Where were you on 4/20? We spent the day at the Houston International Festival with the Wailers and a whole grab bag full of other sights and sounds.

Read the recap and check out our photos after the jump

After seeing Hen and Rooster off on their jaunt to San Antonio, Eggs and I hopped on the train and arrived at iFest around 2:30. Just in time for me to purchase one of those straw hats I've been threatening to buy for years and then head off to the Louisiana Stage, where Trombone Shorty's set was underway. Trombonist/trumpeter Troy Andrews and his band played a blazing set of brassy New Orleans-style funk that left me marveling at what a perfect start to the day it was.

After Trombone Shorty's set, we took a leisurely stroll in the direction of the World Music Stage, where Haitian performer Emeline Michel was set to play at 4. iFest's focus on diversity has consistently delivered excellent people-watching in the past, and this day didn't disappoint. On our way across the festival grounds Eggs and I spotted, among other things, a middle-aged dude on roller skates and a Hare Krishna-promoting procession (which reminded us of a 'performance' we accidentally caught at last year's edition of the event).

We alighted on a spot near the duck pond behind the World Music Stage and relaxed in the shade, oohing and ahhing at the tiny ducklings trailing behind their mothers. We soon heard the opening strains of Emeline Michel's set and migrated closer to the stage. Michel sings in French and Haitian Creole; my comprehension of the former is rudimentary at best and my knowledge of the latter is non-existent, but just listening to the sound of her voice made me feel that I was not in Houston at all, but instead on Caribbean beach. The 'Queen of Haitian Song' turned out an energetic performance, dancing all over the stage and enthusiastically explaining (in English) the inspirations behind her songs. She also invited New York-based Haitian-American violinist Daniel Bernard-Roumain to join her.

After pausing for a moment to take in some indie rock en español from Pastilla at the Latin Stage, we sauntered back over to the now-crowded Louisiana Stage to catch Sonny Landreth. The audience was populated by what looked to be the same Claptonites Eggs mentioned in his review of iFest day 1. We found ourselves next to undoubtedly the coolest person we saw the whole day - a clown-shoe-clad, lap dog-toting gentleman who looked like he was having a blast dancing in his electric wheelchair.

We left Landreth's set and met up with a few friends before heading back over to the World Music Stage in anticipation of the impending Wailers performance. As the group was being introduced, Eggs decided that it was a great idea for us to put our media passes to good use and hauled me up the photo pit. And it was a great idea...for him. I, on the other hand, got denied because apparently security follows a strict 'No Camera-Sharing Allowed' policy. Who woulda thunk it? [Have I mentioned that I was recently manhandled by moe. personnel at their Meridian show for trying to take a video? Manhandled, I tell you - and for what? For trying to spread a little musical love?! Jebus!]

Sunday was a fantastic day (as was Saturday!) and iFest proved once again that they know how to throw a killer party. I'm always amazed at how incredibly organized this festival is - sets begin and end right on time (well...except for George Clinton's set last year. He literally had to be taken off the stage because he refused to stop singing. Rad.) and there are actually an abundance of trash bins and collectors, so the ground remains relatively clear. Maybe those don't seem like terribly important points, but I appreciate the details.

If you missed iFest last weekend, do yourself a favor and head downtown this Saturday and Sunday - it's impossible to not have a great time. You can see all the scheduled performers and view ticket information at iFest's official website.

See you there!


Carpe ientaculum.

--Cereal