythms on djembe, Kevin adds an authentically African flavor to their nu-afrobeat sound. The combination of Kevins cultural and musical background along with the jazz and classically trained musicians of The Afromotive has created a synthesized sound that crosses musical and ethnic boundaries. The Afromotive roll into town on their latest tour and aim to please. If you are without dance shoes, sneakers will do.
The driving delivery and infectious down-home style of his voice and songs resonate with Blues and Roots music which has been heavily influenced by the styles of B.B. King, T-Bone Walker and Snooks Eaglin to name just a few. Having shared the stage with icons such as Ray Charles, B.B. King and Jimmie Vaughan, Walker has established himself in the music world as a unique and compelling performer. Walker delivers 'a different point of blue' in today's ever-changing world and his eclectic blend of outstanding guitar talent and rootsy, soul filled vocals will thrill any music fan.
Growing up in rural North Carolina surrounded by a musical, artistic family has lent itself to Seth's natural ability to entertain audiences with his music and the ease with which he performs. W.C. Clark, considered The Godfather of Austin's blues scene, is featured on Seth's second album Meet Me in the Middle and believes the music is in his blood.
"He's playing some hip music, with changes and soul... A little, white Ray Charles!" - Taj Mahal.
"Seth is from a long line of great players and singers. He's rich with soul, a tasteful player and a warrior in the field." - WC Clark.
"[His] songs sound like classics-- matter of fact, they are!" - Chris Tomlin.
Founded in 2006, the John Brown Jazz Orchestra is a professional large jazz ensemble made up of some of North Carolinas top musicians. Specializing in performing traditional compositions from the Great American Songbook and todays cutting-edge arrangements, the orchestra performs a wide range of material covering all eras of jazz. The repertoire includes the music and arrangements of legends like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, Count Basie, Thad Jones, Duke Ellington, Woody Herman and a host of others. A 13-15 piece horn section backed by a 3-5 piece rhythm section and complemented by male and female vocalists make this a powerhouse ensemble!
Led by bassist John Brown, national recording artist and Director of the Duke University Jazz Program, this ensemble includes musicians from the Piedmont to the coast and its members have a passion for performance that in proven every time they play. Get ready for the John Brown Jazz Orchestra to thrill and excite your audience!
2007 main stage performances
The ever-evolving sound of Richmond, VA-based 9-piece salsa powerhouse BIO RITMO is proudly rooted in the great Afro-Cuban & Puerto Rican salsa traditions. It is their vision for bringing salsa "into the now" through skillful layering of jazz, urban, electronic and global sonic influences while maintaining the integrity of their foundation; and unusually profound and introspective lyrics; which have allowed the band to create a body of music and range of audiences that may very well be as diverse as those of any salsa band on the planet.
"A tight cooking 9-piece ensemble, the band lays claim to the brassy Latin dance sound of the 70's. Bio Ritmo represents the sentiments of a younger dance crowd searching beyond the jejune prescription and superficial flash of Latin pop." - Global Rhythm Magazine
"The passionate, unashamedly retro sound is fresh because the band captures the same verve as the original innovators. Sometimes they do make 'em like they use to." - Exclaim! Magazine
"They prove it is still possible to be true to the roots while expanding the parameters of their music in an intelligent, thoughtful and entertaining way. We want more groups like Bio Ritmo."
Jamie McLean is most widely known as the guitarist for the New Orleans jazz, funk institution The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. He has toured the world over playing for hundreds of thousands of people on stages such as Madison Square Garden, Shoreline Amphitheater, and Fuji Rock. He has recorded with everyone from Norah Jones to Dr. John and has performed with The Black Crowes, Widespread Panic, North Mississippi Allstars, Robert Randolph; among many others.
While the Dirty Dozen Brass Band groove is infectious and timeless, the sideman guitar slinger slot holds it's limitations. Having always been a songwriter, singer and front man, Jamie began to focus on his roots and in the early part of 2004 he formed his own group the Jamie McLean Band. Over the past year and a half Jamie's songwriting, filled with catchy hooks, beautiful lyrics and scorching guitar work has mingled with the soulful gumbo of the deep south and while The Jamie McLean Band is based in New York City, the influences of southern rock, blues, R&B and funk is unmistakable Beat Magazine.
Since it's inception in 2001, Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes (JSDN) has gained a loyal following in a competitive New Orleans music scene. Their unique FUNK/ROCK style blends guitar, violin and harmonica with a hard driving rhythm section reminiscent of the Radiators' swamp funk added to the punchy horns of Tower Of Power. It did not take long for these young musicians to land slots in most of New Orleans' prominent live music clubs. On the strength of those performances, JSDN was added to the roster of many notable festivals and special events.
JSDN's debut album, Bandicoot was voted by Offbeat Magazine as 2003 Best Rock Album by a Louisiana Artist. This award was a flattering follow up to winning the 2002 Best of the Beat Award for Best Emerging Roots Rock Band. JSDN was also voted Best Rock Band in 2003 for The Big Easy Entertainment Awards. In essence, JSDN is a classically trained tight unit. All of the members studied music in college, but a night with JSDN is very different than a night at the symphony. They combine the manic energy of 1980s Fishbone with Deep South soul. It is this energy that fuels the crowd into an enthusiastic frenzy, and the band has been known to jump into that frenzy head first (sometimes literally).
Johnny Sketch (Marc Paradis) -- Guitar, Cello & Lead Vocal, Dirty Johnny (Andrñ Bohren) -- Drums & Backup Vocals, Busta Gnutt (David Pomerleau) -- Bass & Backup Vocals, Johnny Rico (Omar Ramirez) -- Trumpet, Flgelhorn, Valve Trombone, Johnny Hitman (Tommy Occhiuto) -- Tenor Sax, Flute, Johnny Rockit (Andrñ Mouton) Baritone Sax, Alto Sax
Scott Kettner's Nation Beat : Eclectic world-groove music with Brazilian Roots. Inspired by the Afro-Brazilian rhythms of maracatu, Chico Science & the Mangue Beat movement of Recife, Brazil as well as New Orleans second-line, funk, and jazz, the Brooklyn-based group Nation Beat has created a fresh compelling new sound. The Nation Beat transcends borders, musically and literally. In 2005, through the generous sponsorship of the Brazilian Department of Culture they became the first American group to collaborate and record in Brazil with the legendary Maracatu Naao ("nation") Estrela Brilhante ("brilliant star"), led by Mestre Walter and rhythm master Jorge Martins. The resulting album, appropriately titled "Maracatuniversal", (slated for release Summer 2006) captures the meeting of old world and new. 400 year old traditions collide
FLOATING STONE is more than just an instrumental duo comprised of two outstanding musicians fusing crisp finger style acoustic guitar playing with Asian and African rhythms. FLOATING STONE bring smiles, "hoots and hollers," and general enjoyment to its audiences - from Germany to the United States, and most countries in between. FLOATING STONE includes Jeff Augs unique finger styling on acoustic steel-string guitar and Niko Lai on the African percussion instrument called the udu.
The Washington, D.C. born guitarist Jeff Aug magically intertwines Indian and oriental lines with funk grooves to the delight of their fans. Such has he performed (over 1000 concerts) as support for Rush, Queensryche, Albert Lee, and Freaky Fukin Weirdoz. Niko Lai performs as a foil to Jeffs playing having studied percussion under Amit Battacharia (Indian classical percussion), Mustafa Tete Addy (West African Drum Culture), Benny Mokross, and Charly Antolini (jazz).
They have performed U.S. tours, as well as hundreds of concerts in clubs and Rock / Blues / Ethno / World Music / Electro festivals such as Fusion in 2004 & 2005; Fest der Leise Tne 2005 & 2006; Pura Vida in 1999, 2002, and 2004; Krach Am Bach in 2003; Orient Meets Africa in 2002; Dampfsage in 2000; and many more.
In September 2006, the new studio double-album "Arcos Third Eye" will hit stores (netMusicZone Records / Rough Trade). CD1 is Floating Stone "pure" (pure acoustic instrumental) and features guest appearances by Anne Clark, Jann Michael Engel (cello), and Murat Parlak (piano).