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A Zoo for us

Spend a day at the Zoo Whistler’s only all day festival blends music magic with cool crafts, unique eats, festival freaks and gifted super jam geeks What: Zoophorus Where: Boot Pub Fairgrounds When: Saturday, Aug. 30, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Spend a day at the Zoo

Whistler’s only all day festival blends music magic with cool crafts, unique eats, festival freaks and gifted super jam geeks

What: Zoophorus

Where: Boot Pub Fairgrounds

When: Saturday, Aug. 30, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

When you go to the zoo, don’t you just wish all the animals could play together – and that you could join them?

That day has come and that world is Zoophorus. The all day festival for an all good cause brings together the best groovin’ music on the planet from the boogying bastions of hip hop, funk, soul, jazz, tribal and rock. It’s all welcome with wild ’n free open arms.

"It’s a zoo for us," said co-organizer Derek Arrowsmith of Upstream Entertainment. "The dictionary defines zoophorus as a continuous pattern of man and animals and that’s what this event is all about – every type of music for all types of people in one majestic setting."

Set up smack bang in the middle of Whistler’s coastal mountain range, Zoophorus zooms into the back yard of the Boot Pub. Being a private party, the hosts are encouraging attendees to bring their own blankets, musical instruments, umbrellas, snacks and smokes but make sure you check out the creative craft stalls and delicious delights on sale too.

"We’re basically throwing the biggest private dance party in Whistler’s history, merging a tonne of different genres into one big super jam. Many of these artists are award-winning geniuses and they can’t wait to play together. That’s the beauty of this type of event – it’s a one time only opportunity to see artists like this all together on stage. It could be a train wreck or absolute beauty but that’s part of the excitement."

The chosen charity to benefit from the $47, 10-hour ticket is Camp Moomba, a summer camp for Canadian kids infected or affected by HIV and AIDS. Run by The Western Canadian Pediatric AIDS Society, Camp Moomba is free of charge to all the families Zoophorus can support.

"We are thrilled to help out this great cause," said Boot Pub manager, Paul McNaught.

"This is our second year being involved with Camp Moomba and it’s amazing what an event of this nature can do for them. From transportation to equipment, your ticket stub at Zoophorus goes a long way to helping these kids have one week a year where they can be, well, just kids, away from the harsh realities of HIV and AIDS."

Who’s playing when and what to expect

11 a.m. Global Funk Council

Global Funk Council integrate driving, improvizational rock with organic, incendiary grooves and sophisticated, classic jazz/funk to create a fresh, modern sound of their own.

Derek dishes: "These guys are the up and comers making serious waves on the acid jazz jam band circuit. Their guitar player was a student of Garaj Mahal’s Fareed, who funnily enough calls him "Mini Me".

12:15-12:55 p.m. 4 th World, Emotionz and Curtis Santiago

Beat boxing and freestyling from MC Emotionz and his hip hop crew 4 th World, while Curtis Santiago, who is best known as lead vocalist for the prominent funky hip hop group, the Hi-Phoniqs has now gone solo.

Derek dishes: "You’ll be amazed at what these talents can do. We’re proud to be serving up these artists definitely on the verge of super stardom."

1:10-2:40 p.m. Garaj Mahal

All accomplished artists in their own right, these guys come together to get the groove going on like no other. Be blown away by drummer Alan Hertz, Blue Note artist Fareed Haque, Hammond B3 basher Eric Levy and pulsating bass player Kai Eckhardt.

Derek dishes: "These guys are my favourite band on the planet, no question. They are everything – world music, dance, groove and they just let it rip every time with each member randomly choosing a song. Some cool shit is gonna go down, I guarantee it."

2:45-3:30 p.m. Dr. Didg

Retro-funk, tribal vibes, psychedelia and the energy and flow of contemporary dance music. Graham Wiggins (who holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Oxford) got the nickname Dr. Didg while testing out the didgeridoo in the university’s lab. He went on to study the instrument with the Australian Aborigines, wrote extensively on the physics of its sound, and helped bring the didgeridoo to the outside world in 1988 as co-founder of the Hannibal group Outback.

Derek dishes: "This is gonna be an interesting one. Dr Didg likes to get to a pace with his didgeridoo that gets everyone moving. Then he’ll lock it in and play some other instruments over the top. He makes festival magic happen and a lot of other acts on the bill are super stoked to be joining him."

3:45-4:15 p.m. Sweatshop Union

Preaching the power of positive rapping these six MCs work together as a single organism, exuding right-on lyrics and a fun vibe that's hard to resist.

Derek dishes: "Everyone is buzzing about these guys. They are a powerful force on stage who clearly love what they do. Their conscious rising message is contagious."

4:30-6:30 p.m. Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe

The sax player during Lenny Kravitzs golden years, the founder of acid jazz outfit the Greyboy Allstars and one saxy soloist to boot. He’s bringing a swag of soul brothers and sisters with him too.

Derek dishes: "Karl D is the epitome of the festival showman. He’s all about the sharing of the music. Don’t be surprised to see him popping up all over the place during the festival and inviting everyone else on the bill up on stage with him."

7-9 p.m. De La Soul

The enduring legacy from these godfathers of hip hop can be heard in the hits from the ’90s to now. Three high school friends who feel truly blessed to be the masters of their music. A show not to be missed.

Derek dishes: "These guys have long been one of the biggest hip hop acts in the world and everybody in the game is influenced by them. B.C. loves them too. They filled Whistler’s conference centre to capacity last year and sold out the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver twice."

10:30 p.m. til late Two After Parties to Choose From

At the GLC catch one of the most revered hip hop DJs of our time in his own personal tribute to the genre that made his group De La Soul international stars.

At the Boot Pub catch Garaj Mahal with many of their funked up friends from the Zoophorus line-up. The Kings of Improv promise to kick it in a style that will never be repeated.

Sunday, Aug. 31

10: 30 p.m. Zoophorus Recovery and Super Jam II

After a day of rest the awesome foursome that are Garaj Mahal will once again hit the stage for a jam beyond comprehension. Wear your dancing shoes for this one.

Tickets to Zoophorus are available at The Boot Pub Ph: 604-932-3338 and ticketmaster.com Ph: 604-280-4444. A limited number of tickets will also be kept at the gates from 10 a.m.

Zoophorus ticket holders have first dibs at entry to the After Parties, with leftovers possibly available at the door from 10 p.m.