"As a quick, easy way to see some of the best of what is out there in the world-music scene, (globalFEST 2005) couldn't be beat."—Jay Lustig, The Star-Ledger

“An evening you’ll remember for the rest of your lives.”—Jeff Tamarkin, Global Rhythm

“Scholars and critics can debate the precise meaning of the phrase ‘world music’ ad nauseam—and they no doubt will—but fans of exotic sounds can get a crash course at GlobalFEST, a one-night summary of what’s happening beyond our borders.” ~ John Donohue, The New Yorker

“There was nothing provincial in the music at the second annual GlobalFest: a dozen bands in five hours on three floors of the Public Theater, each playing a 45-minute set. It was a happy hodgepodge of traditionalists, preservationists of older pop styles and songwriters following individual instincts. In practical terms, GlobalFest was an audition for the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, concert promoters in town for their annual conference. They could hear, and consider booking, styles from flamenco to Peruvian songs to music for the banjo-like Japanese shamisen. But it was also a showcase for survival strategies, the ways that local musicians face an indifferent wider world. How much to change, how much to explain and how much to leave audiences guessing were all questions.” ~ Jon Pareles, The New York Times

“Borders are tight and visas are scarcer than ever, but you'd hardly guess it from this diverse baker's dozen of worldly acts performing on three stages tonight.” ~ Richard Gehr, The Village Voice

“Every year for about a decade, I'd make the same New Year's resolution: travel more. Yet every December, my globe-trotting would be limited to trips to Texas to see family and New England to see friends. In my defense, what was the incentive to visit exotic lands if representatives from those places were constantly visiting? This was especially true during the early '90s when a world music invasion was in progress. It seemed as if every night a new superstar from a different country was playing. However, by the end of the decade, the influx of foreign musicians had slowed considerably. After Sept. 11, 2001, it became even more difficult for foreign musicians to visit America, and the world music scene suffered. Which is what makes this weekend's globalFEST so vital.”
 ~ Martin Johnson, Newsday

“Globe-hopping was as easy as an elevator ride for the sold-out crowd at GlobalFest, the world-music showcase that commandeered all three floors at the Public Theater to present 15 live bands in five hours on Saturday night. For the musicians, who played overlapping 40-minute sets, it was easier than that. They didn't have to leave the stage, since their music was rarely confined by national borders.” ~ Jon Pareles, The New York Times

“The first staging of GlobalFest—a coming-out party of sorts for the rapidly growing world-music community—gathered acts from four continents under one roof for a one-night blowout. Essentially an open audition staged for the benefit of the Assn. of Performing Arts Presenters, the majority of the performers did more than push their wares; they spread the spirit of amorphously distant places without resorting to faux tour-guide intimacy.”
 ~ David Sprague, Variety

“The hottest ticket in town.” ~ Michael Orlove, program director for Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs

Additional Info
globalFEST 2007 Moves to new Venue: Tickets Now on Sale!
fine print
artist line-up (subject to changes)
critics say
globalFEST 2006 Schedule by Venue

Top of Press Release