Entertainment : The Jamaican invasion, 17 local acts booked for California festival...They are Bull Bay-based band Raging Fyah; vocal trio The Tamlins; John Holt; veteran deejay U-Roy; Sly and Robbie; as well as roots singers Mykal Rose, Horace Andy and UK-based Bitty McLean.

Thursday, June 05, 2014 

A SLEW of Jamaican acts are scheduled to perform at the 21st annual Sierra Nevada World Music Festival set to take place in Boonville, California, from June 20-22.

SLY &  ROBBIE

A total of 17 reggae and dancehall acts have been advertised for the three-day festival.

The Sierra Nevada show, along with another California event, Reggae On The River, are the longest-running 'reggae' festivals in the United States.

Fast-rising roots reggae act Kabaka Pyramid and his Bebble Rockers band are among the headliners for the first night. He will be joined by dancehall act Chuck Fenda and the veteran deejay Josey Wales.

Shaggy heads the line-up for Saturday, June 21, which has seven other Jamaican acts. They are Bull Bay-based band Raging Fyah; vocal trio The Tamlins; John Holt; veteran deejay U-Roy; Sly and Robbie; as well as roots singers Mykal Rose, Horace Andy and UK-based Bitty McLean.

The festival culminates with ska pioneer Derrick Morgan, Morgan Heritage, Tarrus Riley, Carlton and The Shoes, and Barrington Levy.

TAURUS RILEY & DERRICK MORGAN

The Sierra Nevada Music Festival was first staged in 1994 by organiser Warren Smith. Despite its 'world music' claim, it primarily focuses on roots reggae.

This year, California reggae band Rebelution Seun Kuti, Cultura Profetica, SambaDá, Saritah, Candelaria, Jambinai, and Zvuloon Dub System are among the non-Jamaican artistes.

Sound systems Mighty Crown from Japan, Comanche High Power from the US, and Britain's Adrian Sherwood are also on the roster....