Come … to the Casbah

Diane Patterson & Quawwali Music play along with the Fanna-Fi-Allah Quawwali and Sufi Ensemble Sept. 2 at the Teahouse festival at the Wellsprings.

Come … to the Casbah

Teahouse caravan settles at the Jackson Wellsprings through Sept. 5, bringing exotic food, music, dance and atmosphere

The Casbah Teahouse will adorn the Garden Stage at Jackson Wellsprings (formerly Jackson Hot Springs) with its open-air Bedouin tent, Persian carpets, savory chai tea and world beat music between this Friday and Sept. 5.

Concluding its summer Pacific Northwest food and music tour, members of the Casbah caravan will recuperate in the healing waters of the Wellsprings before making the long migration south to their winter home in Tucson. For almost two decades the Tucson Casbah Teahouse has been an anchor and magnet to musicians, rising superstars and recording artists alike. Over the last eight years the summer gypsy caravan stage has traveled the Pacific Northwest, lending color to venues including Trinity Tribal Stomp, Hornings Hideout, Vashon Island Earth Fair, Seattle Hemp Fest, Health and Harmony, and Faerie World Fest.

I Will Presents has invited musicians from the magical state of Jefferson, Hawaii and Figi to perform at the Wellsprings’ two-weekend extravaganza. Shimshai will open the Casbah music series on Friday evening with his eclectic blend of heart-and-soul reggae and jazz, with a world beat influence. Shimshai is known for his solid, rhytmic grooves layered with angelic harmonies and uplifting, spirited lyrics. Over the last four years Shimshai and the Natural Mystiquensemble have established a devoted following from Seattle to San Diego to Hawaii, and in Europe from London to Amsterdam. Shimshai has appeared on stage with Jai Uttal and the Pagan Love Orchestra, Ram Dass, and Cannon and the Lion of Judah Band.

Jah Levi and the Higher Reasoning will light up the Casbah on Sunday evening. With more than 20 albums and 25 years of worldwide performances, Jah Levi will deliver to the Wellsprings Garden Stage his charismatic blend of heart-and-soul reggae and spiritually uplifting world fusion. Jah Levi has shared the same stage with reggae, folk and popular superstars including Ziggy Marley, Israel Vibration, The Itals, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Andrew Tosh, The Wailers, and Lost at Last.

The Bedouin tent will come alive with the heartfelt, penetrating sound of Human and the Evolution on Tuesday, Kirtan Music led by Prema Mayi and friends, on Wednesday, and Devine Names Zikr and Sufi Heart Circle, led by Kalil Elliot, on Sept. 1.

Casbah’s Magic Carpet Ride will continue into the Labor Day weekend with another three enjoyable days of music, swimming and hot-water soaking. Sept. 2 will witness the mesmerizing harmonies of Fanna-Fi-Allah Quawwali Ensemble presenting ecstatic sufi devotional music. Scott Huckabay will close the Wellsprings Casbah Music Fest on Sept. 4. Saturday’s events to be announced.