Richmond, CA (Top40 Charts/ GLOBAL SOL Official Website) - GLOBAL SOL (G:SOL) is a conscious urban two-night benefit and cultural event designed to bring together diverse communities within the greater Bay Area. Its purpose is to raise awareness, promote unity, and inspire the masses via an eclectic world mix of live music, DJs, dance performance, immersive light presentations, visionary art installations, SolSotutions and a Global Bazaar Vending Village with diverse organic food.
G:SOL will combine a 'technomadic' experience of high tech and roots tribal music in a solar powered venue located on the water with epic views across the San Francisco Bay.
G:SOL will be raising awareness and funds for the Women's Earth Alliance - an organization doing important front-line work around the world by supporting women through sustainable water technologies, agriculture and pro bono advocacy for indigenous women environmental activists involved in defending the health and well-being of their respective (and largely underserved) communities.
Music Line Up:
HAMSA LILA – Founding members Beryl Jacobson and MJ Greenmountain are the inspiration for G: SOL and along with Justin Katz (production manager for AEG San Francisco) are producing the event. World Fusion pioneers Hamsa Lila hit the West Coast music scene in 2001 singing in 13 languages with their infectious 'world trance grooves' rich in traditional influences from Morocco, West Africa, Brazil, India, and the Caribbean with a strong emphasis on Gnawa and Yoruba flavors. The band's debut album 'Gathering One'took the industry by surprise by reaching the No 2 spot on CMJ's National World Music Chart. Many of the headlining acts will be sitting in with Hamsa Lila both nights, including Speech from Arrested Development and Ernest Ranglin.
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT – Comeback tour! It's the return of the two-time Grammy award winning hip-hop group. The music promotes a conscious message for the earth, African self-determination and love. Since 1991 they've championed the advancement towards equality by spreading unique hip-hop around the world. The band won MTV music and video awards in the early '90s, plus Grammys for Best Rap Album and Best New Artist, they were also named Rolling Stone's Band of the Year 1993. They were the first African – American artists to donate money to Nelson Mandela and the ANC to help combat apartheid. They raised money for UNICEF for relief in the Congo, homeless organizations, inner city youth organizations, schools/universities, women's prisons, anti – human trafficking groups, and The Churches of Christ across the globe. In May, 2010 Arrested Development hit back with a new collection of songs from their CD entitled 'STRONG'.
EOTO (pronounced E-oh-toe) – Four of the six String Cheese Incident band-members will be at G:SOL! Normally EOTO consists of Michael Travis and Jason Hann from SCI (Fri.), but for G:SOL (Sat.) Michael Kang and Kyle Hollingsworth will join them for some slamming fresh rare grooves. The group mixes the organic sounds of live drums, bass and guitar through a variety of programs and gadgets to create a music style more likely to be found in a dance club than a live music theater. How the music is created is what sets EOTO apart from other artists in this emerging genre. While some artists may spend hours pre-mixing samples and musical elements for their live show, EOTO uses nothing pre-recorded, giving them the ability to approach each song with spontaneity and 100% live improvisation.
ERNEST RANGLIN – The Jamaican Guitar Legend. Best known for jazz as well as helping give birth to Ska music in the late 1950s. Ranglin has several solo records, collaborated with Prince Buster, worked for Duke Reid as a musical director at the Treasure Isle recording studio and performed with many artists, including his tour with Jimmy Cliff in the 1970s. In 2008, he was inducted into the Jamaican Music hall of Fame.
In 1973 he was awarded the Order of Distinction from the Jamaican Government for his contributions to music. In 2002, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the University of the West Indies for his outstanding contribution to the development of music in Jamaica. In 2006, a documentary, 'Roots of Reggae: the Ernest Ranglin Story,'produced and written by Arthur Gorson, detailed Ranglin's career. Now in 2010 Ernest Ranglin has just released yet another new album, 'Ranglin & Friends.'
AFROLICIOUS – A DJ/live project and a remix team made up of brothers Pleasuremaker and Sen~or Oz along with guest percussionists and MCs. Afrolicious offers a broad appreciation of groove oriented music from around the globe including original Pleasuremaker material, live percussionists, dubbed out effects, live remixing of classic funk, disco, Afrobeat, Latin, electronic and polyrhythmic grooves deriving from the funky Afro-diaspora. Afrolicious began as a weekly party every Thursday night 3 years ago at the Elbo Room in the heart of SF's Mission district.
YOSSI FINE – A phenomenal bass player who will be bringing his innovative and unique sound to the G:SOL ARKESTRA. With a focus on keeping the bass heavy and groove-oriented, Yossi is considered a ground-breaking producer and the current godfather of hip-hop, reggae and world music sounds. He'll be adding his Dub Bass chops and experience, joining Jamaican guitar legend Ernest Ranglin. As a producer, arranger and bassist, Yossi's undeniable talents have made him one of the most sought-after names in a number of different genres. In his years of playing and recording, he has worked with David Bowie, Lou Reed, Stanley Jordan, Gil Evans and even as far afield as Ol' Dirty Bastard, Naughty By Nature and Gnawa master Hassan Hakmoun.
With a career spanning two decades and six continents, including seven gold and platinum CDs, Yossi has engineered and produced over 25 albums, while contributing his signature bass sounds on over 150 albums.
KENGE KENGE – The eight man group plays African traditional music, breathing new life into Kenya's Luo musical roots, and continuing its evolution from the hand-made instruments of the past through the popular guitar-based benga. The band works with traditional Luo instruments which are the backbone of the benga beat, using the orutu (one-stringed fiddle) and the nyangile (gong), plus percussion, drums, horn and flute.
FABIAN ALSULTANY – He's a diehard advocate of presenting diverse and eclectic musical sounds, from alternative and straight rock 'n roll to traditional African and global electronica, and everything in between. Nothing escapes his hybrid view of 21st century musical fusion, borrowing the best elements from international cultures in his multi-media approach to presenting incredible music. Fabian ran events for Putumayo World Music and continues to work closely with major players in the World Music Scene.
MOTION POTION (aka MoPo aka Robbie Kowal) - One of America's most versatile, experienced and flat-out joyous party rockers. Since breaking out as a rare groove DJ in the '90s he has spent the 21st Century using funky breakbeat, trip hop and tech house as a backdrop for his genre-bending experiments. From a near religious love of funk and hip-hop, to a lifetime study of rock and roll to a massive aptitude for Latin, reggae and other outer national formats, MoPo incorporates bits and pieces of music culture into electronic edits that slam the dance floor.
General information:
Who: GLOBAL SOL featuring Hamsa Lila and the return of Arrested Development
What: Benefit for Women's Earth Alliance
When: Fri. & Sat. August 6th & 7th, 2010 – 7pm to 4am
Where: Craneway Pavilion – 1414 Harbour Way, Richmond, CA 94804 (510) 735-1133
Why: Raising awareness and money for eco-conscious living by celebrating world music
Tickets: One Day $35 Advance / $40 Door / $75 VIP – Two Day $65 / $130 VIP
PHISH After Party - Discount for all late attendees – Phish shows end at 11pm - 5 more hours of G:SOL music - $5 Shuttle (free with any ticket stub) from the Greek to Craneway Pavilion & back – also BART.
Get all the information and buy tickets by visiting www.globalsolfest.com
