The Heritage Festival will continue, but this will be the event's last year at Camp Pollock, a Boy Scout campground five minutes from downtown Sacramento. Land-use problems and restrictions on concession sales are forcing the festival to a new location.
"This is it for Camp Pollock," says Mike Balma, a Heritage Festival organizer. "It'll take an act of God to do it there again, and we're already scouting other sites."
At least the music will play on. More than 8,000 music fans attend the yearly Heritage Festival for a weekend of wonderfully eclectic music. More than 120 musical acts - most from the Sacramento area - perform gospel, rock, blues, hip-hop and a whole lot in between.
Here is this weekend's lineup of performers and some musical highlights.
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TOWER RECORDS STAGE
Saturday
Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums
Amandla Poets
Storm
Mongoose
Sunday
Blues Experiment
Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88s
Vivendo de Pao
Li'l Bryan and the Zydeco Travelers
Pato Banton & the Reggae Revolution
Highlights: Blues Experiment's groovy mix of psychedelic rock and Latin music has made the band a festival favorite. Li'l Bryan adds a fresh helping of hip-hop and funk to zydeco rhythms. The reunion of 1970s-flavored local rockers Kai Kln is one of the most anticipated performances of the weekend.
SACRAMENTO BEE STAGE
Saturday
Delta Head Trip
Delbert Bump Quintet
Ed Kelly Quintet
Mingus Amungus
John Tchicai Quintet
Ruth Rosenberg Dance Ensemble
Sunday
West Coast Rhythm Section
Scott Amendola
Original Heads
Alphabet Soup
Broun Fellinis
Highlights: Fans of jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter won't want to miss Scott Amendola - the drummer for Hunter's group T.J. Kirk - who performs in a new solo project. Acid-jazz groups Alphabet Soup and Original Heads also abound with funky grooves. Ruth Rosenberg and company will add modern dance moves to jazzy sounds.
MILLER GENUINE DRAFT STAGE
Saturday
Omar Sharriff
Eddie Kirkland & the Energy Band
Super Chikan
Little Jimmy King
Sunday
Big Jay McNeely
Johnny Rawls
Chris Cain
Arbess Williams
Highlights: Need a cure for the blues? Call for Super Chikan, the Mississippi-based blues guitarist. Little Jimmy King fuses the theatrics of Jimi Hendrix with smoking blues licks a la Albert King. Eddie Kirkland is over 70 years old, but he'll rock your world with screaming guitar licks.
ABSTRACT/98 ROCK STAGE
Saturday
In Ruin
Shakedown
Hollowman
The Skirts
7th Standard
Hurt
Shortie
Sunday
Deimos
Luxt
Zoppi
Snubnose
M.I.R.V.
Creeper Lagoon
The John Doe Thing
The Brodys
Highlights: Indie-rock 'til you drop with Creeper Lagoon and former X frontman John Doe. Favorite local bands, including the Brodys, Shortie and the Skirts, will keep guitar amplifiers and eardrums buzzing.
THE BOWL
Saturday
Zion Roots
Rayo
Ro Sham Bo
Addict Merchants
Mama's Gravy
Free Association
Sunday
Bucho!
Cornerstone
Box.A.Chocolate.S
Flo-Magnum
E-Train
Livestok
Verbatum
Socialistik
The C.U.F.
Highlights: Box.A.Chocolate.S may be Sacramento's answer to jazzy rappers Digable Planets. Socialistik and the C.U.F. are also pivitol rappers in the "nine-one-six" while Ro Sham Bo and Free Association keep funk and jazz in the mix.
iCAST STAGE
Saturday
99 Tales
Draw Pinky
Veronica Black
Convoy
Jackpot
Baby Grand
Universal Groove
Uncle Harlen's Band
Sunday
Day Care
Daisy Spot
Caron Vikre
Forever Goldrush
Beth Waters
Beer Dawgs/Horn Dawgs
Grub Dog & the Amazing Sweethearts
Tattooed Love Dogs
Highlights: Daisy Spot's recent reunion is all the buzz in local music circles. Uncle Harlen's Band's jam rock will get hips - and hippies - shaking. Jackpot is cashing in acclaim from college radio. Some bands from this stage will also be broadcast over the Web at http://www.icast.com./
JUKE JOINT
Saturday
Blues Hangover: Whalin' Black/Bobby "Blues" Ray
Marshal Law
Jake Sampson
Aaron King & the Imperials
Joe Houston
Mick Martin & the Blues Rockers
Sunday
Have Mercy! Allstars
Stark Rhythm Maniacs
Revenge of the Juke Joint Women: Cathy Lemons, Gayiel Von
B.J. Sharp
Janiva Magness
Mz. Dee
Sugar Pie DeSanto
Francesca & the Flames
Highlights: This joint will be jumpin' with such scorching local blues musicians as Aaron King & the Imperials and Mick Martin & the Blues Rockers. Los Angeles' Gayiel Von packs 'em in each year. Saxophone aficionados shouldn't miss the great "honker" Joe Houston, best known for his song "All Night Long."
GOSPEL TENT
Saturday
Gospel Sensationals
Gospel Highlights
Harmonics
W.D. Gospel Singers
Stars of Glory
Endurance
Sunday
Olde Tyme Religion
Mellonaires
Gospel Specials
Pittsburg Gospel Allstars
Omega Aires
Corinthians of San Francisco
Highlights: Many a Heritage Festival attendee has been converted to a gospel fan after hearing the heavenly and joyous music at this tent. Festival organizers have also beefed up the gospel tent's sound and light production.
STAGE X
Saturday
DJ Alvin D
TMH
Off Tha Wagon
Anytheng Goes
Underated Collaberated
Sunday
Madplanet
DJ Deus
EPIS Crew
Devious Crew/True Believers
Snaykeyez
Highlights: "X" marks the spot for underground hip-hop and scratch DJs. EPIS is one of the best local turntablist collectives, while Underated Collaberated is keeping hip-hop real in Sac Town with a no-sell-out and experimental approach to rap music.
BIG GENO'S STAGE
Saturday
Omar Sharriff
Smooth Lew and Jimmy Too
Jonah's Onelinedrawing
Matt Nathanson
Johnny "Guitar" Knox
Sunday
J. L. Stiles
Anton Barbeau
Gene Smith
Brother Yusef
Downhome Grits & Gravy
Highlights: A mix of mostly solo performers greets festival-goers at this stage, near Camp Pollock's entrance. Johnny "Guitar" Knox and Omar Sharriff will keep crowds shaded in the blues. Gene Smith and Jonah Matranga (Jonah's Onelinedrawing) are two of the best songwriters in town.