Sierra Nevada 2004 Overview (photo gallery)

This summer was my first year at the wonderful Sierra Nevada World Music Festival. Held in Angel's Camp, Ca, this festival had a mix of great weather (although granted it did get kind of hot at times), great music, and friendly atmosphere among staff, artists, and fans.

My weekend actually started Thursday morning, with the drive from the north bay out to Angel's Camp. After setting up in volunteer camping, all the volunteers had the meetings with their crew supervisors. I was blessed to be part of a really solid group of people in the backstage volunteer crew. Being the youngest on the crew there, I really thought they all looked after me there well, and everyone on the crew was very personable and hard working.

Show started a bit late on Friday because a broken water pipe in front flooded the entrance. As soon as that got cleared up, the general public entering the festival was treated to the sounds of Salinas-based band Dubwize on the Village Stage. I didn't see their set because it was during my shift (which was closer to the main stage), but their sound check was excellent, and I managed to finally check them out at Dreadstock, and those guys are really solid and put on a great set (not to mention I'm always partial to bands with melodicas). Next up on the Village stage came Ikahba and Dezaire, who I didn't get to see but heard very good things about. The final act on the Village stage that night was Alton Ellis, who went on right after my shift ended, so I got to check him out. It was really great to see a legend like Alton on stage, going through all his best (everything from I'm Still In Love, to Sitting in the Park, Rock Steady, Can I Change my mind, and so many more). The only problem with his set was Alton had hurt his voice rehearsing with Fully Fullwood's band the night before, so his voice was cracking throughout his set. Overall it was still very enjoyable though. The main stage that night was mostly world music, starting with Elijah Emmanuel and the Revolutionaries, who from where I could tell at my shift that night sounded good. El Grand Silencio was enjoyable, but i didn't really get to check them out much. The headliner on the main stage that night was Femi Kuti, who is best known for being the son of revolutionary Nigerian singer Fela Kuti. His set was a true high-energy experience, but i only got to check out a small portion of it due to the fact I had to catch Alton on the small stage. My one complaint with the 2-stage setup is just that, having to choose between 2 great artists. 

After the shows on both stages ended, it was time for the dancehall. from 11:30 to 3:00 am, we were treated to the Downbeat the Ruler Soundsystem playing the best in classic dancehall. After awhile of playing nothing but big tunes and dubplates, Carlton Livingston and Brigadier Jerry took the mic. All I can say, is simply "REWIND!!!!." Place kept going crazy every time Tony Screw pulled up the riddim and Briggy and Carlton came with wicked lyrics. Not to mention the airhorns, rewinds, and people going absolutely mad as soon as the Selecta dropped the Hot Milk Riddim and Carlton busted with "100 Weight of Collie Weed." I left that a little early cause I needed some sleep, but that Dancehall was massive,  and something i think every festival should have.

Saturday

Saturday started off on the main stage with Fully Fullwood band paying tribute to the late great Peter Tosh, who Fully used to back with the band Word Sound and Power. Donovan Carless was on vocals, with the band busting out on peter Tosh songs. My opinion, great set musically, Donovan's a great singer, but his voice is a little too different from Tosh to play his songs. But their heart was in the right place, and I gotta big up Fully and his crew every time. The Mighty Diamonds cancelled out due to being held up at the LAX. airport, so Briggy and Carlton filled in on the main stage doing pretty much the same set as the night before, except this time around were backed by Wadi Gad's group. Wadi is one of the most solid drummers I've heard, not to mention the rest of the backing band is excellent (having Ralston Grant sit in on guitar never hurt either). After that, Wadi Gad did one or two of his own tunes, followed by Don coming to the stage. Don Carlos puts on a great show every time. that was the 3rd time in a little less than a year I had seen Don, and I've never been disappointed. Pure Niceness going through all his massive tunes, it reminds me of his tune "I Just can't Stop", I think the crowd wouldn't want him to stop. Don really connects with a crowd like no other performer, usually having the crowd captivated at "I Love You all, but Jah loves you more." Unfortunently, after a great set, Don had to make way for the other performers of the day.
 

Known latley by some to be among the best new artists in reggae music, St. Croix's Midnite took the stage after Don. That was my first time seeing them, and all I can say is WOW that's one solid band. the lead singer Vaugn has a really unique roots chanting style, and the band is about as tight as is possible for any group of musicians. They put on a long set, but not one of the big marathon sets I've heard those guys can put on at their own shows. If they come around all ages to the bay, they are on my list of must-check bands. Israel Vibrations was the next group to come up, who put on an entertaining show, but not as good as Midnite or Don. But I must say, Roots Radics band is always tight. Warren and the promoters at Sierra really know how to get really solid bands. I had to work during his set, so I only got to hear Gentlemen a bit in the distance. He sounded really good, and was in good spirits since it was his first show in America (later on he came into the room I was working in during my shift and did a station ID for my radio show, which was one of my highlights from working). Burning Spear put on a deep roots set, and kept his cool during some situations that were going on while he was on stage. To tell you the truth, I did not check out any of the artists on the Village stage on saturday, as i was busy checking out main stage bands that day, but I'm told all the bands did well, and I got the opprotunity to hear recordings of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchastra's Set, and just crazy. Those guys really know their ska, that's all I have to say about that. That night in the Dancehall, the bay area's own Jah Warrior Shelter Hi-Fi soundystem was up with St. Croix's Sabbattical Adhah on the mic. I came late because my work shift lapsed into it a little, but what I heard was good. Up next was Stone Love, who honestly didn't impress much. For a 30-year champion sound, it was strange that Stone Love used CDs, had nobody on the mic, and dropped a lot of stuff that couldn't be classified as dancehall. So after that it was back to camp to get ready for one more day.

Sunday

Sunday started off with a second set by Tokyo Ska on the village stage again, and unfortunately again I missed it. On the main stage, it started off with Antabalas Afrobeat Orchestra. Not a reggae group, but those guys were high energy Afrobeat, which was extremely fun. Because of my work schedule, I missed Fermin Muguruza on the main stage. However, I got to hear Marcia Griffiths, Ginja, Maxi Priest, and part of Beres Hammond (due in part to the 2 stage set-up). Beres is such a surreal performer, I checked him out after Rocker T finished up on the Village stage. On the Village Stage, the only act I really got to see was Rocker T. that was a massive show, started off with two tunes from Jus Goodie (Crazy for you and Freedom Song) followed by a massive set from Rocker T, switching around from roots to dancehall to hip hop, backed by the More Luv band. Gotta big up Rocker T and Standout selector for allowing me to record the show. He had the 2nd biggest crowd i had seen at the village stage all weekend, and he really blessed up the place with a whole heap of conscious lyrics. After that i went to check out Beres who was on the main stage. I couldn't help but just get lost in the music when he started playing Rockaway. Never turn down a chance to see Beres, or you're gonna end up kicking yourself for it. After Beres was Michael Franti and Spearhead. They seem to be very popular at the festivals, despite the fact they aren't a reggae group in almost any way. Their songs were long, with Michael talking to the crowd about his trip to the middle east, which he had just recently come back from (I believe Sierra was his first show since he got back from the middle east). He played late into the night, and at that point the festival was over, some drove home, and most of us went back to camp, ready to say our goodbyes in the morning.
 

Overall, Sierra Nevada was one of my favorite experiences of the summer. Well worth attending. It has a great lineup, great people on staff, and the crowd is among the friendliest I've seen. It doesn't have as many of the negative influences that have found there way into other summer music festivals. It's also in a beautiful area. It was truley a great experience, and I have to thank Warren and crew for putting the event on, and all the people who i worked with over the weekend. Especially big ups to Wendy Russell and DJ Big Jim.

by,

Ras James