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[whitespace] The Bangles
Eternal Flames: The Bangles, shown here in a vintage photo, make it a Manic Tuesday by headlining the EHC benefit concert on the eve of the America Festival.

Go Fourth

San Jose throws its annual all-day party for Independence Day

ON THE MOST revered holiday of barbecues, apple pie and pyrotechnics, the San Jose America Festival has always offered a good incentive for valley folk to let the Weber--and the illegal cherry bombs--go unlit, at least until another day. The annual free Fourth of July bash offers a celebration of Silicon Valley's diversity that includes an array of international food and drink, arts and crafts vendors and a children's area featuring hands-on art and multicultural craft projects.

The festival has a variety of music going on all day long on three stages. Everything from R&B to swing to Japanese drumming promises a good time for everyone, and all in the name of a good cause: the festival benefits the Emergency Housing Consortium (EHC), which offers programs aimed at ending homelessness in the valley. The grand finale of the day's entertainment is, of course, a fireworks display.

For those who'd like to get the party started early, '80s pop band the Bangles will headline a special benefit concert for the EHC the night before the festival, on Tuesday, July 3, starting at 4pm in Discovery Meadow. Admission is $10. Nicky Love, Michelle Branch and Kina open the show.

The festival kicks off at 11am on July 4, and goes on till the last firework goes off (that's some time around 10pm) at Discovery Meadow, Guadalupe River Park, Woz Way and San Carlos streets, San Jose. Admission to the festival on Wednesday, July 4, is free. For more information, call 408.294.2100, ext. 444, or see www.americafestival.com.


America the Bountiful: Among the diverse lineup of festival entertainment (clockwise from left) are Mexican folkroloric dance troupe Los Lupeños de San José; reggae band John Brown's Body; blues/roots vocalist Nina Storey.

July 4 Festival Schedule

Main Stage

11am: Los Lupeños, traditional Mexican dance and music
12:45pm: San Jose Taiko, Japanese drummiing
2:30pm: Nina Storey, roots
4:15pm: John Brown's Body, reggae
6pm: Quetzal, Chicano soul
7:45pm: Ricardo Lemvo, Afro-Cuban music
9:30pm: D'Midas International, Carnaval-style dance and music
9:45pm: Fireworks display

Fountain Stage

Noon: Wazabe Blue, jazz
2pm: Firme, Latin/ska/rock
4pm: Marcus Shelby Orchestra, swing
6pm: Samba Da, Brazilian music

Micro Stage

12:30pm: Lon Lopez Band, soul/rock
2:30pm: Wally Schnalle Quartet, jazz
4:30pm: Hot Town Jubilee, '30s-style jazz
6:30pm: Johnnie Cozmik, R&B

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From the June 28-July 4, 2001 issue of Metro, Silicon Valley's Weekly Newspaper.

Copyright © 2001 Metro Publishing Inc. Metroactive is affiliated with the Boulevards Network.

For more information about the San Jose/Silicon Valley area, visit sanjose.com.



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