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Taken from LiveDaily (April 27, 2010)
Michael Franti & Spearhead look to spread 'Sunshine' on road
by Tjames Madison / LiveDaily Contributor
 Michael Franti & Spearhead have mapped US dates through late summer as the singer/activist and his group line up support behind a new studio album, "The Sound of Sunshine."
Fresh off a nine-week trek supporting John Mayer, Franti & Spearhead kick off the headlining trek May 14 in Miami Beach, FL. The schedule, typically heavy with festival appearances, sails through mid-June and an appearance (6/11) at the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee before continuing into mid-September with a mix of headlining and festival shows. Dates are included at right.
"The Sound of Sunshine," the band's follow-up to 2008's "All Rebel Rockers," is due out later this year. Like its predecessor, "Sunshine" was largely recorded in Kingston, Jamaica, with producers Sly and Robbie.
"Jamaica's an amazing place. It's really inspiring to be there," Franti said in a recent interview with LiveDaily. " Incredible music and people on the street will stop by the studio and listen to the tracks. I can see what they dance to, sing to and respond to immediately. It's just a different atmosphere to record in.
"Working with Sly and Robbie, they're incredible producers and musicians, but they're also really great teachers. Just being around them, you learn so much about how to respect the song and what rhythms make people dance, and how to get that rhythm from the drums up to where the song and the melody are, which is really a trip."
Fans can get a preview of the new album by watching Franti perform an acoustic version of the song in a video streaming at the group's website.
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