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Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars will proudly participate in the forthcoming ONE Vote 08 event in Washington D.C. on June 11, 2007. Performing on a rooftop near The White House, the SLRAS appearance is designed to help engage and energize U.S. presidential candidates and the American electorate on issues of extreme poverty and global health.

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars have lived through unimaginable tragedy and rose up to become internationally celebrated for their inspiration and the healing power of music. The ONE Vote 08 event will be hosted by Co-chairs former Senators Bill Frist and Tom Daschle who hope to elevate such issues in the U.S. political arena and secure commitments from candidates to support and fund real solutions. The following day, the band will be featured live in a performance and interview segment on NPR’s “Talk of The Nation” (June 12th).

Barely rising from their own refugee status, SLRAS’ story is as inspiring as it is incredible. Elevating their uplifting music and message on the heels of appearances on Oprah Winfrey and in continued support of their acclaimed Anti- debut Living Like A Refugee the group will begin canvassing North America June 8th and 9th with performances at Wyoming’s Jackson Hole Film Festival.

The aforementioned film festival dates celebrate the group’s appearance in the widely- heralded, award-winning 2006 documentary film “Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars”. Tracing the troupe’s incredible three year journey, from its formation in a Guinea refugee camp after fleeing its native Sierra Leone in West Africa during that country’s brutal civil war, to recording in a proper studio, the Zach Niles/Banker White film will begin screening nationwide on PBS’ Independent Documentary Film Series, POV, June 26th. Finding initial support from the likes of Keith Richards, Sir Paul McCartney, Angelina Jolie and Ice Cube, Netflix distribution of the critically praised film will follow in early August. As with all sales of the ANTI CD, a portion of the proceeds from all sales of the DVD will benefit the United Nations ninemillion.org campaign to help child refugees worldwide.

In the meantime, look for Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars to appear alongside R.E.M., U2, Green Day and others on the upcoming Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. This double disc benefit compilation of John Lennon songs features SLRAS collaborating with Aerosmith on “Give Peace A Chance” and releases the same day as the NPR appearance, June 12th.

Diverse in age and character, from Reuben M. Koroma, the sage, 42-year old songwriter and guiding light of the group, to Black Nature, an orphaned teenage rapper, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars have a common bond in the loss and displacement caused by their homeland’s civil war, and a shared belief in the transformative power of music. “As harrowing as these personal tales may be, the music buoying them is uplifting,” wrote New York Times critic Stephen Holden. “The clich bears repeating: music heals and creates community.”

Their music was featured in the film Blood Diamond featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, and Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars have appeared onstage with friends Joe Perry and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, which spawned the “Give Peace A Chance” collaboration. 2007 has already seen the band perform at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and wrap up a successful tour of Australia.

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars U.S. tour dates:

2007-06-08 Jackson Hole Film Festival Jackson Hole WY
2007-06-10 Detriot Festival of The Arts Detriot MI
2007-06-15 University of Alaska Anchorage AK
2007-06-16 University of Alaska-Fairbanks Fairbanks AK
2007-06-17 Outdoor Park Talkeetna AK
2007-06-19 Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Seattle WA
2007-06-20 The Nightlight Lounge Bellingham WA
2007-06-21 The Rio Theatre Santa Cruz CA
2007-06-22 Great American Music Hall San Francisco CA
2007-06-23 Medocino County Fairgrounds Boonville CA
2007-06-24 Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles CA
2007-06-25 Belly Up Tavern Solana Beach CA
2007-06-28 Morrison Center for the Performing Arts Boise ID
2007-06-29 Summer Concert Series Hailey ID
2007-08-03 Reggae on The River Piercy CA
2007-08-04 Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater Reno NV
2007-08-05 Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre Salt Lake City UT
2007-08-08 Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom Denver CO
2007-08-09 Jazz Aspen Snowmass Snowmass Village CO
2007-08-11 Celebrate Brooklyn! Brooklyn NY
2007-08-12 Music Haven Schenectady NY
2007-08-14 Wiggins Park Camden NJ
2007-08-15 Rams Head Annapolis MD
2007-08-17 Nightfall Concert Series Chattanooga TN
2007-08-18 One World InnerNational Music Celebration Horse Shoe NC
2007-08-23 The Strand Theatre Rockland ME
2007-08-26 Vermont Roots Reggae Festival Coventry VT
2007-08-27 Johnson State College Johnson VT
2007-08-29 Minnesota State Fair St. Paul MN
2007-08-30 Minnesota State Fair St. Paul MN
2007-09-01 On the Waterfront Festival Rockford IL
2007-09-03 African Festival of the Arts Chicago IL
2007-09-04 Englert Civic Theater Iowa City IA
2007-09-05 Pabst Theatre Milwaukee WI
2007-09-07 Roots Blues and BBQ Festival Columbia MO
2007-09-08 Black Swamp Arts Festival Bowling Green OH