Michael Franti and Spearhead Recent News

Michael Franti & Spearhead Display Spectacular Performance at the Hollwood Bowl

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:09:00 -0700

Michael Franti & Spearhead Display Spectacular, Crowd-rousing Performance for 17,000 Foot-stomping Fans at the Hollwood Bowl

Performance on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" Airs October 2

Deluxe Limited Edition of All Rebel Rockers Available on Band's Webstore

Michael Franti & Spearhead wowed the crowd on Sunday night at this season's final installment of the KCRW World Festival series at the historic Hollywood Bowl. MTV.com was in the house and gushed "the World Fest concert was one of the most high-energy and just plain fun shows I've ever been to…Michael Franti & Spearhead had fans on their feet right from the start…the energy was really pumping through the crowd."

Superlative entertainers, the performance was a testament to the band's creativity and talent. Franti & Spearhead opened their set with a single spotlight focused on a giant boombox. An aggressive reggae beat had the sold-out crowd wondering if maybe they had wandered into a hip hop show by mistake, but once the band joined in and Franti ran on stage, the crowd was completely mesmerized by the original mix of reggae, pop and rock n roll. Accompanied by Kingston dancehall diva Cherine Anderson, who appeared on several tracks on Franti's/Spearhead's latest, All Rebel Rockers and who has collaborated with Madonna, Britney Spears and Sir Paul McCartney, Michael Franti and his band had even the most jaded Bowl-goers dancing through the entire set. At a time when all news seems to be bad news, Michael Franti & Spearhead reminded 17,000 concert-goers that night that there is fun to be had in hopefulness.

Gratifyingly for the venerable and hardworking band, All Rebel Rockers cracked the Top 40, entering the Billboard charts at #39, a first for Michael Franti & Spearhead. With multiple formats of the new release, including a super-deluxe version that features a CD, DVD, seven vinyl singles and a slew of extra items, All Rebel Rockers is Michael Franti's & Spearhead's most ambitious and interesting record yet.

Michael Franti and Spearhead on tour:
Sep 24 - Cottonwood Park - Mancos, Colorado
Sep 26 - Paolo Soleri Amphitheater - Santa Fe, New Mexico
Sep 27 - Pine Mountain Amphitheater - Flagstaff, Arizona
Sep 28 - Rialto Theatre - Tucson, Arizona
Nov 07 - Royal Oak Music Theatre - Royal Oak, MI
Nov 12 - Brown Theatre - Louisville, KY
Nov 13 - Carnegie Hall of Homestead - Pittsburgh, PA
Nov 14 - Palace Theatre - Albany, NY
Nov 15 - Lupo's - Providence, RI
Nov 16 - Orpheum - Boston, MA
Nov 19 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC
Nov 21 - Nokia Theatre - NYC
Nov 22 - Nokia Theatre - NYC
Nov 28 - Fillmore - Denver, CO
Nov 29 - Fillmore - Denver, CO

Michael Franti and Spearhead Score Top 40 Record with All Rebel Rockers

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:09:00 -0700

Appearance on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" Scheduled for September 23rd

Michael Franti and his band are surely having a gratifying month. After years of releasing issue-addressing, conscience-raising records, Michael Franti/Spearhead’s All Rebel Rockers scored the musicians their highest chart position ever, entering the Billboard charts at #39, selling more than 12,000 copies in its first week. On September 2nd, the band shared the stage with Rage Against the Machine, Dead Prez and Anti Flag in protest of the Iraq war at the Republican National Convention. Additionally, Michael Franti’s Power to the Peaceful music festival, headlined by Spearhead, Ziggy Marley, Waren Haynes and Rebelution, has grown steadily over the decade it has been in existence, and drew more than 70,000 fans to Golden Gate Park earlier this month. It would seem that dedication and hard work do pay off.

The band is currently on tour in the US. After playing the San Diego Street Scene with the likes of Beck, Cat Power and Vampire Weekend this Friday, Michael Franti and Spearhead will play the Hollywood Bowl with Ozomatli on Sunday. While in Los Angeles, Franti and his band will stop by the KCRW studios to appear on the renowned Nic Harcourt-hosted "Morning Becomes Eclectic." Then on the 23rd, the band will perform on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" on CBS.

Critics are cheering for All Rebel Rockers:

- "Franti is an artist the size of a forest, his music is merely one tree and All Rebel Rockers is one spiffy branch." URB

- "With the often exhilarating new record, Franti offers a set of elastic, expansive grooves that combine humane social concern and messages of love with pure thump." Boston Globe

- "At the end of the day, I can't deliver higher praise." San Francisco Bay Guardian

- "Infectious hooks, catchy choruses, stellar musicianship, top flight production and a mix of politically relevant and fun lyrics makes All Rebel Rockers another Spearhead gem." Jambase

Michael Franti and Spearhead continue touring the US through November.

Sep 19 - San Diego Street Scene - San Diego, California
Sep 20 - The Pozo Saloon - Santa Margarita, California
Sep 21 - KCRW’s World Festival - Los Angeles, California
- @ The Hollywood Bowl (with Ozomatli)
Sept 24 - Cottonwood Park - Mancos, Colorado
Sep 26 - Paolo Soleri Amphitheater - Santa Fe, New Mexico
Sep 27 - Pine Mountain Amphitheater - Flagstaff, Arizona
Sep 28 - Rialto Theatre - Tucson, Arizona
Nov 7 - Royal Oak Music Theatre - Royal Oak, MI
Nov 12 - Brown Theatre - Louisville, KY
Nov 13 - Carnegie Hall of Homestead - Pittsburgh, PA
Nov 14 - Palace Theatre - Albany, NY
Nov 15 - Lupo’s - Providence, RI
Nov 16 - Orpheum - Boston, MA
Nov 19 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC
Nov 21 - Nokia Theatre - NYC
Nov 22 - Nokia Theatre - NYC
Nov 28 - Fillmore - Denver, CO
Nov 29 - Fillmore - Denver, CO

Michael Franti & Spearhead Release “Say Hey”

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:07:00 -0700

Today Michael Franti and Spearhead released another digital single and accompanying video for “Say Hey,” from the upcoming All Rebel Rockers (out Sept 9). As reported on the anti blog, the video was filmed under tense conditions in one of Brazil’s most notorious favelas.

See the end result of the video shoot and hear “Say Hey” here.

MICHAEL FRANTI AND SPEARHEAD IN JAPAN, CANADA, EUROPE AND US IN ANTICIPATION OF THE NEW ALBUM

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:07:00 -0700

MICHAEL FRANTI AND SPEARHEAD MAKE STOPS IN JAPAN, CANADA, EUROPE AND US IN ANTICIPATION OF RELEASE OF ALL REBEL ROCKERS SEPT 9

I Know I’m Not Alone Opens Historic Documentary Film Festival in Dubai

July was full of firsts for Michael Franti and his band Spearhead. On the 4th of July weekend, Franti and Spearhead played the inaugural Rothbury Festival in Michigan, a greened-out festival run in large part by volunteers and devoted to education and activism as much as a great live music experience. While he was there, Franti lead 500 enthusiastic yoga devotees in an afternoon of music and movement before his set that evening.

July also found Franti’s award-winning documentary I Know I’m Not Alone at the first documentary film festival in Dubai, “Documentary Voices: Pulling Focus.” Featuring 20 filmmakers from the Arab countries, US and Iran, the festival opened with Franti’s 2005 film about his experiences in the war-ravaged countries of Iraq, Israel and Palestine, and was attended by the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The remainder of the summer and well into the fall will find Franti and Spearhead traveling around the world, playing such festivals at the Fuji Rock festival in Japan, Pukkelpop in Belgium and Franti’s own Power to the Peaceful festival which draws 50,000+ people each year to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

All Rebel Rockers, Michael Franti and Spearhead’s upcoming release, hits stores on September 9th. Produced by superstar production team Sly and Robbie (No Doubt, Alicia Keys, Sean Paul), with additional production from Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Faith No More) on a number of tracks, All Rebel Rockers is arguably the grooviest, most danceable protest record ever. Billboard magazine writes “it is not possible for Michael Franti to put aside, even briefly, the stay-positive political messages in his music, but on All Rebel Rockers, he delivers them with a club-approved, dub-infused soul heavily dipped in the record’s birthplace of Kingston Jamaica.”

Catch Michael Franti and Spearhead on tour:
Thu Jul 24 - Detroit Lakes, MN - 10,000 LAKES FESTIVAL
Sun Jul 27 - Niigata, JPN - FUJI ROCK FEST - Field of Heaven
Fri Aug 08 - Jersey City, NJ - ALL POINTS WEST
Sat Aug 09 - Edmonton, AB - EDMONTON FOLK FESTIVAL
Sun Aug 10 - Regina, SK - REGINA FOLK FESTIVAL
Thu Aug 14 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - PARADISO
Fri Aug 15 - Hasselt, - Belgium - PUKKELPOP
Sat Aug 16 - Chelmsford, United Kingdom - Hylands Park - V FESTIVAL
Sun Aug 17 - Staffordshire, United Kingdom - Weston Park - V FESTIVAL
Tue Aug 19 - Sheffield, United Kingdom - LEADMILL
Wed Aug 20 - Edinburgh, Scotland - LIQUID ROOM
Thu Aug 21 - London, England - KOKO
Fri Aug 22 - Cheltenhelm, United Kingdom - GREENBELT
Sun Aug 24 - Chiemsee, Germany - CHIEMSEE REGGAE Summer - Open Air
Mon Aug 25 - Berlin, Germany - KATO
Tue Aug 26 - Cologne, Germany - LUXOR
Thu Aug 28 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - EFFENAAR
Sat Aug 30 - Argyll, Scotland - CONNECT FESTIVAL
Sun Aug 31 - County Laois, Ireland - ELECTRIC PICNIC
Sat Sep 06 - San Francisco, CA - POWER TO THE PEACEFUL FESTIVAL
Fri Sep 12 - Seattle, WA - MARYMOOR AMPHITHEATER
Sat Sep 13 - Portland, OR - ROSELAND THEATER
Sun Sep 14 - Laytonville, CA - BLACK OAK RANCH - EARTHDANCE FESTIVAL
Fri Sep 19 - San Diego, CA - STREET SCENE
Sun Sep 21 - Los Angeles, CA - HOLLYWOOD BOWL
Fri Sep 26 - Santa Fe, NM - PAOLO SOLERI OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER
Sat Sep 27 - Flagstaff, AZ - PINE MOUNTAIN AMPHITHEATER
Sun Sep 28 - Tucson, AZ - RIALTO THEATRE

Video Premiere: Michael Franti & Spearhead - "Remote Control"

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:06:00 -0700

Go to Spinner.com now to check out Michael Franti & Spearhead's new video for "Remote Control" off his upcoming album, All Rebel Rockers, out 09/09/08! Buy 'Remote Control' on iTunes

MICHAEL FRANTI AND SPEARHEAD TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM

Thu, 22 May 2008 00:05:00 -0700

MICHAEL FRANTI AND SPEARHEAD TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM
All Rebel Rockers September 9, 2008

One of the most moving and politically charged writers, Michael Franti and his band Spearhead, return with their eagerly-awaited album, All Rebel Rockers, on September 9, via Anti-Records. Recorded in Kingston, Jamaica, with reggae's most prolific production teams, Sly & Robbie (No Doubt, Alicia Keys, Sean Paul, Bob Dylan), this new release deviates from Franti's previous sound and comprises a hybrid dub-infused soul flavor with some hard-hitting dub rock production. Alongside Dave Shul (guitars), Manas Itene (drums), Carl Young (bass) and Raleigh Neal (keyboards), the album also features Zap Mama founder Marie Daulne and Jamaican soul/dancehall star Cherine Anderson.

Californian-born poet, musician and composer, Franti blends hip hop, funk and reggae together with his outspoken political and progressive lyrics and has gone on to become renowned as not only a worldwide million-selling artist, but also a leader in the peace and social justice movement. Franti continues to influence people with his speaking engagements at Universities, panels at W.H.O./U.N. in Geneva, his work with N.G.O.'s such as Oxfam, Amnesty Int'l, but most notably is the international message and expansion of his own 'Power to the Peaceful' festival which has drawn more than 50,000 people for one day to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco over the last 9 years. In December of 2007, Franti brought the 1st annual festival to Sao Paulo, Brazil, featuring his band Spearhead & Brazilian star Seu Jorge.

In 1999, Franti began a more soulful and deeper exploration of his musical sound and politics. His writing with The Beatnigs and Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy delivered a more aggressive format for controversial themes inspired by current affairs while Franti's albums with Spearhead carries a more compassionate delivery with a few hell raisers thrown in. 'Stay Human' touched upon the unjust nature of the death penalty and corporate globalization; 'Everyone Deserves Music' promotes unity and personal empowerment. In 2006, inspired by a journey into the war zones of Iraq, Palestine and Israel Franti released the album 'Yell Fire!' and his directorial debut and award-winning film titled 'I Know I'm Not Alone.' The documentary explores the human cost of war through poignant imagery and narrative with a dose of humor to break the tension. The film garnered support and critical acclaim from Anthony Minghella, Chris Blackwell, Serj Tankian, the Amnesty International "Audience Award Winner" and the Harlem International Film Festival "Best International Documentary".

Historically, Franti has toured non-stop worldwide, early on with his group The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy supporting U2, followed by his band Spearhead performing with Ben Harper, The Fugees, Dave Mathews, Cypress Hill, Billy Bragg, Matisyahu and many festivals such at Glastonbury, V-Fest and Japan's Fuji Rock. The band will be in announcing festival and UK tour dates in August.

All Rebel Rockers Tracklisting:
1. 'Rude Boys Back in Town'
2. 'A Little Bit of Riddim' (feat. Cherine Anderson)
3. 'Life in the City'
4. 'Remote Control'
5. 'All I Want is You'
6. 'Say Hey (I Love You)'
7. 'I Got Love For You'
8. 'Sound System' (feat. Cherine Anderson)
9. 'Hey World'
10. 'The Future'
11. 'High Low' (Feat. Zap Mama)
12. 'Nobody Right Nobody Wrong'
13. 'Have a Little Faith'

WHAT I BE: DISCOVER MICHAEL FRANTI'S FIRST CHILDREN'S BOOK!

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:05:00 -0700

For the children in your life or the child in you, enjoy Michael's first
children's book! Illustrated by Ben Hodson, 'What I Be', is a visual and
musical journey about self acceptance. It's okay to be just who you are and strive to be the best that you can be, by embodying the best characteristics of nature. Be as radiant as the sun, as healing as the rain or as generous as a tree.

This story first appeared as a song on the Michael Franti and Spearhead album "Everyone Deserves Music" and has been adapted in this book as a life affirming tale for children of all ages, shapes and cultures.

Includes a read-along CD that contains a hip hop and African musical collage of the story featuring the voices of Michael, his son - Franti-Rye, and Youssoupha Sidibe singing in his home language of Wollof and playing the Kora (Senegalese harp).

BUY NOW at www.speargearstore.com
www.whatibe.org

Check out the article on this month's Mothering Magazine, just click on the mini below.

Michael Franti & Spearhead perform benefit concert in New Orleans 9th Ward!

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:04:00 -0700

Date: Friday, May 2
Time: 9:00P
Location: Common Ground Headquarters 1800 Deslonde St. @ Tennessee St. (Off N. Clairborne Ave.) New Orleans, LA
Performers: Michael Franti & Spearhead, Rebirth Brass Band, TBC Brass Band (Youngest New Orleans Brass Band!)

FREE EVENT! DONATIONS ONLY!

In 2005 Hurricane Katrina and Rita devastated New Orleans in the greatest national disaster in American history.

Breached levees and rising flood waters forced people to abandon the great city, and the world watched in disbelief as government at all levels failed to provide timely and effective relief. The cost in human lives and dislocated families, and the loss of property and communities, has exacted a toll that will never be forgotten…and all this is still being felt today.

In the aftermath of this widespread destruction and before the floodwaters receded, Common Ground Collective (CGC) was formed to meet the emergency needs of New Orleans residents. Starting with just $50 and three committed founders, people from all walks of life came together as CGC to provide some of the first available disaster services in the city. Without CGC’s immediate assistance, including food, water, and supplies given to the thousands of low-income residents unable to evacuate, the death toll in New Orleans would likely to have been much greater. Over the course of one year, this effort has grown to include 10,000 volunteers from around the world supported by $1.8 million in donations from more than 2,000 CGC donors.

Since CGC’s founding, it has spearheaded multiple relief and community-building projects in New Orleans. A partial list of accomplishments includes:

- Provided direct and indirect services, supported by 9 distribution centers, to approximately 450,000 people in seven Louisiana parishes
- Operates three free health clinics, the first established just nine days post-Katrina, serving over 15,000 residents, workers and volunteers
- Cleaned and gutted over 750 homes, 12 churches, 4 daycare centers, 12 schools and numerous offices, businesses, parks and streets.
- Operates several media centers with free phone, fax and internet access, andthat serve as information clearing houses.
- Established green environmental programs includent microorganism-based mold removal, wetlands restoration, soil bioremediation, and community garden restoration.

As there is still a tremendous amount of assistance needed in the 9th Ward…we ask that everyone bring their checkbooks to make a donation to Common Ground…especially considering this show will be FREE! For more info visit www.commongroundrelief.org

POWER TO THE PEACEFUL!

Michael Franti Sings The Weeds' Theme Song

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:10:00 -0700

Golden Globe® Award-nominated for Best Comedy Series, the show is back this third season's with 15 episodes featuring a new version of the "Little Boxes" theme song for each one.

Tune in to SHOWTIME this Monday, October 22, 2007 at 10pm ET/PT to hear Franti's version of it.

If you miss it, check the WEEDS' site next week to stream it. CLICK HERE!

Michael Franti and Spearhead Top Best Year Yet With "Yell Fire! Live"

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:10:00 -0700

Celebrating 2006 Pukkelpop Recording

“Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” Performance Confirmed For November 5

Michael Franti and Spearhead will celebrate the release of the live, digital-only version of its acclaimed breakthrough and Anti- debut Yell Fire! on November 5 with a performance of CBS-TV’s “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.”
Recorded in August 2006 during Belgium’s 21st annual Pukkelpop Festival, Yell Fire! Live was released on October 9.

On the strength of uplifting 2007 performances at Bonnaroo, Sasquatch events – not to mention a monumental sold-out gig at Colorado’s infamous Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Franti and Spearhead made notable West Coast festival appearances. Among them, Franti’s own 9th annual Power to the Peaceful festival – held last month in his hometown of San Francisco – was an enormous success, packed with people of all ages.

In August, Michael Franti and Spearhead began recording a new, as yet untitled studio album with producer Matt Wallace (The Replacements, Faith No More, John Hiatt). Slated for a 2008 release via Anti-, the project follows its aforementioned, widely-acclaimed Yell Fire!, which earned a rare ‘A’ rating from Entertainment Weekly in a review that asserted, “Who says protest songs can’t be both fiery and fun?”

Meanwhile, The Washington Post wrote, “Of the recent spate of antiwar tunes, none is quite as compelling as those of Michael Franti,” adding, “This joyous fusion of reggae, hip-hop and soul is a gentle, galvanizing call to arms.” Aside from his music career, Franti is an award-winning filmmaker who is responsible for I Know I’m Not Alone, the heralded 2005 documentary about the Iraq War. He has been praised for his commitments to peace, tolerance and co-existence from journalists and formal and informal leaders throughout the globe.

In May 2007, Franti performed an extremely rare San Quentin Prison concert before some 2,000 inmates. His activism also found him in the company of patients at Washington’s Walter Reed Army Medical Center the month prior, as he visited and performed for injured soldiers before participating in a fundraiser for Iraq Veterans Against the War.

Looking to 2008, Michael Franti and Spearhead will also take to the sea in January as part of Jam Cruise 6, which leaves from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and visits Roatan, Honduras and Costa Maya, Mexico.

Here are Michael Franti and Spearhead’s upcoming U.S. Tour Dates:

Oct. 17 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre
Oct. 18 - Louisville, KY - Brown Theatre
Oct. 19 - Memphis, TN - New Daisy Theatre
Oct. 20 - Black Mountain, NC - Lake Eden Arts Festival
Oct. 21 – Monterey, CA, Monterey Music Summit
Oct. 24 – Capitol Theatre, Salt Lake City, UT
Oct. 27 – The Joint, Las Vegas, NV
Oct. 28 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV