UP! FESTIVAL
With Michael Franti & Spearhead
Ben Lee
Blue King Brown & Old Man River
Saturday 22 September, Riverstage, Brisbane
Ticketmaster 136 100 or www.ticketmaster.com.au
TICKETS ON SALE TUES 31 JULY 9AM
FOR PRE-SALE INFO GO TO www.frontiertouring.com
Up! Festival is a new music, art and media festival that makes its international debut in Australia this September. The festival, founded by Spearhead frontman Michael Franti, endeavors to inspire people to integrate creativity, media, environmental impact, activism and humanity through self expression, music and art.
Franti states, “My goal is to put on a kick-ass f*cking show! When people leave the festival, I want them to feel inspired and motivated. We are living in an era of cynicism. One thing that kills cynicism for me is a healthy dose if fun.”
As the festival’s headline act, Michael Franti and Spearhead definitely rise up to the occasion. Franti is undoubtedly one of the most prolific artists of our time; musician, filmmaker, human rights worker, book publisher and now the curator of a provocative new Spearhead festival experience in Australia! Attendees will be encouraged to bring cameras and recorders of all kinds to record their experiences and “put them Up!” on myspace, youtube or indeed anywhere on the world wide web!
“I want to encourage people to have their voices heard and get used to that. One way of giving back to the community is allowing everyone to record, videotape, upload, download, blog any way they can and share it. All cameras, phones, audio recorders are legal! Everything’s legal at the Up! Festival,” Michael Franti explains.
In the spirit of keeping it clean, Michael Franti has confirmed the festival will partner up with environmental groups to recycle, offset energy used with carbon neutralizing and wind farms.
“No concert is going to fix the world, but what it can do is put the issue on the everyday agenda. It’s about making it cool to care, to make a difference, to get up and do something about it.”
Alongside Michael Franti the Up! Festival boasts a formidable lineup which includes our very own, and much loved troubadour, Ben Lee. Off the back of his hugely successful fifth studio album - ‘Awake Is The New Sleep’ (which earned him 4 ARIA awards in 2005, including best song for the infectious pop classic ‘Catch My Disease’), Lee has been busily working away on the much anticipated follow up, ‘Ripe’ – set for release September 15. The debut single from ‘Ripe’, ‘Love Me Like The World Is Ending’ (out August 4) hit radio last week and was the 2nd most added song to Australian radio according to The Music Network.
In addition to the already impressive lineup, Up! Festival brings you the sensational Soul-Roots group, Blue King Brown, fresh off their recent Live Earth performance. After the successful launch of their first album ‘Stand Up’ and countless sold out shows across the country this band has definitely proven that they’re worth the hype!
Rounding off the bill is the much talked about, buzz act Old Man River - ensuring the festival will definitely be an experience to remember.
However, the entertainment doesn’t stop there…Attendees will be able to amuse, entertain and inspire themselves at the various interactive Up! Action Areas created by the organizers to integrate the people with the festival. Get them involved as participants rather than just viewers.
Michael Franti & Spearhead will also be releasing a new album, Yell Fire! Live! (On Liberator music), capturing on CD the best recording yet of a live Spearhead show. A special ‘double disk’ edition of the studio recording of Yell Fire! and the new live album will be available for a limited time in stores and on tour only.
TOUR DATES
Friday 14 September
Challenge Stadium, Perth
Ticketmaster 136 100 or www.ticketmaster.com.au
Sunday 16 September
Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
Venuetix 08 8225 8888 or www.venuetix.com.au
Wednesday 19 September
AIS Arena, Canberra
Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au
Thursday 20 September
Festival Hall, Melbourne
Ticketmaster 136 100 or www.ticketmaster.com.au
Festival Hall Box Office 03 9329 9699
Friday 21 September
Horden Pavilion, Sydney
Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au
Saturday 22 September
Riverstage, Brisbane
Ticketmaster 136 100 or www.ticketmaster.com.au
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD with Blue King Brown:
Tuesday 18 September
Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart
Ticketmaster 136 100 or www.ticketmaster.com.au
