Mokoomba returns to the Joshua Tree Music Festival
If you missed Mokoomba's performance at last fall's Joshua Tree Music Festival, you should stop whatever you're doing right now and kick yourself. This powerful band from Zimbabwe, with Mathias Muzaza handling lead vocals, delivered one of the most high energy, memorable, and moving performances I've ever witnessed.
The band comes from Chinotimba Township and sings in Tonga, but you won't need a translator to get their message. They pull a variety of musical influences into traditional music from their region, and the result is a highly infectious Afro-fusion world music, served up hot and tasty.
The twice yearly Joshua Tree Music Festival has been serving up incredible international acts like Mokoomba and Ukraine's DhakaBrakha in an intimate outdoor setting, a treat many festival goers don't seem to fully grasp. These are high level international performers - the best you can find - and they're playing in Joshua Tree because festival founder and producer, Barnett English, has worked some kind of elemental magic to conjure them onto the stage out at Joshua Tree Lake Campground.
In addition to Mokoomba's return, this May's international line up at the festival also includes Kraak & Smaak, from the Netherlands,
Jambinai, from South Korea,
and La Inedita, from Peru.
National acts include the California Honeydrops, Dirtwire, Baraka Moon, Down North, Yak Attack, and quite a few others. Local acts include Gene Evaro Jr., Trevor Green (who recorded his latest album in Joshua Tree), Myshkin Warbler's Royal Rabble Circus, Wally Ingram, Cactus Wine Experience, Desert Rhythm Project, The Adobe Collective, Chris Unck, Phillip Rosenberg, Davis, and Megan Hutch.
Get the full lineup and festival information at http://joshuatreemusicfestival.com/. Local hi-desert residents and active military can get heavily discounted weekend passes. Go to http://joshuatreemusicfestival.com/tickets for all ticket/pass options.