(Click here for Friday evening's FREE concert lineup)

July 18-20, 2008

	Alpha Yaya Diallo (Vancouver, BC) Alpha YaYa Diallo’s fluid, compelling guitar playing, mastery of various percussion instruments (including the balafon), and his supple and beautifully modulated voice, have earned him an international reputation for excellence of musicianship and excitement in his live shows, which include uninhibited dance craziness both on and off stage. When young, Alpha quickly learned how to transpose for his guitar the melodic and rhythmic patterns he heard played on indigenous Guinean instruments. In Europe, he became a member of Fatala - a group of West African musicians with Peter Gabriel's Real World label – appearing at many festivals, including the prestigious WOMAD Festival outside London, and the Festival d'Angoulèm in France. Since then he has recorded 5 highly-acclaimed albums of his own compositions, toured extensively over the years in North America & Europe, and been a key member of the hugely successful, Juno award winning African Guitar Summit with Pa Joe, Mighty Popo, & Madagascar Slim, among others. http://www.alphayayadiallo.com/
	Cheb i Sabbah (San Francisco) Whether through one of his many excellent recordings or live shows, experiencing Cheb I Sabbah is always transformative and expansive, a sonic message that speaks to the core of our beings where the physical and spiritual elements meld and wash away our cranial jitters. Starting to spin in Paris clubs in 1964, Cheb has traveled the world personally gathering exotic samplings from inspired artists in India, Africa and South East Asia, brilliantly integrating their essential, often ancient denotations with modern dance grooves, and originating a genre that boldly cultivates a meaningful, non-exploitive global culture. Underlying all his amazing collaborations - which include legends such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Western innovators such as Don Cherry, Bill Laswell and Karsh Kale - dwells Cheb’s masterful channeling of melody, rhythm and pace – interpreting, layering, offering us musical prayers of rapture and joy, as well as just a space for gettin’ down in the grind. Not to be missed. http://www.chebisabbah.com/
	Kinnie Starr (Vancouver, BC) MC-singer-poet-pop diva-beatnik-actress-feminist - draws on her Aboriginal heritage while breaking boundaries in the present. Beginning in NYC one night when an open mic called - and the crowd carried her through three blazing encores ("edgy... enchanting," said the New Yorker) - she’s been laying down her soothing, captivating melodies and articulate, insightful rants since 1993 (garnishing a Juno nomination in 2004), and releasing recordings since 1995, culminating with her 5th , Anything, in 2006. As well as touring solo in Japan, the UK, and America, she’s had key roles in Cirque de Soleil (vocally), appeared with the 1997 Lilith Fair tour, collaborated with Veda Hilley & Oh Susanna in 1998 & 2004, and traveled extensively giving artist mentoring workshops to youth throughout Western and Northern Canada. Whatever she does, the creative impulse takes precedent: "I write a lot, and very quickly these days, off the seat of my pants," she adds. "If I'm driving I'll pull over, or I'll take my sketchbook out and put it on my lap while I drive if I can't pull over." http://www.kinniestarr.com/
	Mae Moore & Lester Quitzau (British Columbia) The First Time Lester Quitzau and Mae Moore performed together as a duo was opening for Taj Mahal in 2002. They were received with standing ovations. There was clearly electricity between them. The chemistry is all the more interesting when each artist has already several cd's, with Juno nominations, and more than a dozen years into their own careers and personae. As Canadian solo artists, Mae Moore and Lester Quitzau have each defied simple catagories. Working today in the relative quiet of their west coast home, they are crafting a passionate acoustic sound. Lester brings his trademark groove and sweeping blues vocabulary, and Mae her acoustic jazz and familiar folk feel to this new project. This work finds both artists reaching new levels, making music with an openess and depth that only comes with maturity. http://www.maemoore.com/ http://www.lesterq.com/
	Zaki Ibrahim (Toronto) Vibrant, soulful, fun, passionate, socially engaged, soon-to-be star – all tags that stick to Zaki Ibrahim. Born in Vancouver, BC and raised between South Africa and Canada’s West Coast, Zaki has spent her life shifting between different worlds, and cultivating a resilient and seamless continuity therein. Early performances at Capetown’s historic Armchair Theatre; touring Canada with Tumi & the Volume, the Roots, and Bedouin Soundclash; collaborating with famed DJ/Producer King Britt; sharing the stage with the likes of Toots and the Maytals, K’Naan, or Erykah Badu - it’s all been about connection. Musical connections between soul, jazz, and hip hop to create a powerful, neo-soul hybrid that is bold, earthy, sophisticated, often haunting, and goes well beyond the paths of artists like Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu or Jill Scott. And connections amongst people, enlisting her talent to aid many community-based initiatives. With recordings Iqra in Orange and the just released Eclectica behind her, she’s now working on a new album, Every Opposite, to be distributed by Sony/BMG. http://www.zakiibrahim.com/ecard/ http://www.myspace.com/zakiibrahim http://earwaks.com/beats/396/zaki-ibrahim.html
	Gabriel Teodros Gabriel Teodros (of Abyssinian Creole) is at the forefront of a Northwest HipHop movement. Smart, soulful, street-raised with roots in the Horn of Africa, this South Seattle MC has been making noise internationally with his newest lp Lovework. Spinning observations and wordplay, he links first and third world people's struggles, with sincerity - "we in this together son, your beef is mine." From ciphers at Westlake to spending months in Vancouver and Brooklyn, Gabriel's story is one of trial, tribulation and a search for redemption. The contrast of his onstage ferocity with his offstage humility reveals a multifaceted spirit who understands that the political is personal. Whether addressing political repression and resistance in East Africa or reflecting on the effects of patriarchy in his relationships, Teodros captures each moment soulfully with his unmistakably (north)west coast delivery. Teodros has left a mark in the underground NW hiphop scene as one half of the duo Abyssinian Creole (with emcee Khingz & DJ WD4D), and since the late 90's has been seen rocking microphones from classrooms to theatres, clubs, stadiums, protests, prisons to street corners alongside the likes of Zap Mama, Fishbone, KRS-One, Digable Planets, Souls Of Mischief, Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Ozomatli, The Coup, GZA/Genius, Aceyalone and Bahamadia to name a few. Since the release of 'Lovework' Gabriel has reached #1 on the CMJ Hip Hop Charts, released 2 new music videos, was featured on NPR and in URB Magazine's "Next 100", and has been receiving rave reviews everywhere from Rolling Stone to Okayplayer.com. He's coming to Starbelly with a 'live' crew of musicians, DJ, and dancer to rock the house, including MC Khingz. http://www.myspace.com/gabrielteodros
	Mamaguroove (British Columbia) With a penchant and skill for brewing a mélange of genres that most of us only dream about, Mamaguroove are true musical voyageurs, BC style. Genuinely conscientious as much as joyfully bizarre, these guys can chill you out and get you stirred up at the same time, coming away feeling more connected (to each other and the earth) and more funked-up than you can recall in a long while. Hailing from deep in BC’s Rockie Mountains, the Guroovers are a colourful, pulsating, tight-knit tribe of five, whose latest release, Resistance Is Fertile, runs the whole gamut of funk, reggae, world beat, hip hop, thrash, latin, “and a bit of accapella and folk” to boot – an inspired hybrid that still manages to seem homespun and down-to-earth. Come nurture your free spirit. http://www.mamaguroove.ca/
	Aaron Nazrul (Vancouver, BC) Like his inspiration the rebel poet of Bangladesh Kazi Nazrul, Aaron belongs not to any one society or place, but to the world; his world - always moving yet also calmly absorbing the cultural diversity, and lyrically chronicling the constant metamorphoses he experiences therein. He wrote his brilliant debut album Butterfly Man while traveling, riding a motorbike around South East Asia and China. From this context of vibrant curiosity, Aaron & his music actually evoke a grounded, soulful earthiness that compels like a good Latino folk song with great rhythm and passion – a sort of cross between Manu Chau (with the horns) and Ben Harper. First appearing internationally at the famed Edinburgh Festival in August 2007, where he was hailed as "the Golden Voice of the festival", Aaron Nazrul is one of Vancouver’s brightest emerging performers. http://www.myspace.com/aaronnazrul
	The Breakmen (Vancouver, BC) Churning out an infectious live performance, The Breakmen are wowing audiences across Canada & the American Northwest with their brand of “down-home” tunes that clearly show us that we never totally leave home. Fabulous, rich vocal harmonies, spry & skillful multi-instrumental work (including the Dobro), and truly well crafted songwriting – all work to blend elements of bluegrass, old-time, blues, and folk music, weaving a texture that has a familiar, broad appeal but also makes a very distinctive impression and seems fresh & vital. As well as receiving national attention from CBC radio (including two live broadcasts on Radio 2), The Breakmen contributed the title song to the acclaimed Vancouver bluegrass and old-time compilation CD, Whiskey Hollow Bound. With their debut recording in its fourth pressing, the follow-up CD is scheduled for release in 2008. http://www.thebreakmen.com/
	LAL (Toronto) For 10 years now, Toronto collective Lal has shaped a musical journey based on the twin beliefs of escapism and change. Their sound evokes seductive contrast: icy, futuristic rhythms melting into warm bass lines and soothing soul melodies, with reverberating atmospherics whirling about the spacious groove. The amalgam of Rosina's blue-but-hopeful vocals (often coloured by her South Asian roots) and Nic’s electronic treatments & entrancing beats, creates a truly original, progressive aural experience seasoned with hints of familiar genres such as world, hip hop, or down tempo. Whether pursuing another sound or working to make a difference politically through their incessant participation in local social movements, Lal's members have each extended to affect a strong measure of change in our world. http://www.lalforest.com/
	Rembetika Hipsters (Calgary, AB) Rembetika: A popular genre of Greek music comparable to the blues. Hipsters: like the Greek Manges; cool dudes, hep cats in the know, those of a subculture on the fringe of society. The Rembetika Hipsters are a nationally-acclaimed Greek music group based in Calgary, Canada. Since 1996, their repertoire has included authentic Greek Rembetika songs, original Canadian compositions in Greek, Balkan & Middle-Eastern styles, contemporary belly-dance instrumentals and jazz-influenced bouzouki pop. "Calgary's Rembetika Hipsters adapt a passionate, plaintive and complex music without losing the dirt under its fingernails. Soulful and accomplished? You bet." - Penguin Eggs "The Rembetika Hipsters sure know how to play the Greek blues...they play with soul" – Exclaim http://www.rembetika.com/
	Pawnshop Diamond (Vancouver, BC) While seeming to slot into the rich songwriter genre of artists like Neil Young, Suzanne Vega, The Band, or Neko Case, Pawnshop Diamond manages to craft a distinctive, “roots rock noir” niche that furtively riles you up in a relaxed, around-the-campfire sort of way. Insightful lyrics, engaging, shifting country rhythms, and wonderfully infectious melodies leave us with a warm, happy glow that isn’t propped up by any naïve optimism. The songs on their debut album, the culmination of jam sessions of East Van friends who shared an affinity for “original music rooted in tradition”, began with singer\songwriter Katie Ormiston’s promise to herself that by age 30 she would render her private passion for music into tangible, performable entities. Good thing she keeps her promises! http://www.myspace.com/pawnshopdiamond
	Parlour Steps (Vancouver, BC) Parlour Step’s brand of pop rock emerges “from wanting to engage people in some sort of hypothetical conversation,” says Caleb Stull, the band’s primary songwriter & singer. “I like to throw out a lot of questions, almost necessarily things that I don’t know the answer to”, he says, capturing the band’s quirky, gregarious and exploratory stance that offers insightful riffs, musically & lyrically, on the interactions between each other personally and with “society”. Epitomizing their stormy & playful sound that embraces the dramatic while also stimulating the intellect, the fourth album Ambiguoso features the track Thieves of Memory, which won over 15 000 other songs in the International Songwriting Competition in 2005. If you listen, Parlour Steps will explain how we’re all special, yet common at the same time. http://www.parloursteps.com/
	Kyla Hana (Salmo, BC) A true gem gem living in our midst, Kyla Hana is not only an impressive singer with a clear, expressive, and nuanced voice, but also a masterful composer of songs of ethereal beauty. In her element most doing Celtic-tinged ballads with an extraordinary, moving symmetry of lyric, melody & rhythm, Kyla can be very convincing laying down an indicting Blues number as well. Her debut album Bell, released in 2006, is an auspicious testament to her burgeoning gifts, and she is further venturing into recording by building her own studio, where she plans to record her own music and help other musicians’ to record theirs.
	Lehera (Vancouver, BC) After a long pedigree in Indian classical music, Prakash Sontakke’s prodigious, award-winning talents now find voice playing the Hindustani slide guitar - solo (many radio broadcasts in India), with numerous bands on major concert circuits, and in many workshops. Karthik Subramanya’s percussion has emerged from his immersion in the Carnatic style since age 5, and his extensive Indian and international concert contributions. And Vancouver-based Prashant Michael John’s skillful treatment of the North and South Indian flutes, African Fula flute and Jazz guitar has attracted many awards and nominations, and been a key element to his other wonderful cross-cultural project Tandava. Together, these three illustrate what true fusion - of genre, era, and instrument - can generate, and are uniquely poised to explore a style that grows out of the Indian sub-continent but flows freely in all improvisational genres. http://www.myspace.com/lehera
Friday Evening Lineup	La Comuna - 7:30-9:00 Moonbelly Stage, Crawford Bay Park In the now well established pedigree of Mexican Reggae bands, La Comuna have carved out a solid place full of rich, relaxed, grooving riffs of horn, guitar and vocal that make it seem so natural and easy to just keep on shuffling, incorporating elements of jazz, funk, and soul. The masterful grasp of their sound have placed them on stages with Jimmy Cliff, Steel Pulse, Burning Spear and Manu Chao, and it is a special opportunity for Starbelly to host this 7 piece band who’re used to playing before large crowds in their Mexico City home. Drive if you Must is the electro/acoustic duo of Sarah McGlynn and Rich Rabnett. Together with collaborators Gisto (Wassabi Collective), Kiyo (Rabnett 5), and Adham Shaikh (Interchill), they have been setting BC clubs on fire with a powerful live show that includes horns, baffles genre categorization, and contradicts any popular notion that electronic music is largely repetitive and uninteresting. Both musicians have strong roots in Canadian Jazz and Dance music, and this project reflects that history, while venturing into truly cutting edge soundscapes. 6:00-7:30 Black Salt Cafe, Crawford Bay Strip The Man in Havana ...is not a DJ and actually lives in Nelson! With beat-making skills to move dance floors (with many people on them), the Man in Havana specializes in hard-stepping breakbeats, the dub-styles and the drum n bass. But ...unlike the abused culture of dance music being presented on laptops or turntables, The Man in Havana's shows come at you live and direct, often including live instruments. It's all about tweaking sounds, dropping beats and rocking the synths right in front of the crowd... in real time. Live bad-ass electro fusion beat-making for your booty shaking. 9:30-11:00 Treehouse Bakery, Crawford Bay Strip