No, it's not a new Apple product
iFest announces entertainment lineup
The Houston International Festival has announced its entertainment line-up, and it's got a Carribean flair. This year brings festival first-timers like Eddie Palmieri and Steel Pulse and Houston newbies Bassekou Kouate and Los de AbajoWorld, but there are also plenty of local acts to support. World music and roots make a proud showing, as does ska, reggae and Latin music, sure to have everybody (literally) dancing in the streets.
The festival will run April 17-18 and April 24-25 in the streets, parks and plazas of downtown Houston.
On the main stage:
Latinology, featuring Joel Guzman and Sarah Fox; Easy Star All Stars; Joe Ely Band, featuring David Grissom on guitar; and Ozomatli (April 17)
Norma Zenteno Band; Bassekou Kouyate; Mighty Diamonds; and Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Band (April 18)
Taj Weekes and Adowa; La Excelencia; King Sunny Ade and His African Beats; and George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic (April 24)
D.R.U.M.; Los de Abajo; Baaba Maal; and Steel Pulse (April 25)
Other iFest perfomers include:
Local reggae acts the Suspects; Irie Time; DubTex; Shark Attack and Idiginis; and Wild Moccasins; along with Houston groups the Sideshow Tramps; Los Skarnales; Robert Ellis and the Boys; Texas Johnny Brown; Sisters Morales; the Mitch Jacobs Band; Big Al Bettis; and Karina Nistal.
Also playing are Marcia Ball; Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women; the Rebirth Brass Band; Tab Benoit; Brave Combo; J. Paul Jr., Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Cha; Zydepunks; Bachata Roja Legends, featuring Puerto Plata; La Excelencia; Lil Brian Terry; Bassekou Kouyate; Janiva Magness; New Orleans Hustlers Brass Band; Truth Universal; Sara Hickman; Ned Sublette; Sisters Morales; Grupo Kache; Mi Rumba; Tekumbe; Mark May; Mark Townes; and the HSPVA All Stars.
Dance groups including the Oyu Oro Afro-Cuban Dancers and the Mocko Jumbie stilt dancers will also be grooving around downtown.
The full schedule and ticket information can be found here.