New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Capitol Records) - Musician and human rights activist, Michael Franti, will host the 12th Annual Power to the Peaceful Festival (PTTP) on Saturday,
September 11th, 2010 at
Speedway Meadow in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. PTTP is one of the nation's largest free annual music festivals with over 50,000 attendees, featuring a variety of international musicians, visual artists and over 200 exhibitors and green vendors. Launched in 1998, the festival has grown to become one of San Francisco's cultural traditions, which combines music, the arts, action and yoga in order to educate attendees on issues of social justice, non-violence, cultural co-existence and environmental sustainability.
The three day-long event begins Friday night, September 10th, at The Fillmore with the Power to the Peaceful Pre-Party where Michael Franti will give a special acoustic performance of his new CD, The Sound of Sunshine. The album is set for release September 21st. In addition, the international humanitarian organization, CARE, for which Michael is an ambassador, will present the 2010 Global Action Forum featuring a short film on Michael's recent journey to East Timor, a film clip of the award winning documentary 'A Powerful Noise' and a short Q & A about CARE's work to empower women around the world to overcome poverty and how people here in the US can get involved.
On Saturday, September 11th, Speedway Meadow will feature main stage performances by Michael Franti & Spearhead, Rebelution, Rupa & The April Fishes, SambaDa?, plus headlining the DJ Tent is Washington DC's Fort Knox Five with more acts to be announced. The PTTP festival will also kick off with 1,000 Yogis for Peace, a morning yoga practice led by Nicki Doane and Eddie Modestini of Maya Yoga and Seane Corn. The day will end with the official PTTP Afterparty at The Fillmore in San Francisco where Michael Franti will present The Rocking Heads - see Michael and special guest musicians rock the stage performing classic Talking Heads songs.
On Sunday, September 12th, The Fillmore will play host to a morning of Yoga & Brazilian Arts Workshops with yoga led by Seane Corn and Michael Franti along with Afro-Brazilian dance with Master Teacher Rosangela Silvestri. Later that afternoon, kids of all ages are welcome to the Power to the Peaceful Family Matinee featuring music, face painting, crafts, eco vendors, and Michael Franti & Friends singing songs to enlighten the hearts and minds of youth and big kids alike.
Since its inception, the Power to the Peaceful foundation has gone on to gain international recognition. PTTP serves to provide funding and awareness to local, national and international charities that focus on health, education, youth and environmental causes. The foundation benefits from several music, art and action events per year, the biggest of which is The Power to the Peaceful Festival. Past artists and speakers at the event include: Ziggy Marley, Alanis Morissette, Indigo Girls, The String Cheese Incident, John Butler Trio, KRS-1, Digital Underground, Woody Harrelson, Angela Davis, Saul Williams, Blackalicious, Alice Walker, Talib Kweli, and many more.
A poet, social humanitarian, activist, and musician, Michael Franti is recognized as a pioneering force in branding music as a vehicle for global social activism. Franti, along with Michael Franti & Spearhead, has organized and contributed to numerous social justice initiatives through the years as well as becoming one of music's most exciting live concert performers. Michael Franti & Spearhead has shared the stage with a wide range of artists including U2, John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, REM, and Ziggy Marley. The Sound of Sunshine is Michael Franti & Spearhead's seventh studio album and the follow-up to 2008's Top 40 hit All Rebel Rockers. Currently at No 1 on the AAA chart, the album's title track is one of AAA's fastest moving singles. The single has also begun impacting the Hot AC charts.
For more info on Michael Franti, please visit: www.michaelfranti.com
