Worldfest History and Past Performers

The California WorldFest began in 1997 as a showcase for some of our world's finest artists performing music and dance from the United States and around the world.

Drawing inspiration from the Vancouver Folk Festival, Strawberry Music Festival, MerleFest in North Carolina, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and the Newport Folk Festival, the California WorldFest includes eight performance stages, a complete children's program, a community outreach history and a pledge to present the finest artists and performers from throughout our world.
From Afro/Pop to Bulgarian Harmonies, Latin to Bluegrass, Scottish fiddle tunes to Rock & Roll, Jumpin' Jazz to Gypsy, Folk to New Acoustic, Mariachi to Russian Folk, Swing Jazz to Gospel, Bollywood to the newest Celtic incarnations, the California WorldFest is the home of our globes finest music and dance.

2007
Ani DiFranco, Toumani Diabate's Symmetric Orchestra, Aileen Ivers & the Immigtant Soul, Tommy Emmanuel, Jackie Greene, Perla Batalla, Alpha Yaya Diallo & the Bafing Riders, Dya Singh, Trio Voronezh, Sambaguru featuring Katia Moraes, Los Pinguos, Venezuelan Music Project, Moshav, Hawaiian Generations, George & Keoki Kahumoku, Dennis & David Kamakahi, Joe Craven, Blame Sally, Limpopo, Singh Sisters, Pistolera, That One Guy, Davis Jacobs-Strain, Djunkyard Gypsies, Handsome Little Devils, Sid Lewis & Jammin'101.

2006
Michael Franti & Spearhead, Tommy Emmanuel, Nickel Creek, Jake Shimabukuro, Stars of the Peking Acrobats, Tish Hinojosa Trio, Tiempo Libre, Refugee Allstars of Sierra Leone, Hapa, Wailin' Jenny's, West African Highlife Band, Old School Freight Train, Joe Craven, Rory Block, Alasdair Fraser & Friends, Bills, Laura Love Duo with Jenn Todd, Eddie from Ohio, Sisters Morales, Gjallarhorn, Incendio, Women in Docs, That One Guy, Voco, Brittni Paiva, Spark 'N' Cinder, Banana Slug String Band, Djunkyard Gypsies,

2005
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Mariachi Los Camperos De Nati Cano, the Waifs, Jake Shimabukuro, Linda Tillery & Nina Gerber, John Jorgenson Quintet, Adaawe, Jackie Greene, Fiamma Fumana, Bucho!, Tiempo Libre, Gospel Hummingbirds, Fruit, Don Ross, Quetzal, Alasdair Fraser, the bluehouse, Marley's Ghost, Joe Craven, O-Maya, Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem, Mortal Coil, Bucho!, Chris Webster, Voco,

2004
Youssou N'Dour, Lucinda Williams, Tommy Emmanuel, Stars of the Peking Acrobats, Badi Assad, Samite of Uganda, Alasdair Fraser, LesYeux Noirs, Joe Craven, Samba Ngo, Tiempo Libre, Mary Youngblood, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Led Kaapana, Habib Khan with Emam, Radim Zenkl, Wild Magnolias, Webster Sisters with Scott Nygaard, the bluehouse, O-Maya, Bucho!, Eisenberg & Price, Banana Slug String Band, Christine Bonner & Friends, Gyan Riley, Crazygrass

2003
Robert Cray Band , Tommy Emmanuel, John Cowan Band , Perla Batalla , Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca, Vishten , Mamadou Diabate Ensemble, Alasdair Fraser, Waifs, Joaquin Diaz , David Jacobs-Strain, Obo Addy, Laura Love Duo with Jen Todd, Inner Visions , the bluehouse , Juan L. Sanchez Ensemble , Ancient Future with Habib Kahn, Bjarv Trio, Paul Kamm & Eleanore MacDonald, Incendio, Balkan Cabaret , Beolach, Mumbo Gumbo , Palm Wine Boys, Gyan Riley , Troika Folk Dance Band , Sid Lewis' Acoustic College

2002
Mickey Hart and Bembe Orisha, Fruit, The Wayfaring Strangers, Thomas Mapfumo & Blacks Unlimited, Waifs, Dya Singh, Alasdair Fraser , International Guitar Nite, Inner Visions, Wild Mango, Tony Trischka , Matt Glaser , Laurie Lewis , Philip Hamilton Trio, Don Ross, Alice Peacock, Conjunto Jardin, Tony McManus, Adaawe, Katryna & Nerissa Nields, Ben Demerath, the bluehouse, Ancient Future, Sol y Canto, Mortal Coil, CSU, Chico Ethos Camp All-Stars, ASKA, Troika

2001
Sam Bush Band, Alasdair Fraser, Tim O'Brien, Darrell Scott, Tatamonk, Kotoja, Boubacar Traore, Irene Farrera , Snake Trio, Alex de Grassi, Jill Cohn, Red Hot Chachkas, Mortal Coil, George Kahumoku, Jr, Kelly Joe Phelps, Lunasa, Katia Moraes & Sambaguru, Deadbeats, Darol Anger & Scott Nygaard, Past Due & Playable , Sid Lewis' Acoustic College, Troika

2000
Miriam Makeba, John McEuen, Jim Ibbotson, David Lindley & Wally Ingram, Laura Love Band, Perla Batalla, Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca, Joe Craven, Anger/Marshall Band, Plena Libre, Del Rey, Equation, Conjunto Jardin , Don Ross, Vida, Nigerian Brothers, Dya Singh, Barbara Lamb, David Jacobs-Strain, Rod Cook, Christine & Rob Bonner, Saul Rayo, Barndancers, Sid Lewis' Acoustic College, Danca da Luz , CSU, Chico Guitar Camp All-stars

1999
Charlie Musselwhite, Iris Dement, Oscar Lopez Ensemble, Laurie Lewis with Tom Rozum and Todd Phillips, Samite of Uganda, SoVoSo', Alison Brown Quartet, Antonio Calogero, Brian Gore, Peppino D'Agostino, Don Ross, Fruit, Tom Rozum, Maire Ni Chathasaigh & Chris Newman, Alice Stuart & Prune Rooney, Harvey Reid, Nigerian Brothers, Caliban, Sandy Silva & Ruthie Dornfield, Riveroots, Christine & Rob Bonner, Danca da Luz , Troika Folk Dance

1998
Robert Earl Keen, La Bottine Souriante, Joe Craven Trio, Keola Beamer, Hart Rouge, Dan Crary , Iguanas, Fred Eaglesmith, Slavyanka, David Zasloff & The Whole Band , Irene Farrera, Martin Simpson's Band of Angels, West African Highlife Band, Rory Block, Ramon Romero, Seelyhoo, Wrigley Twins, Don Ross, Antonio Calogero, Brian Gore, The Girl and I, The Tribe, Past Due & Playable , David Charles , Saul Rayo, Danca da Luz

1997
Ricky Scaggs, David Grisman Quintet, Laura Love Band, David Lindley, Strunz & Farah, Joe Craven Trio, Alex DeGrassi, Ancient Future, Trout Fishing in America, Hart Rouge, Beppe Gambetta, Sukay, Kitka, Niamh Parsons & Loose Connections, Pachamama, Dance Troupe, Enrique Coria , African Rhythm Messengers, David Zasloff & The Whole Band , Sidesaddle & Co, Charles David Alexander, Deadbeats, Akimbo, Diane Patterson Xtet