Michael Franti & Spearhead

http://www.spearheadvi...

http://www.spearheadvibrations.com/tourdates.php

6/27 London, England - Shepherds Bush Empire
6/29 Dublin, Ireland - Vicar Street
6/30 Glasgow, Scotland - The Arches
7/01 Manchester, England - Academy 3
7/03 Rotterdam, Holland - Your Music Festival
7/04 Cologne, Germany - Summer Jam Festival
7/05 Arras, France - Arras Festival
7/07 Udine, Italy - Rototoms Sunsplash
7/08 Zurich, Switzerland - Rote Fabrik
7/10 Brugge, Belgium - Cactus Festival
7/11 Zottegem, Belgium - Rock Zottegem

14 years and five albums later one of the most emotive and politically charged writers, Michael Franti and his band Spearhead return to UK soil this month with a run of his most highly anticipated shows to date following sold out UK shows at Koko and last summer’s performances at the V Festivals and Ireland’s Electric Picnic.

Californian-born musician, 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 and most recently became an ambassador for the international humanitarian organisation Care. Last month, Franti, along with actor and activist, Richard Gere, participated at a conference in Washington DC and lobbied ‘on the Hill’ meeting with government on issues of global climate, underage marriage and world hunger.

With worldwide tours 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 and many festivals such at Glastonbury, V-Fest and Japan’s Fuji Rock, Franti has left his mark as one of the best high-energy and often inspiring shows internationally to experience.

The phenomenal success of their last album ‘All Rebel Rockers’ recorded in Kingston Jamaica, with reggae's most prolific production teams, Sly & Robbie (No Doubt, Alicia Keys, Sean Paul, Bob Dylan), is catapulting Franti into the limelight and currently charting in Billboard with the success at US Top 40/Hot AC radio and with over 120,000 digital singles sold to date of the Brazilian/Jamaican dancehall vibed track ‘Say Hey (I Love You)’. The music video was shot in one of the most dangerous ‘favelas’ in Rio de Janeiro called Vigário Geral and has gotten over a half a million views thus far.

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 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”.

Michael Franti’s band Spearhead will also introduce and feature Jamaican soul/dancehall star, Cherine Anderson, who sings on the album ‘All Rebel Rockers.’ Cherine, although still in her early twenties has been acting since she was 14 years old (Palm Pictures film ‘Dancehall Queen’) and has released many singles and music videos in Jamaica and is now gaining international acclaim from her explosive performances with Franti and her newest single gaining traction ‘Talk If Yuh Talking.’ Below are a set of UK gigs that are truly not to be missed.

“Easy rolling grooves and straight to the guts choruses” Uncut
“A gem of an album”****Sunday Times Culture
Extraordinary catchiness” Rock Sound
“Infectious” The Mirror
“All Rebel Rockers is an all time high… a perfect marriage of artist, attitude, style and producer***** Independent
“There are political musicians, then there’s Michael Franti” Evening Standard
“roots/rock dub n’bass, punchy and spacey. Brilliant” Rock ‘n’ Reel
“rebellious, moving and politically charged” The Voice
“A confident array of conscious party jams” Hip Hop Connection