El Dorado News-Times

Michael Franti & Spearhead to perform in El Dorado

- By Siandhara Bonnet Staff Writer

The artist behind “Say Hey (I Love You)” will perform in El Dorado after accompanyi­ng Kenny Chesney in Rogers, Arkansas.

Musician and humanitari­an Michael Franti will perform with Spearhead in June at the First Financial Music Hall as part of their “Work Hard and Be Nice” tour.

During the tour, Canadian rock band Bombargo and trio Satsang will support Franti & Spearhead. Franti & Spearhead will also accompany Chesney, Florida Georgia Line and Old Dominion on Chesney’s “Chillaxifi­cation Tour.”

“I’m super excited about touring this year because now more than ever, we all need music that helps us get through challengin­g times and brings people together,” Franti said in a press release. “Regardless of the scale, music is the sound of feelings and the energy that we create with the audience, which makes us all believe that regardless of what we carried into the gig, we can walk out of the experience feeling ready to take on whatever the world has to throw at us next.”

According to the release, Franti is known for his thoughtful lyrics and high-energy shows.

Franti, though, is also known as a co-founder of “Do It For The Love,”

nonprofit organizati­on that grants live music event wishes of those with life-threatenin­g illnesses, children with severe life challenges and wounded veterans.

In 2011, Franti and his wife Sara founded the organizati­on to allow those mentioned above to experience live music concerts.

One dollar from each ticket sale will be donated to the organizati­on.

“We believe in the healing power of music to help people get through life’s greatest challenges,” Franti said in a statement to the News-Times. “One dollar from each of our concert tickets goes towards continuing our mission, which over the last 6 years has sent over 10k individual­s to see their favorite artists at times when they needed it most! Thank you for your donation to this cause!”

Pam Griffin, president and COO of Murphy Arts District, said it’s great to be able to contribute to a nonprofit like Do It For The Love and work with artists who pursue good messages.

She also said it helps continue to expand what MAD offers.

“One of the things that we continue to do is bring a little bit of everything whether it’s different genres of music or like what you see in AstroZone right now,” Griffin said. “I think that continues to see the diversity in our programmin­g that we’re trying to achieve.”

Franti & Spearhead will perform at 7 p.m. June 12 at the First Financial Music Hall. Tickets go on sale on the MAD website to the Michael Franti Fan Club today, MAD members Feb. 6 and to the general public Feb. 7.

 ?? Photo from Anthony Njuguna ?? Coming to MAD: Michael Franti & Spearhead will perform in El Dorado June 12. Each ticket purchased will include a $1 donation to "Do It For the Love," a non-profit organizati­on started by Franti and his wife to grant a music event attendance wish of someone suffering from a serious illness.
Photo from Anthony Njuguna Coming to MAD: Michael Franti & Spearhead will perform in El Dorado June 12. Each ticket purchased will include a $1 donation to "Do It For the Love," a non-profit organizati­on started by Franti and his wife to grant a music event attendance wish of someone suffering from a serious illness.

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