| NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Michael Franti has long been revered for his inspiring music, worldwide philanthropic efforts and the power of optimism. Deemed by NPR as “equal parts musician and activist,” Franti continues to offer opportunities for gratitude, solidarity and celebrating how we get through the greatest ups and downs of our lives with our body, mind and soul still in one piece with his upcoming album Follow Your Heart, set for release June 3 via Thirty Tigers. Pre-order/pre-save the album HERE.
“One thing I learned these last couple of years is that people need people,” shares Franti. “I wrote many songs about connection, resilience and finding the light, even in the midst of all the crazy. Somewhere in there we find resilience, and I hope Follow Your Heart gives fans the courage to continue looking for and holding onto that perseverance.”
Along with today’s announcement, Franti & Spearhead release “Brighter Day,” an anthemic call to endure life’s hardships, to find resolve and strength in those around you and stick around for brighter days ahead:
Don’t give up when your heart is weary
Don’t give up when your eyes are teary
Don’t give up when your voice is trembling
When your life needs mending
Don’t give up when the hurt is near you
Don’t give up when the world seems to be broken
I’m still hoping with my heart open
For a brighter day
Don’t give up when your pride is bruised
And don’t give up when you fear you’re losing
Don’t give up in your darkest hour
‘Cause you got that power
Don’t give up when you feel divided
Don’t give up, I’ll be by your side
I’m broken
I’m still hoping with my heart open
For a brighter day
And if you stay with me
I will stay with you
For a brighter day
Today’s release follows lead single “Good Day For A Good Day,” which marked the band’s 10th Top 25 AAA hit. Joining “Good Day LA” to chat about and perform the song live in-studio, Franti shared that the song is “speaking to the fact that sometimes we have to retune our minds to feel like we can have a good day, because we’re not always going to get one. Not every day is perfect, but we can retune our minds to find those good days and good moments.”
Following numerous sold out shows and a triumphant return to Red Rocks Amphitheatre last year, Franti & Spearhead are preparing to reunite with Soulrockers across North America this summer with the Follow Your Heart World Tour, kicking off May 13, performing nearly 40 shows with plans to announce additional dates. Tickets are on sale now at MichaelFranti.com, with the option to upgrade to VIP for many of the dates.
Franti launched a virtual event revolution in June 2020 with his Stay At Home Concert World Tour, a creation prompted by his first summer in 33 years in which he wasn’t on the road due to the global pandemic, performing for over 50,000 fans worldwide with seven uniquely themed virtual livestreams. To better connect with his Soulrocker community, Franti developed a dual-screen model, allowing fans to join a “Backstage Zoom Party Room” and interact directly with one another. Franti is set to host his Brighter Day Livestream on Friday, April 22 at 9pm ET/6pm PT.
Work Hard And Be Nice, Franti & Spearhead’s 11th studio album, was released in 2020, which included lead single “I Got You,” the band’s first Billboard No. 1 in nearly 10 years, and was also featured on NPR’s mid-year and end-year “Heavy Rotation: Public Radio’s Most Popular Songs of 2020,” sharing, “Michael Franti’s infectious groove is unmistakable. From the opening chords to the percolating rhythm, it’s easy to get caught up in the positivity he exudes.”
For more information, visit MichaelFranti.com or follow him on Instagram and Twitter @MichaelFranti and Facebook.com/MichaelFranti.
Follow Your Heart Track List:
- Follow Your Heart
- Better
- Baby Let Your Soulshine
- Brighter Day
- Life Is Amazing
- No Makeup
- Good Day For A Good Day
- Best At Loving You
- People Need People
- Trying To Keep The Lights On
- Life Reminds Us We’re Alive
Michael Franti & Spearhead’s Follow Your Heart World Tour Dates:
May 13 Cherokee Music Festival Cherokee, Texas
May 14 BeachLife Festival Redondo Beach, Calif.
May 14 The Venice West (BeachLife Afterparty) Venice, Calif.
May 19 Brooklyn Bowl+# Las Vegas, Nev.
May 20 Harrah’s Lake Tahoe South Shore Room+# Stateline, Nev.
May 21 The Center for the Arts+ Grass Valley, Calif.
May 29 BottleRock Napa, Calif.
June 1 Belly Up Aspen+* Aspen, Colo.
June 2 The Fox Theatre+ Boulder, Colo.
June 3 Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater+* Vail, Colo.
June 4 Red Rocks Amphitheatre+ Morrison, Colo.
June 19 Levitt Pavilion* Westport, Conn.
June 22 Seacrets+* Ocean City, Md.
June 23 Seacrets+* Ocean City, Md
June 24 Greenfield Lake Amphitheater+^ Wilmington, N.C.
June 25 Greenfield Lake Amphitheater+^ Wilmington, N.C.
June 26 Salvage Station+^ Asheville, N.C.
June 28 Oceanfront Concert Series (Free Show)^ Virginia Beach, Va.
June 30 Majed J. Nesheiwat Convention Center~ Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
July 1 Snow Pond Center for the Arts+~ Sidney, Maine
July 2 Indian Ranch+~ Webster, Mass.
July 3 SummerStage in Central Park+~ New York, N.Y.
July 7 Summerfest Milwaukee, Wis.
July 8 Rock The Ruins+~ Indianapolis, Ind.
July 9 Ravinia Festival+~ Highland Park, Ill.
July 10 Wonderstruck in Cleveland Cleveland, Ohio
July 12 RBC Ottawa BluesFest Ottawa, Ont.
July 13 The Danforth Music Hall+ Toronto, Ont.
July 14 Venue TBA+ Grand Rapids, Mich.
July 15 Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua+* Bayfield, Wis.
July 19 Venue TBA+^ Salt Lake City, Utah
July 21 McMenamins Edgefield+^ Troutdale, Ore.
July 22 Chateau Ste Michelle+^ Woodinville, Wash.
July 23 Athletic Club of Bend+^ Bend, Ore.
July 24 Britt Pavilion+^ Jacksonville, Ore.
July 27 The Crest Theatre+^ Sacramento, Calif.
July 28 The Mountain Winery+^ Saratoga, Calif.
July 29 House of Blues+* Anaheim, Calif.
July 30 Venue TBA+* Los Angeles, Calif.
July 31 Humphrey’s Concerts by the bay+* San Diego, Calif.
Aug. 2 The Rialto Theatre^ Tucson, Ariz.
Aug. 4 Pepsi Amphitheater+^ Flagstaff, Ariz.
Aug. 5 Fort Marcy Park+^ Santa Fe, N.M.
Aug. 7 I Bar Ranch+ Gunnison, Colo.
+VIP Experience Offered
# Of Good Nature as support
* Tropidelic as support
^ The New Respects as support
~ Arrested Development as support
European 2023 Tour Dates
Previously Announced and Moved to 2023
Jan. 25 Paradiso+ Amsterdam, Netherlands
Jan. 26 Doornroosie+ Nijmegen, Netherlands
Jan. 27 Groningen+ Groningen,Netherlands
Jan. 29 Maassilo+ Rotterdamn, Netherlands
Jan. 30 Ancienne Belgique+ Brussels, Belgium
Jan. 31 Luxor+ Cologne, Germany
Feb. 1 Gretchen+ Berlin, Germany
Feb. 3 Circolo Magnolia+ Milan, Italy
Feb. 4 Bierhübeli+ Bern, Switzerland
Feb. 5 New Morning+ Paris, France
Feb. 7 St. Luke’s Music & Arts Venue+ Glasgow, U.K.
Feb. 8 Academy 2+ Manchester, U.K.
Feb. 10 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire+ London, U.K.
+ VIP Experience Offered
About Michael Franti
Michael Franti is a globally recognized musician, humanitarian, activist, and award-winning filmmaker revered for his high-energy live shows, inspiring music, devotion to health and wellness, worldwide philanthropic efforts and the power of optimism. Throughout his multi-decade career, Franti has earned three Billboard No. 1’s with triumphantly hopeful hits “Sound of Sunshine,” “Say Hey (I Love You)” and “I Got You,” as well as six Top 30 Hot AC singles, 10 Top 25 AAA Singles and three Billboard Top 5 Rock Albums. “I Got You,” lead single from his latest album Work Hard And Be Nice, marked Franti’s first No. 1 in nearly 10 years and landed on NPR’s “Most Popular Songs of 2020,” while the music video boasts over 1 million views since its release.
Franti has been back in the studio for the band’s 12th studio album Follow Your Heart, set for release on June 3, while current single “Brighter Day” is available everywhere now, while lead single “Good Day For A Good Day” marked their 10th Top 25 AAA hit.
Michael Franti & Spearhead will embark on the Follow You Heart World Tour on May 13, performing across North America through the summer with plans to announce additional dates. Tickets are on sale now at MichaelFranti.com.
In January 2019, Franti released his self-directed documentary Stay Human, which won an array of awards at film festivals worldwide and influenced his writing for his album Stay Human Vol. II (Thirty Tigers), which debuted at No. 1 on both the Americana and Independent Album charts and received critical acclaim from USA Today, Billboard, Associated Press and Paste. Influenced by the film, Franti’s Stay Human podcast presented by Gibson on the American Songwriter Podcast Network features creatives from all walks of life, with new episodes available each week.
Deemed a “groundbreaking musician” by Entrepreneur, Franti launched a virtual event revolution in June 2020 with his Stay At Home Concert World Tour, a creation prompted by his first summer in 33 years in which he wasn’t on the road due to the global pandemic, performing for over 50,000 fans worldwide with seven uniquely themed virtual livestreams. In order to better connect with his Soulrocker community, Franti developed a dual-screen model, allowing fans to join a “Backstage Zoom Party Room” and interact directly with one another.
Michael Franti & Spearhead continue to foster their community both on and off stage with a wish granting non-profit, Do It For The Love, founded by Franti and his wife, Sara. Do It For The Love brings those with life threatening illnesses, veterans, and children with severe challenges to concerts worldwide, fulfilling over 3,300 wishes and touching the lives of over 12,000 people to date. Franti also owns SOULSHINE Bali, a 32-room top-rated yoga retreat hotel located in Ubud, Bali.
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Media Contacts for Michael Franti
Ebie McFarland | Ashley Gaskin
Essential Broadcast Media
(615) 327-3259
ebie@ebmediapr.com | ashley@ebmediapr.com
Caitlin Stone
Activist Artists Management
caitlin@activist.co |
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