Only recently having emerged from refugee status themselves, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars have already begun helping others still in need through their work with Amnesty International, the United Nations ninemillion.org campaign, the ONE campaign, Witness and numerous others in the U.S. and internationally, speaking out for peace and against the insanity of war while calling attention to issues in Africa and the plight of refugees throughout the world.
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars have now played on five continents since their documentary began screening at film festivals last year and the release of their ANTI- debut CD, Living Like A Refugee in September 2006. Their touring highlights range from performances at The Kennedy Center, Save the Children's 75th Anniversary Benefit (honoring former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush as well as Melinda Gates), the Hollywood Bowl, headlining at Central Park Summerstage, a post screening Q&A in New York City with fellow Sierra Leonean and best selling author Ishmael Beah, to stand-out appearances at festivals as diverse as the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan, Chicago's African Festival of the Arts, Transmusicales Festival in France, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Scotland's T in the Park, the Oxegen Festival in Ireland and Bonnaroo. Their most recent summer tour follows a successful cross-country tour of Australia, playing the country's famed East & West Coast Blues & Roots Festivals and two performances at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
In the past year, the group has appeared on Oprah Winfrey, CBS' Sunday Morning, CNN, and NPR's "Talk of the Nation." Their music was featured in the five-time Academy Award-nominated film Blood Diamond starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and they were joined onstage in Nashville by new friends Joe Perry and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, who later asked SLRAS to open for them at the Mohegan Sun Arena in CT. The All Stars are also included along with R.E.M., U2, Green Day and others on the hit CD, Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur released in June. This double disc benefit compilation of John Lennon songs features SLRAS collaborating with Aerosmith on "Give Peace A Chance."
Championed by The New York Times, critic Stephen Holden wrote, "As harrowing as these personal tales may be, the music buoying them is uplifting. The cliché bears repeating: music heals and creates community." Born in the midst of a violent, decade-long civil war, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars have found a place of refuge through music, a sense of purpose and a source of power. The band has seen the worst that this world can offer - yet, through their unflinching spirit and joyful sound they celebrate the best in all of us, and thankfully, they are now sharing their message and uplifting music throughout the world.
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars will return to North America in 2008 for a tour of the U.S. and Canada from January 23 - March 9.
You can buy Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur featuring Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars with Aerosmith singing "Give Peace A Chance" here:
Instant Karma - CD compilation
