Worldwide artists join the Fringe Toast Experience this week. Ry Cooder (photo), ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as #8 all-time best guitarist, joins Malian singer/guitarist, Ali Farka Toure (RS #76) as they perform the song "Gomni" from the CD Talking Timbuktu. During the program, you will also hear African artists with distinctive western influences from Aby Ndour, Wasis Diop with Lena Fiagbe, and Afro Celt Sound System (below photo).

New artists to the Fringe Toast soundstage include Bernard Fanning (Australia), Samantha James (UK), Brad Corrigan (US), Be Good Tanyas (Canada), Sven Van Hees (Belgium), and Jeremy Lev (photo below) described as a "jazzy Jack Johnson meets a more alternative John Mayer."

About half-way through the program, DJ Andy Bargerstock will be throwing in a especially delightful track, "Orange Peel" from Sopwith Camel, one of the first San Francisco bands to be signed to a major label in the mid '60s. This one comes from the classic vinyl album, "The Miraculous Hump Returns from the Moon." It is amazing to hear how contemporary it sounds.... and of couse there will be a variety of delicate musical surprise. You don't want to miss this treat for the ears and balm for the soul.