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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • PRESS HIGHLIGHTS The Times London 12/1/06 - "Out of this horror, however, has come 'Living Like a Refugee,' an album that celebrates life, the human spirit, and the peace that Sierra Leone has found." - Sandy Bettison Los Angeles Times 11/28/06 - "Based on the quality of their performance, the All Stars are well on their way to establishing an identity based as much on skill, imagination and charisma as on their undeniably touching story." - Don Heckman The Independent (UK) 11/24/06 - Koroma and bandmates have "catapulted…onto the world stage and recruited a club of A-list fans and backers including Keith Richards, Sir Paul McCartney, Bob Geldof, Cameron Crowe, Aerosmith's Joe Perry and Ice Cube." - Andy Morgan Montreal Gazette 10/31/06 - "The mind struggles to grasp the idea that tragedy and even horrific brutality can somehow give birth to life-affirming, uplifting music. But there is no better proof of that bittersweet truth than the joyful sounds of Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars…" - Bernard Perusse Boston Herald - "Roots reggae rhythms blessed with finger-picked guitar is at the core: Fans of the early Wailers will be as beguiled as Afro-popsters. Underlying it all is a plea for peace from voices heartbreakingly familiar with the consequences of the alternative." - Nate Dow New York Times 6/8/06 - "As harrowing as these personal tales may be, the music buoying them is uplifting. The cliché bears repeating: music heals and creates community." - Stephen Holden Newsweek 3/4/06 - "It's as easy to fall in love with these guys as it was with the 'Buena Vista Social Club.' " - Vanessa Juarez Article Dallas Morning News 3/17/06 - "...judging from the dancing, whooping audience...the All Stars make a winning team." Billboard Magazine - Aerosmith's Joe Perry 6/29/06 - "I was just so overwhelmed by the movie and the message of hope they're carrying," he continues. "The music is so buoyant and joyful." - "Joe Perry Throws Support Behind Sierra Leone Refugees" Daily Yomiuri Tokyo - "This year's Fuji Rock will take on the competition with a lineup of well over 150 artists that includes Franz Ferdinand, the Strokes, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sonic Youth, the Raconteurs and even Madness... of which Hidaka says the Refugee All Stars of Sierra Leone will be one of the highlights." - Paul Jackson (Story about Fuji Rock/Masa Hidaka) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
WORLD CAFE - aired nationally on PBS 1/17/07 MOUNTAIN STAGE - aired nationally on PBS 1/5/07 OPRAH WINFREY SHOW 12/4/06 - Band performed "Living Like a Refugee" live, interview, and clips aired from the documentary. CNN INTERNATIONAL 11/25/06 - Danielle Elias feature segment on the band for "Inside Africa" aired worldwide. CNN 11/9/06 - Rachel Wells' interview segment with the band aired nationally. PBS 9/29/06 - Band and documentary were featured on "Foreign Exchange" with Fareed Zakaria. CBS SUNDAY MORNING 10/1/06 - "...let me tell you, the music is fantastic. These musicians may have been thrown together by brutal circumstance but they have made something uplifting and beautiful." - Bill Flanagan • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • NEW RECORDING HIGHLIGHTS BLOOD DIAMOND 12/4/06 The band's song, "Ankalah," is featured in the new Leonardo DiCaprio film and on the film's soundtrack CD. RECORDING WITH AEROSMITH'S STEVEN TYLER AND JOE PERRY 11/28/06 The band recorded "Give Peace a Chance" with Aerosmith legends Steven Tyler and Joe Perry for an Amnesty / Darfur compilation (due mid 2007) including other major artists covering John Lennon originals. RECORDING WITH JOE PERRY 11/30/06 Joe Perry joined the band in studio to record a version of U2's "Seconds" for inclusion on a benefit compilation (due mid 2007) featuring African artists performing U2 songs. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • BEST OF 2006 AMAZON selected "Living Like a Refugee" as the #4 CD of the year in the International Category. WNYC New York Public Radio Top Ten "Best of World Music." THE NY POST named "Living Like a Refugee" one of the "206 Best Songs to Download from 2006." PUTAMAYO WORLD MUSIC RADIO HOUR chose "Big Lesson" as one of the "Best of 2006." THE NASHVILLE SCENE picked the 10/20 Belcourt Theater show as one of Nashville's best live-music moments of 2006. AFROPOP WORLDWIDE named "Living Like a Refugee" as one of their "Best of 2006" playlist. SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, Joel Selvin "Best of 2006" • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • MAJOR APPEARANCES WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM 1/24/07 Davos SWITZERLAND - Sponsored by the United Nations' ninemillion.org program SXSW 3/16/06 Austin TX BONNAROO FESTIVAL 6/18/06 Manchester TN CENTRAL PARK SUMMERSTAGE (HEADLINING) - 6/23/06 New York NY KENNEDY CENTER (HEADLINING) 6/25/06 Washington D.C. MONTREAL JAZZ FESTIVAL 7/1/06 Montreal Quebec WINNIPEG FOLK FESTIVAL 7/8/06 Winnipeg Manitoba FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 7/29/06&7/30/06 Nigata JAPAN THE FILLMORE (HEADLINING) 11/9/06 San Francisco CA MOHEGAN SUN ARENA 11/29/06 supporting for Aerosmith in Uncasville CT TRANSMUSICALES FESTIVAL 12/8/06 Rennes FRANCE WEST COAST & EAST COAST - BLUES & ROOTS FESTIVALS 3/31/07-4/9/07 Perth & Byron Bay AUSTRALIA • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • |
MEDIA HIGHLISHTS