The festival continues at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, where the Center for the Arts (CFTA) will host the 2023 California World Music Festival from July 13-16, 2023. This festival is unlike any other, though, because it brings together artists from every corner of America. Globally performing almost every genre of music imaginable. CFTA Executive Director Amber Jo Manuel said this is the first event to bring a variety of genres from around the world to Nevada County. “We’re one of the few remaining world music festivals, which makes it very unique. We’re not just another reggae festival or anything like that. We’re really one of the only festivals in our region, other than that , we also brought world music and highlighted it on stage, I’m talking music from seven countries, six stages and all over the world.”
Musical acts have come to Nevada County from South America, Africa, and Korea, just to name a few. “People come from far away for the festival, that’s what makes it unique,” Manuel said. “There are a lot of other festivals out there, but they don’t highlight world music in this way, and I think that’s what makes it so unique.”
Manuel attends conferences throughout the year, takes advice from the center’s programming committee, and sometimes follows fans, bringing bands and artists from a variety of musical genres throughout the four-day festival. One of the protagonists this year is five-time Grammy winner Ange ́lique Kidjo from South Africa.
The Benin-French singer-songwriter won the prestigious Polar Music Award 2023 and was included in The Times’ 100 most influential people in the world in 2021. Manuel said she was unmissable and “probably won more awards in her lifetime” than anyone who has ever been to Nevada County. She is great. She has played with Joan Baez, Jackson Browne, Michael Franty and was at Barack Obama’s inauguration. She was one of the prizes at the World Music Festival, but no one knew who she was. She is great. ’ Kidjo capped off the festival on Sunday night.
On Saturday, the headliner was Kabak Pyramid, who just won a Grammy for Best Reggae Album. Manuel said his performance was fusion. “He’s dancehall, reggae and hip-hop, so you know he’s going to be full of energy.”
Another highlight was South Korea’s ADG7, Manuel said: “One of the bands I’m most excited about is ADG7. Their energy, they’ll dress outrageously, they’ll be all over the stage. They’ve been described as weirdly dressed superheroes playing dynamic music.” music. They’re going to break records.”
ADG7 will perform on Saturday and Sunday
Music fans of nearly every genre are sure to find something to their liking, whether it’s rock, folk, reggae, blues, Americano, and more. Returning artists include hugely popular Venezuelan Appalachian fusion Ozomatli, who departs from Los Angeles on Friday, Afro-pop artist Zap Mama takes to the stage on Saturday, and local favorites, folk, bluegrass and American duo “Two Runner” performed Sunday.
Manuel stresses that beyond what’s happening on the six stages, there’s plenty to see and do, including 45 artisans, an impressive food selection and workshops, “many of which are held by artists. , so you can come and join some people. “Learn music from these world-renowned artists,” she said.
There are one-day and four-day tickets to choose from. RV camping is sold out, but dry camping is still an option at the fair. “RV camping is sold out, but if you have a tent or just want to dry camp, there’s always room to camp,” Manuel said.
To thank those who live in Nevada County, the World Music Festival is offering two-for-one tickets on Thursdays, and Manuel encouraged locals to give the festival a try. “If you’ve never been to a world music festival before and you think it might not be for you, it’s a big reggae party or something, then you’re wrong! It’s a family-friendly festival. It has something for everyone – From folk to bluegrass, reggae to funk, there is something for everyone at WorldFest, it’s an experience. People should come out of our community,”
Manuel encouraged, “We have a lot of people who have been here for 25 years from out of town, and if they’ve been here for 25 years and drive all the way to Grass Valley, it might be time for the Grass Valley folks to come and see.
Part of WorldFest’s mission is to give patrons access to music they might not otherwise hear, especially as local Manuel concluded: “We live in a remote community. Most of us don’t have diverse backgrounds. So, Celebrating the diversity this holiday brings to our region is critical to our understanding of each other and our community. Hopefully it will make us kinder and keep us off Facebook.”
Cover photo People enjoy last year’s World Music Festival on the spotlight stage. This year’s Worldfest will be held July 13-16 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. | Photography: Penny P. Collins {late_content_uuid}b07a1c53-ca60-4941-8e47-dfa9ad69d94e{/lated_content_uuid}
know and start WHO: art Center What: WorldFest Music Festival Where: Nevada County Fairgrounds 11228 McCourtney Rd, Grass Valley, CA 95945 when: July 13-16, 2023 how: Tickets – Single and Multi-Day Passes and VIP Cabin Experiences for Teens, Teens and Adults: $20-$1398 (with member discounts available) https://worldfest.net/tickets {related_content_uuid}13ce9b5b-473d-41cb-bc95-3b07efb6f2f3{/related_content_uuid}
