An amazing fact courtesy of Suhas Kulkarni: Of Louisville’s population gain in the last U.S. Census, half of the new residents came here from other countries.
More and more, whether you live in Eastern Jefferson County, the area along Third Street by Iroquois Park or the Highlands, this city is going from Midwest bland to spicy International in everything from food to music.
This year, Worldfest on the Belvedere will have new events and features that address both the color and pageantry of an increasingly ethnically diverse city, as well as the practical side of making the most of the potential economic injection.
“We want to get the whole city involved,” said Kulkarni, executive director of Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government’s Office for Globalization. And that means business.
In that spirit, Louisville’s largest multi-national, multi-cultural weekend, scheduled for Labor Day Weekend, Friday, Aug. 31 through Sept. 2. will feature a Career Opportunities & Resources Expo:
An abundant, skilled and educated workforce is the key to economic progress and our foreign born population enhances our workforce with their energy, talents and creativity. Since WorldFest draws around 100,000 visitors, Mayor Greg Fischer has invited employers to bring their requirements and participate in making our workforce stronger with their guidance. This expo will bring Employers and Job Seekers together, and agencies like Kentuckiana Works, JFCS, LSHRM, Louisville Urban League and others will provide workshops on:
- Job Search skills
- Resume writing
- Interviewing skills
- Workplace etiquette
- Immigration and employment law
Other new events include:
- Global Village, envisioned as sort of a mini-Epcot Center in Louisville. From a news release: The Belvedere overlook will be home to an explosion of colors, cultures, performances and activities in the Global Village where countries from all continents will come under one roof. Children and adults alike will be able to interact with and mingle with residents dressed in their native garb, conversing in their native languages, dancing to their native music and sharing samples of their native cuisines.
- World of Spirituality and Faiths: Home to the Merton Institute, Festival of Faiths, Interfaith paths to Peace and having been recognized as a Compassionate city, Louisville has demonstrated its openness to all faiths and traditions. Corporations like Signature Healthcare have made Spirituality a key tenet to their service, linking healthy living and productivity to raising the bar of spirituality. This year, WorldFest will host these and other organizations to display their ability to maintain Louisville as a Compassionate and Spiritual City under one roof, supported by conversations and discussions.
- World of Education
Other new features for 2012 include a Cultural Showcase, a tent where people representing various nationalities can have space to display cultural items and talk to visitors about their native countries.
At a recent organizing meeting, there were plans for dozens of nations from each continent to be represented including:
Bosnia, Burma, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Eritrea, France, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Senegal, the United States and Vietnam.
“We are developing the content as we go,” said Kulkarni, adding that the festival would build on this year’s foundation for more formal offerings in the future for the best-received elements.
This is in addition to all the food and drink concessions, shopping and music, which will pretty much roll non-stop.
Here’s full performance line-up:
Friday, August 31, 2012
Fountain Stage
10:30 am-11:45 am – Recorded International Music
11:45 am -1:00 pm – Desperados Steel Band (Carribean)
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Recorded International Music
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm – Swing 39 (French Chateus)
5:45 pm – 6:15 pm – Acoiris Latino (Mexican)
6:30 pm – 7:15 pm – Nachale Bollywood Dance (East Indian)
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm – Groove Masters featuring Tony Fish (African American)
9:30 pm – 11:00 pm- The Ark Band (Reggae)
Main Stage
10:30 am – 5:00 pm Recorded International Music
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm Al Hamsa Belly Dance & Friends (Mideastern Dance)
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm “Big Poppa” Stamply & the Bold Souls of Kentucky (Americana)
7:30 pm – 8:45 pm – Rolando Matias & the AfroRican Ensemble (Latin)
9:15 pm – 11:00 pm – Delhi 2 Dublin (World Music)
Hour Magazine wrote that “Delhi 2 Dublin is the United Nations of rock ‘n’ roll.” They are a Vancouver-based band that plays an energetic mash-up of Bhangra, Celtic, Dub Reggae and Electronica with global rhythms and club beats. Tarun Nayar, Sanjay Seran, Andrew Kim and Ravi Binning along with touring musician Sara Fitzpatrick are diverse in both their backgrounds and musical influences. They have been together over five years and released four albums and an EP including its latest, Delhi 2 Dublin. The Delhi 2 Dublin crew is constantly touring. The musicians feel that they plug directly into the world’s music and energy. The strong word-of-mouth for their live performances has enabled them to build a loyal fan base. Originality and evolution are all part of the Delhi 2 Dublin experience. They have become one of Canada’s most buzzed-about bands and 2012 will only see them enhancing that reputation.
Saturday, Sept, 1, 2012
Fountain Stage
10:00 am – 11:00 am – Recorded International Music
11:00 am – 11:30 am – Mexican Lindo (Mexican)
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm – PARADE OF CULTURES
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Organization of Chinese Americans (Chinese)
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm – Imani Dancers (African/ African American)
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Chinese Dance with Cheryl Pan (Chinese)
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm – Louisville Performing Arts School Orff Ensemble (American)
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm – The Athenians (Greek)
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm – Guru Vandana Academy (East Indian)
4:45 pm – 5:15 pm – Smitha Paily Dancers (East Indian)
5:15 pm – 6:00 pm – Cloigheann (Irish)
6:15 pm – 6:30 pm – Long Thanh (Vietanamese)
6:30 pm – 7:15 pm – River City Drum Corp (African/African American)
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm – Nyugen Brothers (Vietnamese)
9:30pm – 11:00 pm Cosa Seria (Latin)
Main Stage
10:00 am – 11:00 am– Recorded International Music
11:00 am – 11:30 am -Angleterre Morris Dancers (England)
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm- PARADE OF CULTURES
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm – Louisville Pipe Band (celtic)
1:45 pm – 2:00 pm – Plena Rhythms (Mexican)
2:00 pm – 2:15 pm – Louisville Lion Dance Team (Vietnamese)
2:15 pm – 2:45 pm – Ahel El Nagam Dance Troupe & Friends (Mideastern)
2:45 pm – 3:15 pm- Louisville Argentine Tango Society ( Latin)
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm – Kyene (African)
4:15 pm -5:00 pm – Dance Intermix – (Belizeian)
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm – Michael Jacobs (Native American)
6:00 pm – 6:45 pm – Flamenco Louisville (Latin)
7:00 pm – 7:45 pm – Salsa Rhythms Band Latin)
8:00 pm – 8:45 pm – Coco Yam (World Mix)
9:30 pm – 11:00 pm Funkadesi (World)
Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012
Fountain Stage
11:30 am -12:30 pm – Recorded International Music
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm – Bosnian American Students (Bosnian)
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm – Flamenco Talk (Latin)
2:15 pm – 3:00 pm – Derby Boys Irish Band (Irish)
3:15 pm -4:00 pm – McClanahan School of Irish Dance (Irish)
4:15 pm -5:15 pm – Native American Dance Troupe (native American)
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – The Palma Project (Latin)
| 6:45 pm – 7:30 pm – Appalatin ( Appalachian/ Latin) |
7:45 pm – 9:00 pm – Maestro J (African/ American)
9:30 pm – 11:00 pm –Ambakaila featuring Russell Cadogan of Second IMIJ (Caribbean)
Main Stage
11:00 am- 12:00 pm- Recorded International Music
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm- Robert Tincher
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm – Ruric Amari (Mid Eastern)
1:45 pm 2:30 pm – Men of Thunda (Celtic Tribal)
2:45 pm – 3:30 pm – Misha Fegin (Russian Gypsy Music)
3:45 pm – 4:30 pm Duo Divertido (Latin)
4:45 pm – 5:45 pm – Son of the Widow ( Egypt – World)
6:00 pm – 6:45 pm – The Rheingold Band (German)
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Dublin City Ramblers (Celtic)
8:30 pm – 9:15 pm – Azucar Tumbao (Latin)
9:30 pm – 11:00 pm – Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul (Irish/Celtic)
Eileen Ivers will change the way you think about the violin. Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul, Nine Time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, London Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony at The Kennedy Center, Boston Pops, original musical star of Riverdance, The Chieftains, Sting, Hall and Oates, Randy Brecker, Patti Smith, Paula Cole, Al Di Meola, Steve Gadd, founding member of Cherish the Ladies, Grammy awarded musician, movie soundtracks including Gangs of New York, performed for Presidents and Royalty worldwide …this is a short list of accomplishments, headliners, tours, and affiliations. Fiddler Eileen Ivers has established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today. She’s been called “a sensation” by Billboard magazine, “a virtuoso” by The Irish Times, “the Jimi Hendrix of the violin” by The New York Times and “the future of the Celtic fiddle” by The Washington Post. The daughter of Irish immigrants, Eileen Ivers grew up in the Bronx, New York. Rooted in Irish traditional music since the age of eight, Eileen proceeded to win nine All-Ireland fiddle championships, a tenth on tenor banjo and over 30 championship medals, making her one of the most awarded persons ever to compete in these prestigious competitions. She graduated magna cum laude in Mathematics from Iona College before embarking on her career in music. Eileen tours throughout the year in performing art centers, symphony halls and festivals world-wide and is currently recording her latest CD from her new multimedia concert entitled ‘Beyond the Bog Road’ – an Irish-American experience through music, dance and film.
See the world, no TSA: Expanded WorldFest 2012 on Labor Day Weekend will mix business with pleasure
More and more, whether you live in Eastern Jefferson County, the area along Third Street by Iroquois Park or the Highlands, this city is going from Midwest bland to spicy International in everything from food to music.
This year, Worldfest on the Belvedere will have new events and features that address both the color and pageantry of an increasingly ethnically diverse city, as well as the practical side of making the most of the potential economic injection.
“We want to get the whole city involved,” said Kulkarni, executive director of Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government’s Office for Globalization. And that means business.
In that spirit, Louisville’s largest multi-national, multi-cultural weekend, scheduled for Labor Day Weekend, Friday, Aug. 31 through Sept. 2. will feature a Career Opportunities & Resources Expo:
An abundant, skilled and educated workforce is the key to economic progress and our foreign born population enhances our workforce with their energy, talents and creativity. Since WorldFest draws around 100,000 visitors, Mayor Greg Fischer has invited employers to bring their requirements and participate in making our workforce stronger with their guidance. This expo will bring Employers and Job Seekers together, and agencies like Kentuckiana Works, JFCS, LSHRM, Louisville Urban League and others will provide workshops on:
Other new events include:
Other new features for 2012 include a Cultural Showcase, a tent where people representing various nationalities can have space to display cultural items and talk to visitors about their native countries.
At a recent organizing meeting, there were plans for dozens of nations from each continent to be represented including:
Bosnia, Burma, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Eritrea, France, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Senegal, the United States and Vietnam.
“We are developing the content as we go,” said Kulkarni, adding that the festival would build on this year’s foundation for more formal offerings in the future for the best-received elements.
This is in addition to all the food and drink concessions, shopping and music, which will pretty much roll non-stop.
Here’s full performance line-up:
WorldFest Performers & Entertainment
Friday, August 31, 2012
Fountain Stage
10:30 am-11:45 am – Recorded International Music
11:45 am -1:00 pm – Desperados Steel Band (Carribean)
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Recorded International Music
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm – Swing 39 (French Chateus)
5:45 pm – 6:15 pm – Acoiris Latino (Mexican)
6:30 pm – 7:15 pm – Nachale Bollywood Dance (East Indian)
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm – Groove Masters featuring Tony Fish (African American)
9:30 pm – 11:00 pm- The Ark Band (Reggae)
Main Stage
10:30 am – 5:00 pm Recorded International Music
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm Al Hamsa Belly Dance & Friends (Mideastern Dance)
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm “Big Poppa” Stamply & the Bold Souls of Kentucky (Americana)
7:30 pm – 8:45 pm – Rolando Matias & the AfroRican Ensemble (Latin)
9:15 pm – 11:00 pm – Delhi 2 Dublin (World Music)
10:00 am – 11:00 am – Recorded International Music
11:00 am – 11:30 am – Mexican Lindo (Mexican)
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm – PARADE OF CULTURES
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Organization of Chinese Americans (Chinese)
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm – Imani Dancers (African/ African American)
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Chinese Dance with Cheryl Pan (Chinese)
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm – Louisville Performing Arts School Orff Ensemble (American)
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm – The Athenians (Greek)
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm – Guru Vandana Academy (East Indian)
4:45 pm – 5:15 pm – Smitha Paily Dancers (East Indian)
5:15 pm – 6:00 pm – Cloigheann (Irish)
6:15 pm – 6:30 pm – Long Thanh (Vietanamese)
6:30 pm – 7:15 pm – River City Drum Corp (African/African American)
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm – Nyugen Brothers (Vietnamese)
9:30pm – 11:00 pm Cosa Seria (Latin)
Main Stage
10:00 am – 11:00 am– Recorded International Music
11:00 am – 11:30 am -Angleterre Morris Dancers (England)
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm- PARADE OF CULTURES
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm – Louisville Pipe Band (celtic)
1:45 pm – 2:00 pm – Plena Rhythms (Mexican)
2:00 pm – 2:15 pm – Louisville Lion Dance Team (Vietnamese)
2:15 pm – 2:45 pm – Ahel El Nagam Dance Troupe & Friends (Mideastern)
2:45 pm – 3:15 pm- Louisville Argentine Tango Society ( Latin)
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm – Kyene (African)
4:15 pm -5:00 pm – Dance Intermix – (Belizeian)
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm – Michael Jacobs (Native American)
6:00 pm – 6:45 pm – Flamenco Louisville (Latin)
7:00 pm – 7:45 pm – Salsa Rhythms Band Latin)
8:00 pm – 8:45 pm – Coco Yam (World Mix)
9:30 pm – 11:00 pm Funkadesi (World)
Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012
Fountain Stage
11:30 am -12:30 pm – Recorded International Music
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm – Bosnian American Students (Bosnian)
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm – Flamenco Talk (Latin)
2:15 pm – 3:00 pm – Derby Boys Irish Band (Irish)
3:15 pm -4:00 pm – McClanahan School of Irish Dance (Irish)
4:15 pm -5:15 pm – Native American Dance Troupe (native American)
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – The Palma Project (Latin)
7:45 pm – 9:00 pm – Maestro J (African/ American)
9:30 pm – 11:00 pm –Ambakaila featuring Russell Cadogan of Second IMIJ (Caribbean)
Main Stage
11:00 am- 12:00 pm- Recorded International Music
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm- Robert Tincher
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm – Ruric Amari (Mid Eastern)
1:45 pm 2:30 pm – Men of Thunda (Celtic Tribal)
2:45 pm – 3:30 pm – Misha Fegin (Russian Gypsy Music)
3:45 pm – 4:30 pm Duo Divertido (Latin)
4:45 pm – 5:45 pm – Son of the Widow ( Egypt – World)
6:00 pm – 6:45 pm – The Rheingold Band (German)
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Dublin City Ramblers (Celtic)
8:30 pm – 9:15 pm – Azucar Tumbao (Latin)
9:30 pm – 11:00 pm – Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul (Irish/Celtic)
Eileen Ivers will change the way you think about the violin. Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul, Nine Time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, London Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony at The Kennedy Center, Boston Pops, original musical star of Riverdance, The Chieftains, Sting, Hall and Oates, Randy Brecker, Patti Smith, Paula Cole, Al Di Meola, Steve Gadd, founding member of Cherish the Ladies, Grammy awarded musician, movie soundtracks including Gangs of New York, performed for Presidents and Royalty worldwide …this is a short list of accomplishments, headliners, tours, and affiliations. Fiddler Eileen Ivers has established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today. She’s been called “a sensation” by Billboard magazine, “a virtuoso” by The Irish Times, “the Jimi Hendrix of the violin” by The New York Times and “the future of the Celtic fiddle” by The Washington Post. The daughter of Irish immigrants, Eileen Ivers grew up in the Bronx, New York. Rooted in Irish traditional music since the age of eight, Eileen proceeded to win nine All-Ireland fiddle championships, a tenth on tenor banjo and over 30 championship medals, making her one of the most awarded persons ever to compete in these prestigious competitions. She graduated magna cum laude in Mathematics from Iona College before embarking on her career in music. Eileen tours throughout the year in performing art centers, symphony halls and festivals world-wide and is currently recording her latest CD from her new multimedia concert entitled ‘Beyond the Bog Road’ – an Irish-American experience through music, dance and film.