Description of the Festival	(Click on logo above to apply)

MUSICUBA is an annual festival in Cuba celebrating Cuban music and run by EGREM, the same record label that gave the West the Buena Vista Social Club and is responsible for over 100 Cuban artists and releases. The festival runs from Thu. 4th through Sun. 7th, October, 2007.

The festival organisers have asked CMEAS to help them select at least three international acts from any country (including the USA) and any secular genre to share some of Havana's best stages with some of Cuba's most revered and talented musicians.

The press release below gives some more information on the festival itself followed by specific information for international participants:

"EGREM Records (Empresa de Grabaciones y Ediciones Musicales) is pleased to announce the second MUSICUBA International Festival 2007 to take place on 4th through 7th October, 2007.

The festival will showcase an exclusive catalog of Cuban artists and several international acts (from any country including the USA) chosen in conjunction with Chicago based CME Artist Services

Among the artists confirmed are: Warapo, Moneda Dura, Arnaldo y su Talismán, Buena Fe, Triángulo Oscuro, Pedrito Calvo y La Justicia, Sur Caribe, Dan Den, Pupy y los que Son Son, Enrique Alvarez y su Charanga Latina, La Barriada, Habana Sax, Partes Privadas, Azúcar Band, Waldo Mendoza, La Frontera.

The festival will take place in the best clubs of Havana:

Casa de la música Habana, Casa de la música de Miramar, Diablo Tun Tun, Delirio Habanero, and Jardines de la Tropical.

The festival closes with a grand Gala in the Karl Marx Theatre (cap. 5000) to celebrate 50 years of the life of the Band Pedrito Calvo y la Nueva Justicia, the 15 years of Enrique Alvarez y su Charanga Latina and 20 years of Sur Caribe."

For a full roster of EGREM's artists (and it is marvelously impressive!) see:

http://www.egrem.com.cu/catalogo/musicuba.asp

Information for Participants

Because Cuba is a very poor country none of the musicians will receive payment, including the Cubans. However, CMEAS will provide a per diem of $50 per international musician. Travel to and from the airport is also covered, as is hotel accommodation.

Participants will need to have a full passport. Visas for Cuba are available on entry to the country. There will be an airport exit tax on leaving Cuba and this too will be covered by CMEAS.

Information for US Citizens

Because of the ongoing embargo of Cuba by the US, travelling to Cuba by US citizens requires licenses. Fortunately, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) can grant licenses to US musicians performing in Cuba provided that they:

1. Do not receive remuneration,

2. are not performing at workshops,

3. are actively participating in the event, and

4. that the event they are performing at is open to the Cuban people.

Each of these apply to this event and the State Department has already been notified and are agreeable to allowing CMEAS to bring US musicians to take part on this festival.

US Citizens travelling under license are not permitted to receive any money more than $50 per diem not including transport.

CMEAS has applied to OFAC for licenses for bands TBA (it is acceptable to do that) to enable us to offer this event to US musicians as well as musicians from any other country.