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Formed in Venice Beach California, and immersed in one of the most culturally diverse communities in LA, arises the heart driven, and service orientated Hip Hop emissaries of peace, the Luminaries. From the underground parties in “Dogtown” to the biggest festival stages on the west coast, the Luminaries have now taken their message international and crowds everywhere sing along the anthem, “Peace Worldwide Starts From Inside!”

The band sees themselves as more than just musicians, but as catalysts for change. Each member having played the role of teacher, social worker, and activist, from working with homeless youth to defending the nation’s largest urban community garden, The South Central Farm. Luminaries embody the power of service, and do so of course through their inspirational live performances that leave audiences rejuvenated from the soul, down to the cellular level.

Luminaries bring an amazing live show that’s reminiscent of the golden era of Hip Hop, fused with a soulful, electro, live band, funk filled experience! As expressed by one of the “Grandfathers” of the genre, and early founder of modern rap, Afrika Bambaataa reminded us the power of “Peace, Unity, Love, and having Fun!” In the same vein, Luminaries create a soundscape of Hip Hop mantras inviting audiences to participate in the connectivity of one another while going ecstatic on the dance floor!

Luminaries are no strangers to a large audience. Over the past couple years they have played around the festival circuit with such grand concert events as Harmony Festival, Lightning in a Bottle, Beloved Festival, and Earthdance, sharing the stage with some of the hottest acts of the moment, including Michael Franti, K ‘Naan, The Glitch Mob, Matisyahu and Trevor Hall, as well as time-tested vets like KRS-ONE, STS9 and even India Arie.

In 2011, Luminaries were invited as global ambassadors by Sister Cities International to participate in a 10-day tour through the Middle East promoting peace. The crew visited youth centers, college students, and political dignitaries sharing their cultural philosophies, while preforming concerts in Israel, and Palestine including the widely attended Taybeh Music Festival. In 2012, Luminaries again graced the International stage by performing at the Bali Spirit Festival in Ubud, Indonesia, and continue to expand their horizons in the global performance market.

Currently, the band is in the production with their 2nd full-length album, while growing their fan base with nationwide bookings. While continually being recruited to perform, the Luminaries also produce their own events in Los Angeles under their production, and music label emblem Lu Fam Pro. Their largely successful weekly event “Luminous Movement” has brought new life to the Los Angeles nightlife scene, and label mate Clayton Joseph Scott’s album “More Love” marked the brands first major release outside their own projects. With vision of producing larger scale festival on the horizon, Luminaries have set their sights on becoming your household name for being the Hip Hop group that has something positive to share with the world. We invite you to join the movement and remember, we are all luminous beings having a human experience. www.luminariesmusic.com

Performance Time: Friday, Sept 16, 11:00 pm – 12:00pm

Voted “Best World/Reggae band” in the North Bay Area, Sol Horizon seamlessly fuses roots reggae with rock, funk, world and electronic dance. Anchored by veteran musicians (including former members of Groundation and Les Claypool’s Frog Brigade) Sol is renowned for energetic live performances and their lyrical content, which centers on on themes of peace, community, sustainability and the re-vitalizing power of nature. The band moves feet and inspires minds, creating a positive musical experience that continues to attract fans from across the globe.

Sol Horizon has shared the stage with legendary acts like Ziggy Marley, Steel Pulse, Collie Buddz, Morgan Heritage, Don Carlos, Eek-a-mouse, Prezident Brown and the J.G.B. Band (to name a few) in both concert halls and festival stages across the USA. In 2008 after touring in support, they collaborated with British Roots Reggae star Pato Banton on the recording of their second album “Party Revolution,” which featured Pato on the title track. The bands 3rd album, “Ready For Action” was released in June of 2012. The album is available via CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon and other web retailers. www.solhorizon.com

Performance Time: Friday October 9, 9:30 – 11:00pm

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Pronounced “Doe-Gone, The Dogon Lights  “Afro-Galactic Hip Hop” from the Bay Area. The Dogon Lights create a shamanic and energetic dance atmosphere that takes the listener straight to the stars. Traditional skin and wood instruments are blended with hip hop beats,  African instruments, rapping, electronica and psychedelic groove.

The Dogon Lights combine a blend of styles that is fresh and instantly recognizable. A blend of languages ( English, French, Wolof, Bambara etc) and instruments such as the Sintir and Guimbri from Morocco, the Kamale Ngoni, (similar to the Kora) from Mali and Burkina Faso, Calabash and Djembe of West Africa, with Electric Bass, Guitar, Synthesizer and Drums.  The word, “Dogon” comes from the Dogon people of Mali who believe they are from “the dog star” or Sirius.  The Dogon Lights have opened up for grammy winning artists Tinariwen from Mali as well as Bombino from Niger. Members have Performed with Bassnectar, Beats Antique, Rising Appalachia, The Mickey Hart Band, Hamsa Lila, Dirtwire and many others. www.dogonlights.com

Members

The band features members of the award winning band Hamsa Lila (Vir McCoy, Evan Fraser, Ian “Inkx” Herman), as well as Evan Fraser of Dirtwire (with David Sartori of Beats Antique) with renowned Guinean djembe player Bongo Sidibe.  Ashel Seazuns performes with Bassnectar.

Vir McCoy ( Hamsa Lila, Mickey Hart,)  plays the camel skinned Sintir (a traditional instrument of the Gnawa of Morocco) and the goat skinned gimbri (traditional Moroccan Berber and arabic instrument), Djeli-ngoni (Malian lute) as well as Electric Bass and Guitar.

Evan Fraser (Hamsa Lila, Dirtwire, Stellamara) plays Kamale Ngoni, Kalimba, Illimba, Berimbau, Calabash, Zabumba, Ney, Jaw Harp, Slide Guitar, Synthesizer and just about everything else you could imagine.

Bongo Sidibe is a native of Guinea, and a master Djembe drummer. A well known San Francisco teacher and performer Bongo adds his rhythmic fire to the mix. Bongo adds his vocals for traditional and original songs.

Gary Norris is a bay area native and ads his funky Hip Hop drumming to the mix.

Ashel Seazuns   Mc, rapper and vocalist, Ashel has toured with Bassnectar and created amazing music with Earth Amplified.

Performance Time: Thursday October 9, 10:15 pm – 12:00 am

BOLO is a dynamic ensemble with Surya Prakasha (Lavay Smith) on drumset, vocals and harmonium, Eliyahu Sills (The Qadim Ensemble) on ney & bansuri flutes, oud, and upright bass, and Evan Fraser (Dirtwire) on West African kamale ngoni (harp), kalimba, and percussion.

With a fresh improvisational approach, the group creates music that will move, uplift and transport. Featuring African sourced grooves with sacred folk songs, African and Indian melodies, BOLO speaks to the heart in a musical language that bridges continents and unites us all.

BOLO s a fresh recipe with ancient ingredients… The sweet music of the soul. It’s the sound of Bolo, who make the connections between different cultures and traditions and forge them into something new, still wearing the honor of the past, but also with the ripe taste of the future. What they’ve created shines out on their self-titled debut album, (released June 25, 2015). With all three members highly schooled in many styles of music, from jazz and soul to West African, North African and Indian, it’s the unique chemistry of the trio that’s set them exploring this untrodden path.

www.bolomusic.org

Performance Time: Friday October 9, 11:00 pm – ON

As a producer he has delved into the world of creative gatherings by hosting and developing the dance scene with numerous weekly and monthly events such as: The Groove Garden, Mantra Lounge, Alchemy & Floorplay and annual festivals such as: Earthdance, SolFest, Harmony Festival, Techno Tribal, Miambient, Ali Akbar College of Music Festival and Yoga Journal’s Trance Dance and Harbin’s Unconditional Dance Festival.

2017 Convergence Performance: Thur, Oct 6 | 11:00 – 12:00 AM | Main Stage

& Sun, Oct 8 | 11:00 PM – 12:00 AM | Main Stage

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Sweet Medicine is a musical collaboration between Emily Lewis and Naia Jess Graham. Their sound is earthy, elemental, spirit infused folk with a side of soul wisdom & playful witty banter. It is medicine music for all beings and for the planet. They have musical roots in the folk, world, and sacred chant traditions. Inspired by the elements, spirit, truth, earth wisdom, and heart opening, Sweet Medicine sings as a pure offering to the community, to the earth and for the healing of all beings. They offer a participatory musical experience, bathing you in sacred sound, soul harmonic singing and playful improvisation. Sweet Medicine bridges indigenous sounds with contemporary artistic expression and will help you remember that you are divine! https://www.reverbnation.com/singsweetmedicine

Joss Jaffe has been performing as a tabla player & percussionist for over 20 years. Joss is classically trained in tabla at the Ali Akbar college of music, taking his first class in 1997 with Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri. He has also studied with Ustad Zakir Hussain. He has been invited to perform with both Swapan Chaudhuri and Zakir Hussain in their tabla ensembles. Joss has been teaching tabla for over 10 years and has accompanied master classes at the Ali Akbar College of Music, CIIS, and with flute Maestro G.S. Sachdev.

Performance Time: Thursday October 8, 9:30 – 10:15pm

Vir McCoy has written and recorded over 200 original original songs in many styles of music on 19 albums (as of 2013) including styles in Children’s, Rock, Funk, World Tribal, Hip Hop, Electronica,  Devotional and , and New Age Comedy. He has appeared as a guest on several studio albums (Including Mickey Hart of the Greatful Dead and Beats Antique among others) as well as on sountracks for film, television, the web and video. He has toured all over the U.S. playing at most festivals and many venues with Mickey Hart, Hamsa Lila and Shiva Rea (the accomplished Yogini) among others.  In addition to his solo project Vir plays in the award-winning music group Hamsa Lila (Best world music band of 2002, CMJ music chart #2, Headlined at the Fillmore auditiorium twice) and the children’s band Kid Kaleidoscope as well as creator of the youtube comedy hit “Man From Marin”.

Vir is an accomplished composer, writer, arranger, producer, mixer, guitarist, and bassist in addition to playing the Sintir or Guimbri, the camel-skinned, ethnic bass of Morocco. He also plays a unique Bass Hybrid instrument he self created called the Ark-Bass. Vir has also created and produced special musical and theatrical events that focus on healing such as the “Chakra Opera “

Vir McCoy is nothing short of a synthesis of styles and sounds fit to perfectly uplift the surroundings.  Vir is a “Cosmic Muse”  that can weave between styles and genres to best suit the occasion.  From “Funk Therapy” to New Age Comedy to Childrens to Devotional to Tribal Fusion to Rock.  Vir will best choose the style and sound for the event.  Uplifting, Inspiring and Hilarious are what you will get. Anyone who has seen Vir in action in his many projects can attest to this.

www.virtunes.com
www.virmccoy.com