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Believe Freedom Festival unveils (some) music acts

Plus, don't miss Paul Oakenfold at Tommy Africa's
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festival headliner Julian Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley, will perform with his band The Uprising at the Believe Freedom Festival this summer. Photo submitted

The Believe Freedom Festival announced a portion of the lineup for its inaugural event, slated to run in Whistler Olympic Park this summer.

The roster is shaping up to be an eclectic offering with everyone from Bob Marley's son Julian Marley & The Uprising to Southern California hip hop act The Luminaries on the Sun City stage. Also on the list are a host of cultural acts, including First Nations Eagle Song Dancers, a 10-piece Mexican mariachi band called Los Dorados and Japanese drummers Uzume Taiko.

Organizers didn't forget about local artists, adding DJs Phroh, Kosmik and Kori K to spin sets. B.C. acts Sticky Buds, Timothy Wisdom, Wood N Soo and Rennie Foster from Vancouver were announced too. "We are proud to have so many great artists on board for Believe's inaugural year," organizers say in a release.

They add that they plan to release more information about the rest of the performers over the next few weeks.

Last fall, festival founder Adrian Moran announced they had chosen Whistler as home for the five-day electronic, world music and culture festival, running from July 11 to 15. It will feature four "arenas" including the main stage, a location for daytime lounging and music listening, a Global Village for artisans and artists as well as a Cosmic Café.

For more information visit www.believefreedomfestival.com.

English DJ legend comes to Whistler

Trance DJ legend and record producer Paul Oakenfold is kicking off an exotic tour in Whistler March 1.

Oakenfold, who has over three decades of experience in the music industry, has produced music for superstars like U2 and Madonna, including Celebration, her latest release. He's also remixed top names from Michael Jackson to The Rolling Stones and Justin Timberlake during his DJ career. With two Grammy nods to his name, Oakenfold has also created soundtracks for Hollywood hits like The Bourne Identity and the Matrix.

Of his forthcoming album, Pop Killer, he told Vibe TV recently that he's collaborated with artists like Miguel, Cee Lo Green and Eve. "The title came from listening to the radio and all the music sounded the same," he added. "Electronic music has been done by a lot of really good electronic producers, so everything is catching up. So the title may not mean what it meant a few years ago."

More recently, Oakenfold could be found spinning a set for a host of music celebs at the Friends 'n' Family Grammy pre-party, and organizing a tour that will take him from the Dominican Republic to Indonesia and Singapore in the coming months.

First though, he stops at Tommy Africa's for a set that the bar is billing as the season's biggest event. Tickets are $50 at tommyafricas.com, Hempire and clubzone.com.

Squamish Valley Music Fest announces lineup

You'll have to venture down the Sea to Sky highway March 1 to be among the first to hear the lineup announcement for the Squamish Valley Music Festival.

Festival organizers will reveal the roster at a concert launch party at Vancouver's Commodore Ballroom featuring indie rockers Yukon Blonde and electro-pop act Diamond Rings. Tickets are $28.50 and still available on Ticketmaster.com.

The festival takes place in Squamish Aug. 9 and 10.