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Taken from BeyondChron (Sep. 03‚ 2010)
The 12th Annual Power to the Peaceful Festival Comes to Speedway Meadows
by E. "Doc" Smith
 Next Saturday, September 11, 2010, visionary musician and human rights worker, Michael Franti, along with Guerrilla Management present the 12th Annual Power to the Peaceful Festival (PTTP) at Speedway Meadow in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Beginning in 1998, this diverse music, arts, action and yoga festival has become a premiere San Francisco tradition dedicated to educating attendees on issues of social justice, non- violence, cultural co-existence and environmental sustainability. With over 70,000 attendees, PTTP has grown from a local community based event to one of the nation’s largest free annual music festivals in the U.S. PTTP features a variety of international musicians, visual artists, renowned keynote speakers and over 200 exhibitors and green vendors.
The Power of the Peaceful movement has reached a new level by gaining international recognition. PTTP is committed to sustainability via innovative recycling programs, initiating partnerships with other sustainable organizations and encouraging the use of “green” yoga products. Past artists and speakers of the event include: Ziggy Marley, Alanis Morissette, Indigo Girls, The String Cheese Incident, John Butler Trio, KRS-1, Digital Underground, Woody Harrelson, Angela Davis, Saul Williams, Dennis Kucinich, Blackalicious, Alice Walker, Talib Kweli, The Coup, Keller Williams, DJ Spooky, King Britt, Lyrics Born, and many more.
Recognized as a pioneering force in branding music as a vehicle for global social activism, Michael Franti's reputation as a poet, activist, social humanitarian and musician has encompassed a wide range of projects and social justice initiatives through the years. His 2006 documentary I Know I'm Not Alone chronicled the chaos and devastation taking place in the Middle East and garnered Franti universal praise and rave reviews. Michael Franti and Spearhead have also organized and contributed to numerous humanitarian efforts throughout their career have become one of music's most riveting live concert performers.
The band has shared the stage with a diverse range of superstar artists including the Dave Matthews Band, U2, REM, Ziggy Marley and many others. With an acclaimed 2009 release, All Rebel Rockers, and the successful single, "Say Hey (I Love You)” as one of the most added records at multiple formats including, Top 40, Hot AC and Alternative radio in 2009, Michael Franti is now poised to release The Sound Of Sunshine on August 24, 2010.
The upcoming record is a bright, beautiful and often buoyant song cycle created to bring all kinds of listeners a sense of hope during rough and rainy times for so many in our world and arguably the most cohesive, romantic and life-affirming album that Franti and Spearhead have ever made, The Sound Of Sunshine reflects the fact that, as Franti puts it, “With time, you get a better sense who you are and how to put together all your musical passions into your own sound. I feel like for a long time, I dabbled in other sounds. Like `Let’s do something with a reggae vibe here.’ Or `Let’s really rock here.’ But now, I write everything from the acoustic guitar up -- which keeps you honest.
12th Annual Power to the Peaceful Music and Arts Festival Schedule:
Friday September 10TH
POWER TO THE PEACEFUL FESTIVAL OFFICIAL PRE-PARTY AND CARE GLOBAL ACTION FILM PRESENTATION
4:30pm – 9:30pm
The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94115
Saturday, September 11th
POWER TO THE PEACEFUL FESTIVAL
Speedway Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
9am: Call for 1000 Yogis w/Seane Corn
11am - 5pm: Festival
Admission is FREE ($5/donation requested-no one turned away)
Saturday September 11th
POWER TO THE PEACEFUL FESTIVAL AFTERPARTY
The Rockin’ Heads
Michael Franti and Spearhead
The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94115
Sunday September 12th
OFFICIAL POST POWER TO THE PEACEFUL FESTIVAL YOGA/BRAZILIAN ARTS & MICHAEL FRANTI’S FAMILY MATINEE
9:30am – 5:30pm
The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94115
Complete information for the festival and all related events can be found at: www.powertothepeaceful.org
E. "Doc" Smith is a musician, producer and recording artist with Edgetone Records, who has worked with the likes of Brian Eno, Madonna, Howard Levy, Warren Zevon and Mickey Hart among others. He is also the inventor of the musical instrument, the Drummstick. He can be reached via http://edgetonerecords.com/edoctorsmith.html
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