National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

L.A Latin-alternative rockers, Ozomatli, have just announced a Middle Eastern tour from July 22nd-30th, 2007. This new tour will reprise the group's groundbreaking India and Nepal tour of February of 2006, when Ozomatli spent 11 days last year as Cultural Ambassadors of the US State Department in India and Nepal, made possible by financial aid from a Fulbright-Hays grant. Ozomatli's Nepalese shows marked "the first peaceful non-political mass gathering ever organized in modern Kathmandu," according to a press release from the band's management. The group plans to repeat this success in their Middle Eastern tour.

Among their seven scheduled appearances, two are at large festivals. On July 22nd, Ozomatli will play the International Carthage Festival in Tunis, Tunisia, one of the largest and longest arts festivals in North Africa. During this appearance, the band will play in a Roman Amphitheater, dating from the 3rd-4th centuries AD. The second festival, the Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts in Jordan, will occur on July 26th, when the city will open its amphitheaters, temples, plazas and forums to festival-goers. In addition to the scheduled concerts, Ozomatli will engage in local outreach activities, including "visits to orphanages, schools and community centers." In addition, the group will host master classes and music workshops, and interactions with local musicians.

Ozomatli's tour of the Middle East will directly follow dates in the UK and precede a US tour with Slightly Stoopid and G. Love & Special Sauce. For more information, visit the band's website.

Ozomatli Tour Dates:
July 22th Carthage Festival, Tunisia
July 24th Jordan (Outreach Day)
July 25th Jordan (Outreach Day)
July 26th Jerash Festival, Jordan
July 27th Aquaba, Jordan
July 29th Cairo, Egypt
July 30th Alexandria, Egypt