MECCA BODEGA - The percussive driven group combines African drums and Middle Eastern percussion. The combination of instruments, including hammered dulcimer, flutes, found objects, guitars, didgeridoo and voice, results in unique, refreshing sound that has been heard round the world. Mecca Bodega was featured on ABC “World News Now”, “National Public Radio” New Sounds and Garrison Kellor’s “Prairie Home Companion”. They have toured throughout the U.S. and Australia. The band is from New York City and features sibling rhythmists Marc and Paul Mueller. Mecca has released seven CD’s and has composed for directors including Jonathan Demme and Spike Lee. Their music has been featured in award- winning films, soundtracks, TV programs, commercials and dance scores. Mecca Bodega’s latest CD “Skin” includes high energy performances by Djembe master Dr. Djo Bi. Chris Merwin adds Shakuhachi flute, steel guitar, tiple, and bouzouki, and Charley Buckland plays bass guitar.

INCA SON - Inca Son is a vibrant music and dance ensemble that shares the culture, sights and sounds of ancient Peru. With their distinctive sound on pan flutes and the many beautiful instruments they make themselves, they share traditional songs and original compositions as they tell the story of the Inca culture of these Native South Americans. Inca Son is the recipient of the Boston Music Award for “Best World Act”, 2007 Independent Music Award for “Best World Song” and 2008 Los Angeles Music Award for “Best Traditional World Artists”, 2009 Gold Star Award Massachusetts Cultural Council for Excellence in School Residencies and the 2010 “Best in Performance” Award, City of Cambridge.

THE ARK BAND - This six member band from Columbus will conjure up images of the islands with their own mix of Raggae Calypso and Soca. Recognized through many awards by the Columbus art and music community, they are much in demand throughout Ohio. This year marks their third year to appear at Middfest.

HOLY CROSS MARIMBA BAND -Their mission, since 1996, is to bring music to hundreds of people who hear them each year. Under the direction of Carlos Mejia, a Guatemalan native, new styles of Central American and Latin music have been introduced. The Holy Cross Catholic Parish ensures youth learn free if they want to be marimba players and agree to practice consistently and can even be allowed to take a marimba home as long as they continue to practice. Their major venue is mass at Holy Cross Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish but they do travel throughout the country, this year in 100 venues. Drawing young people from the Back of the Yards neighborhood, each player also lives a special story. The parish youth program is committed to the education and musical development of the children who perform. Working with parents and mentors, the program today inspires people who want to support the dreams of the children.

INDONESIAN DANCERS OF ILLINOIS - IDI presents a unique variety of Indonesian dances from different provinces of the country and is committed to introducing, educating, and entertaining people with the rich cultures of the Indonesian archipelago. Through their efforts, they hope to create bridges of understanding between the people for which they perform. This is their first appearance at Middfest International

THAI CULTURAL AND FINE ARTS PERFORMERS - This Chicago based group is committed to the preservation of Thai culture and the arts. The performers, who were born in the United States, along with students here to study, from Thailand have become an important cultural resource. All of the instructors at the Thai Cultural and Fine Arts Institute are seasoned performers and teachers while all principal instructors were born, educated, and trained at top universities and schools in Thailand. Almost every month TCFAI and its students perform throughout the Chicago land area. On occasion, they also perform in different parts of the country and as well as in Thailand. They feature both classical and folk style Thai dances.

THE SOUTHWESTERN OHIO SYMPHONIC BAND - Under the direction of Chris Brandenburg, this talented band has played to packed houses throughout the area for 30 years. Many of its ninety members are music directors in area schools who have years of experience. The Symphonic Band first performed at Middfest in 1991 with a very special assignment. That year was Middfest International’s first retrospective to which the first 10 guest counties were invited to return. Egypt was represented by composer ethnomusicologist Halim El Dabh. For the occasion, he composed Harmony of the Sphere based on an ancient musical score housed in the library in Alexandria, Eqypt. The Southwestern Symphonic Band played the premiere performance at our 1991 finale. It was an experience many of the musicians still remember as being unique.

OGADE: OXFORD GOURD AND DRUM ENSEMBLE - OGADE, now in its 16th year, regularly engages in both site-specific and dispersed performances among many diverse communities. The ensemble considers itself an evolving community of percussion enthusiasts who enjoy experimenting with various rhythms performed on many different kinds of percussion instruments. While OGADE has focused most on West-African rhythms, they also incorporate rhythms from Cuba, Brazil, Haiti and Eastern Mediterranean. Their original creations have been described as traditional Southwestern Ohio music. They also jam freely when the mood strikes. Among the instruments they have incorporated into their weekly rehearsals are the didjeridoo, various flutes, gourdonium, gourd trumpets, shakers, gourd maracas, tambourines, mbira, balaphon and berimbau, and West African drums. They developed the gourdonium, which is made up of a rack of tuned gourds, they have gourd stringed instruments: The one and the three stringed bass gourds.

THE ARTS OF DANCE ACADEMY - The Arts of Dance Academy of Mayfield Heights, Ohio will present the unique Eastern European Styles of Group dancing.

HANK FINCKEN - For over twenty years, Hank Fincken has toured the U.S. performing his 8 original one-man plays in schools, parks, libraries, festivals and universities throughout the United States. His characters include: Thomas Edison, Johnny Appleseed, Francisco Pizarro, Christopher Columbus, Henry Ford, W.C. Fields, and a Argonaut on The California Trail named J.G. Bruff. Fincken has published some twenty plays and stories, dozens of essays and one book: THREE MIDWEST HISTORY PLAYS AND THEN SOME. He was awarded the title Master Artist by the Indiana Arts Commission, Outstanding Performer by the Indiana Theatre Association, and won two national Pinnacle Awards for his teaching of the arts and history through video conferencing.

THE SOARING RAVEN – David Cook is the ‘Soaring Raven.’ He learned to play and make beautiful Native American flutes. He writes his own music and has produced 8 recordings. He can be found at Middfest playing in the youth park or selling his handcrafted flutes in the World Bazaar.