SANTA ROSA — Celebrating 31 years of “Harmony from the roots up” and continuing its focus on progressive ideals, community activism, and uplifting music, this year’s Harmony Festival will be held at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa from Friday to Sunday, June 12-14.

Described as a hybrid between Burning Man and Bioneers, it will includes performances by Michael Franti and Spearhead, India Arie, Matisyahu, Cake, K’Naan, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars, Kitaro and The Duhks, plus speakers Rev. Michael Beckwith and Rickie Byars Beckwith, George Noory, Caroline Casey, Joanna Macy, Jerusalem Peacemakers, Julia Butterfly Hill, Daniel Pinchbeck, and Starhawk.

On Saturday evening, the Techno-Tribal Dance at Harmony After Dark includes Kitaro performing with Luminesque.

Luminesque (http://luminsquefiretroupe.com) is a cutting-edge dance, fere and circus performing arts ensemble combining classical dance, belly dance, martial arts, exceptional fire dance technique, cirque, and visionary choreography.

“Their show is like nothing you’ve experienced, with amazing solo showcases including wicked hot fire hooping, unparalleled poi spinning, and epic aerial silk dancers,” said a Harmony Festival spokesperson. “Their vision is to inspire and bring outrageous beauty to life.”

Kitaro (www.kitaromusic.com) is a star, but is very modest. “Nature inspires me. I am only a messenger,” he says. “To me, some songs are like clouds, some are like water.”

Since 1983, his reverence for nature has led Kitaro to annually give thanks to Mother Nature in a special “concert” on Mount Fuji. On the day of the August full moon, he beats on a taiko drum from dusk to dawn.

This year’s Harmony Festival also features the introduction of the RudeBoyz mini-MEGA Ramp Eco Cup skate competition with top skaters Bob Burnquist and Andy MacDonald on the Mega Ramp with live performances by Dead Kennedys and Bad Brain.

The producers of the festival are pleased to announce a special Sacred Sunday Show celebrating World Peace Day on June 14. The festival will close with Kitaro personifying the New Age movement, performing an evening benefit concert for ACE indoors in Harmony Hall.

Kitaro’s style is the epitome of the contemplative, highly melodic synthesizer music often associated with the New Age movement. He has been nominated several times for a Grammy in the New Age category and won the Golden Globe for his soundtrack for Oliver Stone’s movie “Heaven and Earth.”

For more information on the festival, visit www.HarmonyFestival.com, e-mail info@harmonyfestival.com, or call (415) 721-7515.