Michael Franti & Spearhead

Artist's Website

Michael Franti is one of the most electrifying performers on the planet today. With his sensational band Spearhead, and influences that range from funk to rock to reggae to soul and hip hop, the group keeps audiences dancing for hour after exhilarating hour. With the charismatic Franti leading the proceedings, a righteous message always comes along with the uplifting music.

Several years ago Michael Franti decided to ‘walk his talk’ and traveled to the war zones of Iraq, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This wasn’t a USO green zone sponsored visit – Franti and his team organized a trip that would take him to the core of the red-zoned, war torn neighborhoods of Baghdad, the West Bank and Gaza Strip with his guitar, video cameras and the intent to experience first hand the human cost of war. Out of this journey, Franti has created a compelling documentary film titled I Know I’m Not Alone and a searing, reflective new album of original songs titled Yell Fire! Ironically, Franti’s journey to the war-ravaged Middle East inspired his most uplifting set of songs to date. He explains, “The thing that I found when I was in war zones was that nobody wants to hear songs about war. They want to hear songs about connection to people, and songs about love and life, songs that make them dance.”