Bumbershoot -- The Seattle Arts Festival 1991

Bumbershoot has gone international. Seattle Center's annual Labor Day weekend festival, now in its 21st year, used to be a celebration of mostly American arts - emphasizing the new, unusual, cutting-edge or under-appreciated.

But in recent years its most interesting attractions have been music groups from Africa, Asia, South America and the Caribbean. Bumberdrum, a cross-cultural percussion marathon, has become Bumbershoot's centerpiece, the heart of the festival pumping to a world beat.

This year, the spirit of Bumbershoot is at the Boeing World Music Stadium, site of Bumberdrum IV and a feast of other fascinating music from throughout the world.

But, of course, there are other attractions at this year's event, with enough variety to satisfy every taste. Following is a list of 21 of the most promising things to take in at Bumbershoot 1991.

1. Boeing World Music Stadium - See anything here and you're bound to encounter something you've never experienced before: African juju, Zairian pop, Croatian vocalizing, Japanese taiko drumming. No matter what you go to Bumbershoot for, take time to investigate the World Music Stadium.

2. B.B. King and Tracy Nelson, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Mainstage - The undisputed King of the Blues is an American musical treasure. Parts of his act have become tradition - "The Thrill Is Gone," "Every Day I Have the Blues" - but are never routine, as shown by his most recent, Grammy-winning LP, "Live at San Quentin." King's collaboration with U2, on the great song "When Love Comes to Town," and his forthcoming album, recorded with members of Living Color, demonstrate that King may be traditional, but he never stands still. Opening act Tracy Nelson, the country-blues singer, writes strong, touching songs and sings them in a strikingly pure voice.

3. Tony Bennett, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, Opera House - The beautiful new four-CD boxed set, "Forty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett," confirms his stature as one of pop music's giants. He displays the side of the Italian temperament opposite to Sinatra's - tender, passionate, warm, nostalgic, artistic, deeply emotional. His controlled yet dramatic style make his performances rich and rewarding, the kind you savor. And the symbiotic relationship with his combo is something to behold - you hardly notice the musicians, although they're an integral part of his style.

4. Intiman's "A Streetcar Named Desire," 8 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday, Intiman Playhouse - If you've never seen a professional play, or at least not one by Tennessee Williams, take the opportunity to experience first-class theater at a most reasonable price. This is a steamy, exciting, moving play that's entertaining and involving. It's not for children, and it's not mere entertainment. Commit to it and you'll be rewarded.

5. Branford Marsalis, 5 and 8:30 p.m. Monday, Opera House - The other Marsalis, brother of the celebrated Wynton, is a brilliant musician in his own right, a versatile saxophonist probably best known to mainstream audiences for his work with Sting. A new album from the Branford Marsalis Trio (also including bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts), "The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born," is due Sept. 10, and Marsalis is expected to premiere some of the tunes here.

6. The Neville Brothers and Clarence Clemons, 7 p.m. Friday, Mainstage - The Nevilles are the sound of New Orleans. The legendary vocal and musical quartet, featuring the sweet-voiced Aaron, capture the essence of the Big Easy in their rhythmic, enticing, intoxicating music. The show features material from their latest album, "Brothers Keeper," and Aaron's new solo LP, "Warm Your Heart," as well as traditional New Orleans tunes. Clemons is, of course, the Big Man from Bruce Springsteen's band, whose sax work is legendary.

7. The Lovemongers, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Opera House - A hometown project of Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, along with their longtime songwriting partner Sue Ennis and musician Frank Cox, the Lovemongers play Heart favorites as well as a variety of other originals and cover tunes. A highlight of the set is "River Deep, Mountain High," featuring the magnificent voice of Ann Wilson.

8. Crowded House and the Posies, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Mainstage - Any band that opens its album with a slap at Andrew Lloyd Webber ("May his trousers fall down as he bows to the queen") is all right by me. The delightful, melodic New Zealand band, whose new album is "Woodface" (the Lloyd Webber slap is called "Chocolate Cake"), is famous for the uplifting Top 40 hit, "Don't Dream It's Over." This show marks the first American appearance of new member Tim Finn, formerly of Split Enz (he joins his brother Neil in the group). The Posies represent Seattle's melodic rock side, as opposed to grunge. Their major hit was the sublime "Golden Blunders."

9. The Texas Tornados, 4:45 p.m. Monday, Blues Stage - You've probably already heard this Tex-Mex supergroup urging, "Andale! To Mickey D's today" in a TV commercial. That's a tiny sample of the band's immense talent. The group is made up of Freddy Fender, the tender-voiced vocalist known for "Before the Next Teardrop Falls"; Doug Sahm, the rock legend whose Sir Douglas Quintet gave us the classic "She's About a Mover"; his Sir Douglas cohort Augie Meyers; and conjunto music master Flaco Jimenez.

10. Buddy Guy, 4:45 p.m. Friday, Blues Stage - This 55-year-old blues-guitar master is a hero to many rock guitarists - Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler appear on his first album in 10 years, "Damn Right I've Got the Blues," just released on Tuesday. It's a good LP, but Guy is best on stage, when he lets loose his rocking side and displays his showmanship (he's the one who inspired Jimi Hendrix to play with his teeth.)

11. Chris Isaak and Duane Eddy, 1 p.m. Monday, Mainstage - Isaak was just here for a Summer Nights at the Pier concert, and charmed the audience with his lively neo-rockabilly and aching love ballads, as well as his wacky personality. Eddy is the King of Twang whose masterpiece is "Rebel Rouser" from 1958.

12. Elayne Boosler, 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Opera House - The highlight of Bumbershoot's comedy offerings, Boosler is the top female comic working today. Her material is never condescending, never mean or strident or dirty - just hilarious observations on the contemporary human condition.

13. Burning Spear and Jimmy Cliff, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Mainstage - Burning Spear is one of the great reggae stars, a mystical, shamanlike figure whose songs convey messages of unity and brotherhood. Cliff's style is best exemplified by his music on the great reggae film, "The Harder They Come," in which he starred.

14. The Indigo Girls, 1 p.m. Sunday, Mainstage - The harmonizing duo from Georgia, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, bring a down-home, "jes' folks" sensitivity to their fine, charming music.

15. The Bumbershoot R&B Revue featuring Booker T. & the MG's, Eddie Floyd and Carla Thomas, 1 p.m. Saturday, Mainstage - R&B has become a staple of Bumbershoot, and this lineup brings together names who've been neglected of late. Booker T. created timeless, organ-based instrumentals like "Green Onions" and "Time Is Tight." Floyd is the voice behind the classic "Knock on Wood."

16. Michael Doucet & Beausoleil, 12:45 pm. Friday, Bumbrella Stage - Beausoleil is probably the greatest Cajun band in the world, featuring fiery fiddler Doucet. The band's music was heard on the soundtrack of "The Big Easy," and its new album, "Cajun Conja," is a delight.

17. Etta James & the Roots Band, 8:15 p.m. Friday, Blues Stage - James is one of the all-time great blues shouters, a rousing performer whose rollicking songs like "Roll With Me Henry" and "Tell Mama" are great fun. As she matures, she brings a seasoned point of view to love songs and ballads.

18. The Dan Reed Network, 7:15 p.m. Saturday, RockArena - Portland-based Reed is a certified superstar in Europe, where he has toured with the Rolling Stones and Bon Jovi, and his records have topped the charts. But the electrifying performer, whose eclectic style has traces of reggae, hard rock, blues and the teasing sexuality of Prince, is still on the rise in America. His brand-new LP, "Heat," may be the one to bring his stardom home.

19. Allen Ginsberg, 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Bagley Wright Theatre - The poet whose masterpiece, "Howl," from the 1950s, still reverberates in contemporary culture, in rock music, novels and movies, is a controversial, outspoken figure who always provides food for thought. In addition to this reading, he will also participate in the "Art, Censorship and World Change" discussion at 4 p.m. Saturday in Intiman Playhouse, and at a book signing at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Bookfair Pavilion.

20. Dance Mix 1, noon Monday; and Dance Mix 2, 4:30 p.m. Monday, both at Bagley Wright Theatre - A chance to sample a variety of dance in a concentrated form. Each performance runs from 15 minutes to a half hour, so if you don't like one company you don't have long to wait for another.

21. Laura Nyro, 1 p.m. Sunday, Bumbrella Stage - At 17, she wrote a song well beyond her years, the dramatic "And When I Die," popularized by Blood, Sweat & Tears. She also penned many of Fifth Dimension's best, including "Wedding Bell Blues." She's back, writing new songs that are just as insightful and powerful.