Michael Franti Premieres New Album

Article Contributed by SRO | Published on Wednesday, June 1, 2016

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD have teamed up exclusively with PANDORA to give fans an early listen to their new album SOULROCKER in its entirety up until its official Friday, June 3 release via Fantasy Records. You can click here to listen to the album. SOULROCKER is also available for pre-order on iTunes and Amazon. With each order, fans receive an instant download of the songs "Crazy For You," "Once A Day," "We Are All Earthlings" and "My Lord."

In celebration of the album's release, MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD will appear on nationally-syndicated talk show  'LIVE with Kelly' Thursday, June 9th. They'll perform the album's first single "Crazy For You," a joyously upbeat rhythmic pop song that highlights Franti's soulful vocals and encompasses his socially conscious outlook.  Click here to listen to the song.

In other news, Franti recently visited Istanbul, Turkey to speak and perform at the United Nations' World Humanitarian Summit. Speaking to euronews from the summit, Franti said: ''Turkey has 2.7 million refugees living in this country and is spending $10 billion and only has $450 million worth of aid coming from other countries, so I think it's important that all of us recognize how crucial it is today, the need for humanitarian relief." More on euronews' summit coverage can be found here. In addition, Franti recently released a mini-documentary video titled "Why I Make Music" which explores his deep compassion for humanity and how music heals, connects and brings people together for positive change. Click here to watch.

In creating the new album SOULROCKER--co-produced with Jamaican producers Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor (son of reggae luminary Freddie McGregor) and Dwayne "Supa Dups" Chin Quee (known for his work with artists like Bruno Mars and John Legend)--MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD have introduced a new sensibility to their potent hybrid of hip-hop, rock, folk, and reggae: a gracefully arranged take on electronic music that more than fulfills the band's mission of making impassioned music you can dance to. Along with harnessing the Bay Area-based band's dynamic energy for a more powerful impact than ever before, SOULROCKER again shows Franti's singular ability to channel frustration into music that's both thought-provoking and triumphantly hopeful.

Tour Dates:

Thu
6/2
Jim Thorpe, PA
Penn's Peak
Fri
6/3
Pittsburgh, PA
Three Rivers Festival
Sat
6/4
Buffalo, NY
Town Ballroom
Sun
6/5
Hunter, NY
Mountain Jam
Sun
6/12
Russell Township, OH
LaurelLive
^Wed
6/15
Portland, ME
Thompson's Point
^Thu
6/16
Boston, MA
House of Blues
^Fri
6/17
Silver Spring, MD
The Fillmore
Sat
6/18
Stratton, VT
Wanderlust Festival
^Sun
6/19
Philadelphia, PA
The Fillmore
^Tue
6/21
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor Summer Festival
^Wed
6/22
Grand Rapids, MI
Meijer Gardens
^Fri
6/24
Des Moines, IA
Simon Estes Amphitheater
Sat
6/25
St. Paul, MN
Twin Cities Jazz Fest
^Sun
6/26
Bayfield, WI
Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua
^Tue
6/28
Chicago, IL
Concord Music Hall
Thu
6/30
Milwaukee, WI
Summerfest
Fri
7/1
Toronto, CN
Toronto Jazz Festival
Sat
7/2
Ottawa, ON
Ottawa Jazz Festival
Fri
7/15
New York, NY
PlayStation Theater
Sun
7/17
Ocean City, MD
Seacrets
Mon
7/18
Wilmington, NC
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
Wed
7/20
Black Mountain, NC
Pisgah Brewing Outdoor Stage
Thu
7/21
Charlotte, NC
The Fillmore
Fri
7/22
Nashville, TN
War Memorial Auditorium
Sat
7/23
Louisville, KY
Iroquois Amphitheater
Sun
7/24
Columbus, OH
Express Live!
Tue
7/26
Birmingham, AL
Avondale Brewing Company
Wed
7/27
Mobile, AL
Saenger Theatre
Fri
7/29
Kaslo, BC
Kaslo Jazz Festival
*Wed
8/3
Costa Mesa, CA
Pacific Amphitheatre
Thu
8/4
Mammoth Lakes, CA
Mammoth Festival
**Fri
8/5
Flagstaff, AZ
Pepsi Amphitheater
**Sat
8/6
Durango, CO
Three Springs
**Sun
8/7
Morrison, CO
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Tue
8/9
Salt Lake City, UT
Red Butte Garden
**Thu
8/11
Bend, OR
Les Schwab Amphitheater
**Fri
8/12
Troutdale, OR
Edgefield
Sat
8/13
Tamarack, ID
The Huckleberry Jam
**Tue
8/16
Missoula, MT
Big Sky Brewing Company
**Wed
8/17
Spokane, WA
Knitting Factory Concert House
**Fri
8/19
Lake Tahoe, NV
MontBleu Resort & Casino
Sat
8/20
Lincoln, CA
Thundervibes
**Sun
8/21
Saratoga, CA
The Mountain Winery
**Thu
8/25
San Luis Obispo, CA
Avila Beach Resorts
**Fri
8/26
Las Vegas, NV
Brooklyn Bowl
**Sat
8/27
Tucson, AZ
The Rialto Theatre
**Sun
8/28
Santa Fe, NM
The Santa Fe Opera House
Fri
9/2
Seattle, WA
Bumbershoot
Sat
9/3
Jacksonville, OR
Britt Pavilion

 

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