Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (Boonville, Calif.; June 17-19)
Photo: Lee Abel
Another great way to kick off the summer in Cali is a trip up to the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival out in Medocino County, near Ukiah. Beres Hammond, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Alpha Blondy, Don Carlos, Cocoa Tea, Richie Spice, Inner Circle, Israel Vibration, Tanya Stephens and Kabaka Pyramid highlight the list of performers at this year’s edition. The biggest attraction, lineup-wise, is the long-awaited return to the stage of Toots, sidelined for four years following injuries sustained from a bottle-throwing incident in Virginia. Toots is slated to make several performances this year, including the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise in the fall, but this will be his first time taking the stage since that unfortunate incident.