The Nth Power is a marquee ensemble of world-class music lovers on a mission to change the way we hear and experience the power of music. Creating infectious indie gospel-funk, they define what a modern all-star ensemble is for a new generation. The Nth Power embarks on their debut US tour Dec. 3-15, though it’s odd to think of this the group’s first tour considering the players involved — Dumpstaphunk’s Nikki Glaspie, who was Beyonce’s world-touring drummer for many years; keyboardist and vocalist Nigel Hall of Lettuce, Warren Haynes Band and John Scofield’s Uberjam; bassist Nate Edgar of John Brown’s Body; soul evangelist and guitarist Nick Cassarino of the Jennifer Hartswick Band; and West African djembe master Weedie Braimah of Toubab Krewe. The Nth Power is a force best experienced live. Their sound will resonate wholeheartedly, leaving you inspired and enlightened as a music lover and listener. To learn more, watch their insightful EPK, Welcome To The Nth Power.
Toubab Krewe’s CARNAVALITO, a two-day mini-fest, has been announced to take place at the Pisgah Brewing Company in Black Mountain, NC on Friday, July 13th and Saturday, July 14th, 2012. The outdoor event will feature headlining sets from Toubab Krewe as well as a different roster of supporting bands and DJs each day including Donna the Buffalo, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, Rayna Gellert and DJ Chalice. DJ Equal will top off both nights with indoor late night sets. A shuttle system is conveniently available to travel between a local campground and the event.
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a KOA campground is located just one mile from the venue. CARNAVALITO attendees are encouraged to stay for the weekend and receive a 10% discount on tent and RV camping with the code PB. All sites come equipped with water and electricity. View the map and reserve camping spaces online through koa.com/campgrounds/asheville-east.
Shuttles will be traveling between the campground and venue as well as between downtown Asheville and the Pisgah Brewery. Look for shuttle details coming in May at pisgahbrewing.com.
Tickets are $41 (two-day admission) and $26 (one-day admission) and go on sale Tuesday, May 1st through the Pisgah Brewing Company event site (pisgahbrewing.com/events). VIP packages will also be available for $76 (two-day VIP admission) and $51 (one-day VIP admission) and include early entry to the event, a private guided brewery tour and tasting, preferred stage viewing, and more. All attendees who purchase a two-day ticket by July 1, 2012 will receive an unreleased Toubab Krewe summer EP and a Toubab Krewe beverage koozie.
CARNAVALITO is a family friendly event. Kids ages 10 and under are free with a ticketed adult. On Saturday, children of all ages will dance to the rhythms and rhymes of Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, aka “The king of kid-hop.”
Toubab Krewe will donate one dollar from every CARNAVALITO ticket purchased to Instruments for Africa, a not-for-profit organization that aims to empower underprivileged and at-risk youth in Mali through the preservation of traditional music and arts. Toubab Krewe and Instruments for Africa have launched a campaign to build the Krewe House, a music school project set to break ground in 2013. For more information, visit instruments4africa.wordpress.com.
July 13th Lineup – Gates open at 6:00 PM
Toubab Krewe
Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk
DJ Chalice
DJ Equal (Indoor Stage – Late Night)
July 14th Lineup – Gates open at 3:00 PM
Toubab Krewe
Donna the Buffalo
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Rayna Gellert
DJ Chalice
DJ Equal (Indoor Stage – Late Night)
For more information on Toubab Krewe, including upcoming tour dates, please visit www.toubabkrewe.com
Global Music Festival Debuts in Miami with Headliners Chaka Khan, Arrested Development, and Del McCoury
Family-Friendly Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival February 9th-12th, 2012 Welcomes Community Participation
The world-renowned GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance is coming to The Historic Virginia Key Beach Park in Miami on February 9th-12th, 2012. Founded in upstate New York in 1991, the non-profit festival showcases top tier world and roots music performers from a wide variety of genres; Latin, Reggae, Hip-Hop, Americana, Funk, Cajun, Bluegrass, Indie Rock, African, Kompa, World Beat, and Jam. International and Grammy Award winning artists will perform alongside some of Florida’s premier bands – Chaka Khan, Del McCoury, and Arrested Development.
Throughout the four-day, family-friendly event, a Kid’s Village will offer interactive activities. Local artisans and visiting craftspeople will display and sell their work. In addition, celebrity dance instructors will provide ongoing group instruction and festival performers will conduct daily music and instrumental workshops. Those interested in wellness will find movement classes, flow workshops, massage and more in The Healing Arts Area.
The festival welcomes local residents and out of town visitors. The on-site campgrounds, just a short walk from the beach, are open to all festival attendees for a reasonable fee. Space is for tents and vehicle camping. Day Tickets, Discounted 4-Day Passes, and Special Packages are available by phone (786) 332-4630, online www.virginiakeygrassroots.org, and at the gate.
The Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival’s mission is to promote community engagement through music and arts education, while supporting environmental sustainability, and social justice. To this end, GrassRoots invites local non-profit groups to set up booths in the Community Advocacy Area. For more information please contact Emma Hewitt at emma@grassrootsfest.org or (786) 332-4630.
GrassRoots is seeking volunteers to help in all areas of the festival, from the Street Team to Hospitality Kitchen. In trade for hours worked, Volunteers are rewarded free festival passes. For more information visit http://virginiakeygrassroots.com/volunteer
Festival Line-up:
Arrested Development, ArtOfficial, Beausoleil Avec Michael Doucet, Big Cosmo, The Del McCoury Band, Donna the Buffalo, Driftwood, Fishbone, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Greg Humphreys, Jim Lauderdale, Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band, Keith Secola & Wild Band of Indians, The Lee Boys, Locos Por Juana, Mixed Culture, Preston Frank, Revelation Mizik, Roy Jay Band, Rubblebucket, Sim Redmond Band, Suenalo, Thousands of One, Toubab Krewe, Willie Watson & the Evil City String Band
Becky Upham, also know as the Mountain Xpress’s “Profiler“, has been working with The Orange Peel in Asheville to bring podcast previews to fans for upcoming shows.
The podcasts are available for free on iTunes and at the club’s website as a stream.
This podcast features the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Toubab Krewe, Clutch, The Old 97’s & Donna The Buffalo.
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Toubab plays for New Year’s Eve Eve on Dec 30th; DtB plays the Peel on January 29th, 2011. Find out about more shows and get tickets from the Peel’s website: www.theorangepeel.net
Organizers of Boone’s annual Music on the Mountaintop agree this year’s festival was a rousing success.
With attendance between 5,000 and 6,000, it was what founder Jimmy Hunt called “good, successful and exciting.”
Area environmental advocacy group Appalachian Voices would agree, to the tune of $5,500.
With community outreach a key facet of the festival, Hunt has ensured that portions of proceeds benefit a different nonprofit organization each year. This year, Appalachian Voices stood to benefit with a 10 percent increase in donation from last year.
“Even with the economy down, there are still positive events trying to get us back,” Hunt said. “It makes sense. If people can have a good time and dance and, at the end of the day, realize their ticket made a difference, that’s pretty awesome.” . . . .
. . . “But what really blew my mind was the amount of positive response we got from the artists – Larry Keel, Toubab Krewe, Railroad Earth, even Keller (Williams),” he said. “They all tried to come find me, not just to say ‘thank you,’ but a very personal, sincere ‘thank you.’ Toubab has been all over the world and said this was such a breath of fresh air, coming back and playing in front of people who genuinely like music.
“That’s a testament to our town and fans, what Music on the Mountaintop is, and that it’s, hopefully, always going to be here.”
The Blind Tiger announces the grand opening of its NEW 1819 Spring Garden Street location with a special New Years’ Eve performance headlined by instrumental powerhouse Toubab Krewe who is touring in support of their new album TK2. The event is presented by Greenefields Productions. Doors for the Friday, December 31st celebration will open at 8pm with the new venue boasting of a higher capacity of 480, free parking, larger bathrooms and 5000 sq feet . The Jonathan Scales Fourchestra opens the show with music at 9pm. Ticket packages are $20 and include one ticket to the show, champagne toast, & complimentary hor d’oeuvres. They are available at www.theblindtiger.com
Click for more on TK2
The Blind Tiger’s grand opening celebration will be headlined by Asheville-based Toubab Krewe. Formed in 2005, Toubab Krewe has tenaciously honed their craft through relentless touring and a fierce dedication to carving out something they can truly call their own. The fruits of this hard work can be heard on their scintillating new long-player, TK2, out now on Nat Geo Music.
Some music cannot be found on a map or within iTunes categories. Some music is so original it seems snatched from the great, invisible substrata that runs below all human activity, a sound aching to be born without a flag or fixed allegiance– free, questing, overflowing with immediate, tangible life. This is the music of Toubab Krewe, the vibrant Asheville, NC-based instrumental powerhouse that creates a sonic Pangaea that lustily swirls together rock, African traditions, jam sensibilities, international folk strains and more. While nearly impossible to put into any box, it takes only a few moments to realize in a very palpable way that one is face-to-face with a true original who recognizes no borders in a march towards a muscular, original, globally switched-on sound.
What Justin Perkins (Kora, Kamelngoni, guitar, percussion), Teal Brown (drums, congas), Drew Heller (guitar, piano, fiddle), David Pransky (bass, guitar), and Luke Quaranta (Djembe, percussion) have wrought on TK2 reflects the many miles and musical journeys that have transpired since their studio debut.
The NYE pairing of Toubab Krewe with Jonathan Scales Fourchestra is sure to be an unforgettable occasion. Jonathan Scalesis a Steel Pan player who brings a whole new sense of vitality to this traditionally Caribbean instrument. Here you have a classically trained composer turned steel pan maestro, heavily influenced by sounds from banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck to rapper Jay-Z . . . It’s a whole new concoction with a jazz edge classical sensibility, that has been described as “joyously inventive” by the Jazz Times. Check them out in the video below:
Really excited that The Bob Moog Foundation has officially released the Moog/ Toubab Krewe Documentary. It is an amazing film, and received the award for “Best Documentary” at Music Video Asheville last winter. My dearly departed friend Margaret Lauzon took a lead role in making this film happen along with Flying Pig Studio’s David Bragg; it was the last film the she worked on before she passed; and it is fantastic. Here is what the Moog Foundation has to say about the film:
Toubab Krewe’s One-of-a-Kind Connection to Bob Moog through the Network of Creativity
“They are such damn good musicians that I just wish I could dance with Ileana to their music” ~ Bob Moog speaking about Toubab Krewe in the month before his passing
On August 21, 2005, Bob Moog succumbed to an aggressive brain tumor. His passing touched legions of people around the world. In the month prior to his passing, Bob discovered the music of Toubab Krewe, an new, local african/rock fusion band who was, at the time, managed by Bob’s longtime friend Steven Heller. One sleepless night Bob listened to the band’s new self-titled CD over and over again, and was deeply moved by the quality of the musicianship. This beautiful video, which features Drew Heller, guitarist for Toubab Krewe and Michelle Moog-Koussa, Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation, explores Bob’s connection to the band and the reach of the Moog Legacy as it has touched Toubab Krewe and as it is manifested in the Bob Moog Foundation.
We owe a huge thanks to many people who helped make this video a reality. The video was shot in the studio of world-class Echo Mountain Recording in Asheville, North Carolina. The owner, Steve Wilmans and their manager, Jessica Tomasin, continue to be a wonderfully supportive to the Foundation’s mission. The exceptional filmmaking team that donated their services to make this video a possibility was a collaboration between David Bragg of Flying Pig Studio (located within Echo Mountain Recording) and the late Margaret Lauzon of Studio South, among other local talents.
The dedication at the end of the film has brought tears to me: “Dedicated to Margaret Lauzon (1975-2010). Whose passion & dedication to local music was the driving force for bringing this video and many others to life. Her legacy will continue to connect lives and inspire creativity” ♥ Love.
Bob Moog will live forever in the music that he has inspired across this world. Asheville just got a little taste of that in the hugely successful Moogfest this past Halloween weekend in Asheville.
Music on the Mountaintop in Boone enters is third year: Lineup includes Sam Bush, Railroad Earth, Keller Williams, Toubab Krewe, Acoustic Syndicate, Larry Keel, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band
August 27-28, 2010
Boone fairgrounds (formerly The High Country Fairgrounds)
748 Roby Greene Road
Boone, NC 27607
Music on the Mountaintop is scheduled for August 27th and 28th, tucked away in the heart of the high country at Boone fairgrounds (formerly the Old High Country Fairgrounds). MOTM is the first ever green festival in Boone, NC and it took the High Country by surprise and is now entering it’s third year. What started as a class project at Appalachian State University grew into one of the largest musical events the town had seen in nearly a decade.
Acoutic Syndicate
Music on the Mountaintop has expanded this year to include two full days of unmatched music featuring several national acts, creating an eclectic blend of Americana, bluegrass, and acoustic funk and folk. Festival goers can enjoy a kids zone, a 30 ft. climbing wall and multiple jump arounds, limited 2 night camping, over 30 bands throughout 20 hours of music, 30 art and craft vendors, 10 interactive and hands on non-profit exhibits. Music on the Mountaintop is entertainment for people of all ages and backgrounds.
MOTM’s Lineup includes Sam Bush, Railroad Earth, Keller Williams, Toubab Krewe, Acoustic Syndicate, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Josh Phillips Folk Festival, Snake Oil Medicine Show, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, The Movement, Do it to Julia, Uncle Mountain, Now You See Them, The Mumbles, Big Daddy Love, Moon Taxi, The Native Sway, Naked Gods, Farm Vegas, BPL, The Moderate, Doc Aquatic, Mama’s Love, Sign of the Rhino, Tom Tom Roach, Gurad the Van, Southern Exposure and more.
Larry Keel
MOTM’s Mission is to bridge the gap between traditional business and environmental stewardship. Through the medium of music MOTM hopes to educate while entertaining, offering practical and useful information to help people live a more sustainable and green lifestyle. MOTM hopes by offering the best musical talent, as well as positive environmental message, “we can change the world one person at a time”. At the end of the day, MOTM hopes to offer a significant financial contribution back to the cause and research of renewable and alternative energy.
Live Environmental Forum – Recreating an idea from the Bonnaroo Music Festival, MOTM is hosting a live forum made up of some of the the top artists performing. This will allow fans to interact with the musicians on relevant and current environmental issues. Similarly to the MOTM particular sponsor selections, MOTM also books musicians that have similar ecological mindsets.
Food Drive – MOTM has teamed up with several Greek social organizations from Appalachian State University to host a canned food drive benefiting the local Hunger Coalition, as well as encouraging our attendees to give financial donations. The fraternities and sororities at Appalachian State have always had effective and generous community activism and we are happy to bring the two together.
Yo Mama's Big fat Booty Band
Other Greeen Initiatives include a River cleanup of the New River, solar staging, attentive recycling and composting campaigns, large scale shuttle and carpooling efforts.
Non-profit beneficiary: This year MOTM has teamed with one of the most active non-profits out there today, Appalachian Voices (www.appalachianvoices.org) Appalachian Voices brings people together to solve the environmental problems having the greatest impact on the central and southern Appalachian Mountains, specifically air pollution and mountaintop removal.
2009 Details: In 2009, MOTM gave $5,000 to AIRE, recycled nearly 2,000 lbs of aluminum, and had over 4,000 in attendance., doubled from the year before. MOTM was voted number one green fest in country 2009 by Blue Ridge Outdoors.
Won a Greenie Award for Country’s Greenest Festival by Blue Ridge Outdooors:
Amazingly, the festival, which takes place on August 29, was started last year as a school project by recent Appalachian State University graduate James Hunt. His assignment was to create a business plan for an entrepreneurship class. Hunt saw a void in large-scale music production in Boone, so he mapped out a plan to bring the area a festival of its own. Unwilling to let the idea sit dormant in a class paper, he formed his own company and moved forward. Last year the inaugural event drew 2,500 people. ~ Jedd Ferris, Blue Ridge Outdoors
“The efficient, earth-conscious event requires relatively little land space, and the organizers strive and succeeded in making the festival one of the most environmentally considerate in the country. Volunteers combed the grounds all day encouraging garbage gathering and recycling, while a village of eco-conscious organizations and companies greeted the nearly 4,200 attendees upon entry.
Music on the Mountaintop has an impressive musical history for such a young event, and there’s already a legacy of artistry being established via repeat performances from headliners and local favorites alike. Luminaries like Sam Bush, Acoustic Syndicate and Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band have performed at both iterations, helping give the event an air of tradition waiting to take hold.”
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The town of Boone would do well to hold on to and foster the event, which this year became the largest music event ever staged in the picturesque town. There’s a dedicated and enthusiastic team of people and a cavalcade of top-notch artists ready to make the festival a treasured yearly tradition.”
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“Stellar performances were to be expected from these world-class artists, but none could have anticipated the numerous collaborations that occurred.” … “~ Bryan Rodgers, Glide Magazine
“One thing, though, that I really liked about some of the food vendors were those who were a little more conscientious about what was being served. For example, the food made by students using locally grown produce, and another who offered antibiotic/cage free chicken. Small things. But a step in the right direction. It was refreshing to have these types of options at a ‘green’ event such as this.
I was also pretty impressed with the emphasis they put on recycling with signs and stewards who walked around passing out personal trash bags for groups accumulating cans and other garbage to help cut down on litter found later on. I was extremely pleased with the extra measures put in place. The Music on the Mountaintop Festival is clearly becoming a great example in keeping the focus on sustainability.” ~ Jessica Maceda, Wayfaring Wanderer
Music Video Asheville last night, Wednesday March 10th, was a great success! All of the FoAMcore want to thank each and every musician, filmmaker, costume designer, and everyone else that may have been involved in creating any of the videos that were submitted to MVA this year!
To check out videos from most participants, please visit Dreamspider’s YouTube Channel and see the MVA 2010 playlist.(*not all videos could be found on YouTube, therefore some that were played at MVA are not on the playlist. If you know of a video from MVA that is now on YouTube to add to the playlist, please add a comment below with the link to the video)
The official list of award recipients is posted below.
Music on the Mountaintop is a one of a kind, ecologically driven large-scale music festival, offering first class entertainment as well as educational awareness on current environmental issues.
Music on the Mountaintop will now be 2 days!
3rd Annual Music on the Mountaintop, August 27th and 28th, 2010.
2010 Initial Lineup:
Sam Bush, Toubab Krewe, Acoustic Syndicate, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge
Snake Oil Medicine Show, Josh Phillips Folk Festival, Holy Ghost Tent Revival
Do it to Julia, The Movement, The Native Sway, Uncle Mountain, Doc Aquatic, Farm Vegas, BPL, Mama’s Love, The Moderate
Remember that the message of Music on the Mountaintop is to “Educate While Entertaining” and keep the messages of the event with you all year around.
The first ever green festival in Boone, NC took the High Country by surprise. What started as a class project at Appalachian State University grew into one of the largest musical events the town had seen in nearly a decade.
Nearly 2,500 attendees enjoyed a full day of top notch musical talent from the local and national scene as well as interactive educational exhibits promoting environmental stewardship provided by more than 15 non-profits from across the state of North Carolina. Music on the Mountaintop was entertainment for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Whether it was enjoying the Grammy-winning dobro of Jerry Douglas, grubbing down on the local barbeque and burgers, or practicing your skills on the 30-foot climbing wall, there was certainly never a dull moment down at the High Country Fair Grounds.
The Cause:
At the end of the day, MOTM hopes to offer a significant financial contribution back to the cause and research of renewable and alternative energy.
The Mission:
The mission with Music on the Mountaintop is to bridge the gap between traditional business and environmental stewardship. Through the medium of music we hope to educate while entertaining, offering practical and useful information to help you live a more sustainable and green lifestyle. MOTM hopes by offering the best musical talent, as well as positive environmental message, we can change the world one person at a time.
The Nth Power. Photo by Michael Weintrob
Dreamspider's Blog 