In a surprise move, Michael Franti and Spearhead will NOT be playing at Chico State on their upcoming tour in support of their new album, All Rebel Rockers. However, they will be part of a concert outside of the Republican National Convention along with Matisyahu and Anti Flag. Ready the water cannons, St. Paul police force…

From the Epitaph/Anti- press release:

Michael Franti and Spearhead’s All Rebel Rockers Out in Europe
Band to Perform at the Ripple Effect Festival at RNC on September 2
All Rebel Rockers Out Sept 9 in US

Recorded and produced mainly in Jamaica by reggae’s super-duo Sly and Robbie, All Rebel Rockers skillfully pairs Michael Franti’s decidedly left-of-center political messages with infectious dance tracks, creating what is arguably the grooviest protest record ever. The record comes out in the US on September 9th.
On September 2nd on the lawn of the of the State Capitol in St Paul MN, 10,000 music fans and activists will gather for their own sort of commemoration of the Republican National Convention, and Michael Franti will be there, along with Anti Flag, Matisyahu, the founder of Code Pink and many others. Called the Ripple Effect festival, the assemblage is described as “a daylong festival propelling a new wave of progressive action outside the RNC - going beyond the convention and beyond partisanship to empower and unite a diverse range of people with varying backgrounds and interests.”
A few days later, Michael Franti and Spearhead kick off their fall tour on September 6th with the annual Power to the Peaceful festival, which draws 50,000+ people each year to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and was conceived and founded by Michael 10 years ago. More dates are expected to be announced shortly.

Michael Franti and Spearhead on tour:
Sep 2 Ripple Effect Festival / RNC St. Paul, MN
Sep 6 10th Annual Power to the Peaceful San Francisco, California
Sep 7 Power to the Peaceful Yoga Jam San Francisco, California
Sep 10 Ymir Community Baseball Field Ymir, British Columbia
Sep 11 Knitting Factory Concert House Spokane, Washington
Sep 12 Marymoor Amphitheater Redmond, Washington
Sep 13 Roseland Theatre Portland, Oregon
Sep 14 Earthdance Festival Laytonville, California
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

Everyone’s favorite sweet-sweet whiskey/ensured hangover Southern Comfort is hosting some fun music activities this summer in select markets. But something about their press release makes me not want to enjoy their spirits.

The SoCo Music Experience festival tour is going to six markets with each event showcasing five national performers with five top local acts on two stages all for the low price of free*. An outdoor venue is transformed into the complete festival experience – food and beverage vendors, poster and t-shirt shop, the local record shop, merch tent, cornhole games, photobooths and the SoCo & Lime Dome, among other areas. The festivals are open to be people 21 and over.

“Cornhole games?” Yeah, I’ve heard about that kind of shit going down at frathouses after one too many SoCo and juices.

Full press release after the jump: (more…)

[The following words and photos have been submitted by Synthesis contributer Karen Dunbar, who recently attended the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.]

Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
Manchester, TN
Thursday, June 12th – Sunday, June 15th

Bonnaroo isn’t just a music festival—it’s a mindset. This was the seventh year the tiny town of Manchester, Tennessee—a small, rural town 65 miles outside Nashville with a population of 9,500—was converged upon by 70,000 people. Arriving is a bit surreal; almost magically and suddenly the event explodes in front of you as you’re still driving through corn fields and family farms. The four days of Bonnaroo seem to meld together into an even more surreal, yet shared experience.
The event organizers seem to have thought of almost everything. Shuttles run from the airport on an almost continual basis as plane after plane empties music fans from all over the country. If you weren’t up to sitting in the hot sun watching one of the 158 bands, you could have your hair done, get a massage, go online or eat from a huge variety of choices, after you of course visited one of the many ATMs conveniently located throughout the festival. In the evening, the Silent Disco is better than many drugs: the aptly-named Ferris wheel offers a view of the entire site, and if timed properly offers the best views and sounds from either of two nearby stages. Speaking of drugs…Tennessee is an odd state. Possession of anything is still illegal, but if busted (and you don’t have a State sold tax sticker) you face tax evasion charges on top of the possession charge. Bonnaroo upholds all State laws. The price of this stamp is $3.50 per gram of pot and $50. per gram of cocaine. Bought anonymously, of course.

Almost every music genre was represented. You could watch Willie Nelson and then catch Metallica…on the same day. Dweezil Zappa performing his dad’s songs, Vampire Weekend, My Morning Jacket…the list went on forever. Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, Jack Johnson, the Raconteurs, The Coup, BB King followed by Pearl Jam. Pearl Jam ripped Kanye West a new one, and then watched as Kanye ripped himself one. (Kanye had a bit of a prima donna thing going; Eddie Vedder had a bit of an anti-Kanye thing going. Vedder’s fuck you to Kanye included beginning to promote Kanye’s performance and stopping mid-sentence, saying, “I just can’t do it,” then continuing to play for an additional 50 minutes and asking the crew for a slow load-out. Kanye’s stage needed three hours for production; he didn’t go on until 4:30 AM and only played an hour without a word of apology or explanation. Let’s just say the chant of “Kanye sucks” was a unifying theme through the remainder of the event, shouted at several sets during the rest of the weekend.

More after the jump (more…)