Sierra Nevada World Music Festival

The festival began in 1994Adam, Diane. [http://www.niceup.com/writers/diane/snwmf.html 8th Annual Sierra Nevada World Music Festival]. Niceup.com. 2001. Retrieved 2011-3-5. in Marysville, California by organizer Warren Smith.Milne, Steve. [http://www.capradio.org/articles/2004/06/16/world-music-festival World Music Festival]. Capital Public Radio. June 16, 2004. Retrieved 2011-3-5. Citing problems with crime in its initial location,Sander, Wes. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110707152315/http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/city-36314-marysville-epiphany.html Music festival leaving Marysville]. Appeal Democrat. December 11, 2000. Retrieved 2011-3-7. organizers moved the festival to Angels Camp, California in 2001. After five years in Calaveras County, fairgrounds management insisted on hiring its own security and billing the festival. Organizers refused, causing the county to void the contract between the two parties.Wolfson, Joshua. [http://www.uniondemocrat.com/2005091685254/News/Local-News/Fair-cans-music-fest-contract Fair cans music fest contract] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717162825/http://www.uniondemocrat.com/2005091685254/News/Local-News/Fair-cans-music-fest-contract |date=2011-07-17 }}. The Union Democrat. September 16, 2005. Retrieved 2011-3-7. The festival settled in its current location (Boonville, CA), where it has operated since 2006.[http://www.reggaefestivalguide.com/rfg_eguide/archives/4-12-06.html Sierra Nevada World Music Festival 2006 Gets A New Home] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715171037/http://www.reggaefestivalguide.com/rfg_eguide/archives/4-12-06.html |date=2011-07-15 }}. ReggaeFestivalGuide.com. April 12, 2006. Retrieved 2011-3-5.

File:Gregory Isaacs SNWMF 2010 3 - on stage.jpg

Despite the festival's name, its primary focus is on reggae music,[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/The-Jamaican-invasion_16803238 The Jamaican invasion]. Jamaican Observer. June 5, 2014. Retrieved 2014-6-9. along with a secondary focus on world music acts.[http://worldmusiccentral.org/2011/02/14/sierra-nevada-world-music-festival-2011-announces-initial-artists/ Sierra Nevada World Music Festival 2011 Announces Initial Artists] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319232551/http://worldmusiccentral.org/2011/02/14/sierra-nevada-world-music-festival-2011-announces-initial-artists/ |date=2011-03-19 }}. World Music Central. February 14, 2011. Retrieved 2011-3-5. The festival boasts a "valley stage" (main stage), "village stage" (secondary stage), dancehall and drum circle,McEwan, Bruce. [http://theava.com/archives/7251 Don Carlos Invades Boonville] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223095144/http://theava.com/archives/7251 |date=2010-12-23 }}. The Anderson Valley Advertiser. June 24, 2010. Retrieved 2011-3-7. which can all feature music running concurrently.

Along with its many other veteran acts, the SNWMF is notable for being the first to bring Junior Byles abroad,[http://www.skankproductions.com/warrensmith.htm Warren Smith: The Man Behind SNWMF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716080545/http://www.skankproductions.com/warrensmith.htm |date=2011-07-16 }}. Skank Productions. Retrieved 2011-3-7. whereupon he performed a 45-minute set in for the festival in 1998.Pierson, Leroy. [http://www.snwmf.com/festivalbios/98festivalbios/jrbyles98.html Sierra Nevada World Music Festival 1998: Junior Byles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716100447/http://www.snwmf.com/festivalbios/98festivalbios/jrbyles98.html |date=2011-07-16 }}. SNWMF. Retrieved 2011-3-7.

There was no festival from 2020-2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with founder Smith passing away in 2021.{{cite web |last1=Campbell |first1=Howard |title=Festival promoter Warren Smith is dead |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2021/02/14/festival-promoter-warren-smith-is-dead/ |website=Jamaica Observer |access-date=January 16, 2025 |date=February 14, 2021}}

Festival returned in 2023, carried on by his wife Gretchen. However, disappointing ticket sales in 2024 forced a cancellation close to the start date, with would-be attendees told that the passes were good at Reggae on the River event in the Humboldt County, California in lieu of a refund.{{cite web | last=Karoff | first=Timothy | title='We're f—ked': California's music festival bubble is bursting | website=SFGATE | date=2024-10-15 | url=https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/california-music-festival-bubble-bursting-19786530.php | access-date=2024-10-16}}

{{Commons category}}

• List of reggae festivals
• Reggae

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• {{Official website|http://www.snwmf.com}}

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Category:Tourist attractions in Mendocino County, California

Category:Music festivals established in 1994

Category:Reggae festivals in the United States

Category:Music festivals in California