iFest Performer Ned Sublette Book Signing 

Ned Sublette slated to appear at Houston International Festival April 17-18

Author and musician to sign latest book April 16 at Sig’s Lagoon

Houston – Author, musician and musicologist Ned Sublette will be in Houston to perform at the 2010 Houston International Festival honoring the Caribbean. He will appear on April 17 at 4:30 p.m. and April 18 at 2:30 p.m. on the H-E-B Cultural Center in a performance that will combine readings and music, and will emphasize the links between New Orleans and Caribbean culture. He will also be reading from his books in the festival’s literary exhibit tent, located in the Chevron Living Museum in Upper Sam Houston Park. A resident of New York and longtime member in good standing of the Lower East Side artistic community, Sublette previously appeared at iFest in 1999 with his band Cowboy Rumba.

Sublette will be signing his latest book, The Year Before the Flood (Lawrence Hill Books, 20) on Friday, April 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Sig’s Lagoon, 3710 Main St. The book documents the year that Sublette spent in New Orleans immediately prior to the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Sublette will read from the book and then perform songs inspired by the book. He also will have on hand copies of his two previous books, The World That Made New Orleans (Lawrence Hill), which traces the history of New Orleans from its birth as a colonial Caribbean city to when it became part of the United States, and Cuba and Its Music (Chicago Review Press).

A native of Louisiana, Sublette wrote the song “Cowboys are Frequently Secretly (Fond Of One Another),” which has been recorded by Willie Nelson and Kinky Friedman. For several years, his label Qbadisc imported otherwise unavailable CDs from Cuba. His 1999 album Cowboy Rumba successfully combined honky-tonk singing and songs with contemporary Cuban rhythms in a manner that is unique in the annals of American music. 

The tradition continues on the streets of Downtown Houston in April, as the 40^th annual Houston International Festival spotlights the Caribbean April 17-18 and 24-25, 2010, with world musical performances, international arts and crafts markets, artisan demonstrations, interactive exhibits and more. 

The Festival will take place Saturdays Noon-10 p.m. and Sundays Noon-8 p.m. Tickets are on sale at www.ifest.org and at H-E-B stores. Advance tickets are on sale for $12 through April 12. Special weekend and VIP packages range from $80-$249. Visit www.ifest.org for details. $3 for kids on Saturday (age three under are free). Target Kids Free on Sundays (age 12 and under).

All proceeds benefit the Festival arts and education programs. For more information, call 713-654-8808 or visit www.ifest.org.

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