by Devaki Thomas
Created 10 years ago by BC reggae dance band Samsara, the annual Komasket Music Festival is the Okanagan’s Cultural Global Gathering, bringing together 3000 – 4000 people and presenting world beat, folk and funk artists from all over the world. The KMF is an event unique to the area with a conscious organic community flavour combining an intimate cultural experience, 3 days of exploring music and art, dancing to live music, camping, workshops, market shopping, kids activities, first nations cultural exploration on the shores of Okanagan Lake.
The land is the Powwow Grounds of the Okanagan Nation which was a gathering place for family hunting parties for the first nations people of the area for hundreds of years. The grounds are designated ‘dry’ land which has naturally shaped the festival to attract a family vibe.
Founders Thomas & Devaki Thomas were invited to play the land with their band Samsara by an Okanagan elder back in 2002 and they envisioned an intimate gathering with music at its heart on land that was considered sacred. They work year round with a dedicated team of volunteers and with the Okanagan Nations Chief and Council to present this somewhat historical event.
Artists for the 2011 line up feature Jon Anderson, the Voice of Yes, Grammy Award winning lead singer of Progressive Rock’s Super Group YES, Canada’s own folk icon, Cree singer/songwriter Buffy St Marie, experimental Hip Hop Jazz group Digable Planets based in New York City, from Johannesburg South Africa, Nkulee Dube and her 9 piece African reggae band, daughter of late African Reggae King, Lucky Dube, Australia’s own world groove dance band OKA, undisputed heavyweights of North Western Hip hop, SweatShop Union, back for the fest, festival hosts & founders Samsara hailing now from London UK via Vernon BC via Trinidad, West Indies, BC’s own World Groove Master, Juno award winner DJ Adham Shaikh, Vancouver’s Samba, gypsy folk Minstrels Maria in the Shower, Kytami with DJ Phonograff formerly of Delhi 2 Dublin the Queen of the Violin, BC island vibe band Aaron Nazrul & the Boom Boom’s, Vancouver’s jazz Indian fusion group Niktex, plus Metis, Tambura Rasa, Bulat Gafarov, Kurai Mubaiwa, Dallas Arcand, Tibet’s own Jamyang Yeshi, Emily Spiller, Taiya Curle, Suzanne Teng, Ashley Robyn Slater and many more.
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For more info on the festival www.komasketmusicfestival.com/
