2012 Berkeley World Music Festival Kicks Off on June 2, 2012 Headlined By Grammy Nominated Blues Artist, Maria Muldaur

Online, May 28, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Free to the public, the 9th Annual Berkeley World Music Festival features the finest artists the Bay Area has to offer, led by six-time Grammy nominee Maria Muldaur. Together with her red hot Bluesiana Band, Ms. Muldaur offers spicy New Orleans flavored Blues, R & B and "Swamp Funk".

The Berkeley World Music Festival is an annual showcase of musical talents that promotes the artistic vibrancy, cultural richness, and social value of the world music panorama for the benefit of local communities. By fostering ethnic literacy, the festival promotes diverse musical traditions and furthers the recognition of the San Francisco Bay Area as a center of artistic expression.

Detailed at BerkeleyWorldMusic.org, The Berkeley World Music Festival showcases the Bay Area's rich world music scene. Embarking on its 9th year, the tradition of this musical feast will be celebrated on Saturday, June 2nd, 2012, over a full day of live concerts starting from 12pm at People's Park and ending at 9pm at the Village. Schedules will be available at the festival's information booth at 2455 Telegraph on Haste St.

Bay Area's premier Cuban bandleader, Fito Reinoso will grace The Berkeley World Music Festival. At the People's Park dance party, Fito Reinoso y su Ritmo y Armonia's sizzling rhythms will be heard, reflecting Cuba's street beat and broad musical heritage. The Druid Sister's Tree Party will perform a riveting display of Celtic and Gypsy tribal grooves.

Other innovative artists gracing The Berkeley World Music Festival include West Coast Hawaiian slack-key guitarist Patrick Landeza, jazz fusion group Ultra World X- tet, True Life Trio, Trio Garufa, Bouchaib Abdelhadi, Duo Gadjo, Fely Tchaco, Baron Rubenbauer and street performers Sadza Marimba & Mbira, Simcha and Alex "the Kombrig" Yaskin - all making the feast a world music artist hodgepodge of extremely varied cultures.

The 2012 Berkeley World Music Festival sponsors are Amoeba Music, Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center, Berkeley Art Commission, City of Berkeley, East Bay Express, KPFA, Pagan Alliance, People's Park Office, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, Telegraph Business Improvement District, UC Office of Community Relations, UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archives, Whole Foods Market and Telegraph area businesses.

To learn more about this year's Berkeley World Music Festival please visit http://www.berkeleyworldmusic.org/ for more details.

For up to the minute updates, please visit the Official World Music Festival Facebook Page.