Dancing was also the order of business under the tent at the WaMu stage, where the crowd taking advantage of the shaded setting enjoyed a taste of Belize from Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective. Palacio led his seven-piece band through a hip-shaking, head-bobbing set that undoubtedly earned him a number of new fans. The word "Garifuna" refers to people of African descent who live along the Caribbean coast of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua and who have a unique language and culture, as well as a storied musical heritage. Palacio, who is also a Belizean cultural minister, plays a pulsing, polyrhythmic style which brings together African beats and Cuban and Central American songwriting influence. He also won over the crowd by stating what an honor it was to be the first Belizean band to perform at the ACL Festival.
By: Andy Smith