Spring is finally here; and suddenly events are popping up everywhere!
We've included a sneek preview into some hot tours and
world music festivals.  By all means, this is not an exhaustive list!  Check back
often for updates.  If you know of any upcoming tours and festivals you would like to
see listed, send information to: info@afropop.org.

SPRING HOT PICKS!

Salif Keita * Baaba Maal * Kékélé
  Susana Baca * Ricardo Lemvo * Step Afrika


Upcoming Music Festivals

The 4th Heineken TransAtlantic Festival
Miami, Florida
March 18-May 11, 2006
Organized by The Rhythm Foundation, a non-profit arts presenter connecting South Florida audiences with music from Brazil, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and Europe, the Heineken TransAtlantic Festival is acelebration of music made in the beautiful collision between traditional styles and modern influences - artists from the great cities of the Atlantic rim, making fresh new world music.  This years festival features: Lenine, Javier Garcia, Nouvelle Vague, Amadou and Mariam, Seu Jorge and more!

Latin Funk Music Festival
Miami, Florida, USA
April 2, 4, & & 9 - 2006
Supporting up-and-coming Latin music artists who represent the unique cross-over of yesterday's
traditional rhythms fused with today's urban beats. "You Choose" Battle of the Bands:
Don Juan (Miami), Skampida (Colombia), Otrolado (Cuba), Defonce (Colombia/Spain/Haiti), and
Michelle Foreman (Cuban/Spain). Main event: Locos Por Juana (Colombia, Pan Latin),
Javier Garcia (Ireland/Spain/Cuba), Lila Downs (Mexico), Battle of the Bands winner & Drum Circle by
Venus. The Festival takes place twice a year both in Miami and NYC. Afropop 2005 NYC Coverage

Celebrate Brooklyn!
Brooklyn, New York, USA
June-August 2006
Celebrate Brooklyn is one of New York City's longest-running, free, outdoor performing arts
festivals, offering music, dance, film and spoken word at the Prospect Park Bandshell each
summer. Consistently chosen by the press as New York City's best summer performance festival,
Celebrate Brooklyn is praised for its wide array of eclectic live performances and film
screenings, spectacular venue, and highly diverse audience that cannot be found anywhere else.

Central Park SummerStage
New York, New York, USA
June-August 2006
SummerStage was founded in the spirit of Central Park’s original purpose—to serve as a free public
resource to help enrich the lives of New Yorkers through a summer-long offering of a broad range of
new music, dance, spoken word and film within the heart of the city. 

International Arts Festival
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
June 07 - 11, 2006
The 19th annual International Arts Festival (IAF) is New Orleans 3rd oldest and only world
music festival. It’s the only festival in New Orleans for bonafide fans craving eclectic
fusions of World Beat, Caribbean, Brazilian, New Orleans Jazz, Latin Jazz, R&B, Hip Hop and
Reggae music on the main stage.

MANTRA International World Music Festival
Miami, Florida, USA
July 01 - 15, 2006
MANTRA International World Music Festival is a Celebration of Music, Art, Film and Culture
in Miami, Florida.

Afrofest
Toronto, Canada
July 8 & 9, 2006
Music Africa presents: a celebration of African music and culture, FREE on Saturday July 8th and Sunday July 9th. Join thousands in the green splendour of Toronto's Queen's Park to see and hear traditional and contemporary styles by dozens of different African performing groups along with top international touring acts. Music Africa and Harbourfront Centre present the official launch of Afrofest on Thursday July 6th with a concert by Malian superstar Salif Keita. Ticketmaster or Harbourfront Box Office at 416-973-4000. This year's main stage performers include Guinea's 'golden voice' Sekouba Bambino, Rwandan star Jean Paul Samputu, Juno award winners African Guitar Summit, Malian kora master Mamadou Diabate, Cameroonian songstress Muna Mingole, Cape Verde's Carmen Souza, Halifax based Afro pop sensation Afro Musica, Mali's Tapa Diarra with Kassoum Diamoutene , the Ijo Vudu African Dance Company, from Nigeria, Ghana's Ras Israel, Danny from Eritrea, Moroccan Mel M'barat, Sudan's Hadi Ahmed and more. Festivals.com

CALIFORNIA WORLDFEST
Fairgrounds, Grass Valley, California
July 13 & 16, 2006
California 10th Annual WorldFest features eight stages of music and dance from around the world, camping with family and friends, workshops, international food, fine crafts, and the renowned children's program... celebrate mid-summer with us under the cool, tall pines of the Sierra foothills. Sample line-up: Michael Franti & Spearhead, Refugee All-Stars of Sierra Leone, Tiempo Libre, Incendio and much, much more!

Concert of Colors-Annual Diversity Festival
Detroit, Michigan, USA
July 14 & 15, 2006
This year Detroit celebrates the 14th annual Concert of Colors Diversity Festival.  Some of
the series celebrated headliners have been Hugh Masekela, Femi Kuti, Susana Baca, Burning
Spear, Cheb Mami, and The Neville Brothers. The 3-day Concert of Colors music festival has been
presented for the enjoyment of the metropolitan Detroit community free of charge and is one
of the largest music festivals in the nation.

AfroFunk Festival
San Francisco, Santa Cruz & Santa Monica, USA
July 27-29, 2006
The Afrofunk Festival 2006 Benefit Expands To Three Nights Across Three Cities. The first and only Afrobeat Festival in the world. This year featuring diverse and electrifying musical acts from Guinea, Algeria, Senegal, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Brazil, and the Bay Area, all coming together to bring the house down while raising funds for Kids in Darfur, Sudan, Niger and Kenya whose lives have been devastated by war and famine. Headlined by festival producer Sila and the Afrofunk Experience, the lineup includes legendary kora master Prince Diabate, Afrobeat heavyweight Jujuba, world-famous improvisationist DJ Cheb i Sabbah, the only American band to ever perform at Fela Kuti's shrine in Lagos, Nigeria--Aphrodesia, 2005 SF Music Award winner (Best World Music) Albino, local favorites Afrobeat Down, all-female Brazilian funk band Goddess of Funk, Liberia's DJ Jeremiah, and DJ Emmanuel Nado of Guinea. AfroFunk Festival

Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival
Chicago, Illinois, USA
August 26 - 27, 2006
This colorful festival celebrates Latin culture, as well as, the food, music and traditions of
Chicago's Latino Community. Artists around the globe are represented, so you're sure to hear
lots of cumbias, nortenas, tropical, merengue, salsa, ballad, ranchero and of course, mariachi
sounds.

Google search: world music festivals, or visit Festivals.com to find out what's going on
in your city.

The Rhythm Foundation, International Music Network, and Eye for Talent