Sorry for the OT post but thought quite a few people here might be interested in seeing them. http://www.sierraleonesrefugeeallstars.com/ Just caught their show here last night (at our state fair) and they are fantastic! All of the band members are refugees of the Sierra Leone civil war (1991- 2000). Their full bio can be seen in a Canadian documentary film about them and also on their website. Needless to say, they've been to hell and back. They formed their group initially in a refugee camp in Guinea (and fled there after the camp was attacked by Guinean troops). Now the entire group is on tour and I have to say they are serious about spreading the message about living in peace. They do this by creating the most uplifting mix of West African Highlife/Goomba music and Reggae (you can hear the Wailers coming through their music. Their big "hit" - Living Like a Refugee - is straight out of the book of Marley. However, it's no copycat paint-by-numbers. It truly sounds like a tune that Bob Marley never wrote but was always in his head. Political, critical, and thoughtful but never forgets that the best way to your head and heart is through your feet and hips. Overall, their music is the sort that makes you feel like an idiot if you're not dancing. Pure good vibes. Please, go see them! 8/31/2007 The High Dive Champaign, IL 9/1/2007 On The Waterfront Festival Rockford, IL 9/3/2007 African Festival of the Arts Chicago, IL 9/4/2007 Englert Civic Theater Iowa City, IA 9/5/2007 Pabst Theater Milwaukee, WI 9/6/2007 Save The Children?s 75th Anniversary New York, NY 9/7/2007 Roots, Blues and BBQ Festival Columbia, MO 9/8/2007 Black Swamp Arts Festival Bowling Green, OH 9/22/2007 BAM - Barcelona Acio Musical Barcelona, SPAIN 1/23/2008 Agnes Scott College - Presser Hall Decatur, GA 1/24/2008 University of Tennessee - Alumni Memorial Building Knoxville, TN 2/15/2008 UC Santa Barbara - Campbell Hall Santa Barbara, CA 2/16/2008 UC Los Angeles - Royce Hall Los Angeles, CA 2/17/2008 Scottsdale Center for the Arts Scottsdale, AZ 2/19/2008 UC Santa Cruz Arts & Lectures Santa Cruz, CA 2/20/2008 Humboldt State University - Kate Buchanan Hall Arcata, CA 2/23/2008 The Moore Theatre Seattle, WA 2/24/2008 Broadway Center for the Performing Arts Tacoma, WA 2/29/2008 Arden Theatre St. Albert ALB, CANADA
