NEXT: 09/09 STS9 - SOLD OUT

09/10Tab Benoit
09/12eTown: Shawn Mullins & Cloud Cult
09/165th Annual Reel Rock Film Tour - World Premier
09/17Leon Russell
09/18MSP's The Way I See It
09/23TGR's Deeper
09/24Kate Clinton
09/26The Shoot Out Boulder Top 10 Films
09/28movie: Nowhere Boy & a live performance by The Quarrymen
10/01Les Nubians
10/02Blue October
10/05An Evening with Richard Thompson Band
10/06Poor Boyz Triple Threat Tour
10/09B.o.B.
10/12Howl
10/14Dancing with Boulder Stars
10/15TGR's Light the Wick
10/16Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company
10/22David Bromberg Quartet
10/25Ingrid Michaelson
10/26David Sedaris
10/26Dr. Dog
10/27Gogol Bordello
10/28Gogol Bordello
10/29DeVotchka
10/30Devotchka
10/31Hot Rize
11/03 Omara Portuondo - 80th Birthday Celebration
11/04Bob Saget
11/05Playing For Change Band
11/06An Evening with Broad Comedy
12/04John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension
 
KGNU & Westword present
EARLY SHOW: AN EVENING WITH SIERRA LEONE'S REFUGEE ALL STARS
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars are a group of musicians who escaped the horrific violence of Sierra Leone's civil war, landed in a West African refugee camp and formed a band to keep their spirits up and their hopes alive. From these humble beginnings the band has now grown to be an international musical sensation. Their can't help but dance live shows and their musical message have earned them devoted fans around the world. They've known the horrors of war firsthand and have become ambassadors of peace. An unbelievable testament to the human spirit, the journey of Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars exemplifies the universal healing power of music.

Near the turn of the 21st century, rebel forces attacked Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone, forcing a panicked mass exodus to neighboring countries. Among the thousands who fled were musicians and future band mates Reuben Koroma and Francis Lamgba (Franco) who connected in a refugee camp in Guinea, West Africa. Along with Reuben’s wife Grace they began making music for their fellow refugees, providing a welcome distraction to life in the camps. Safety in the Kalia camp quickly disintegrated, however, when it came under attack from the Guinean army and citizenry. The refugees in this camp were evacuated and relocated to a camp set deep in the remote Guinean countryside. It was here that, thanks to a Canadian refugee aid organization, the developing band was able to acquire the rusted-out sound system and beat up electric guitars that helped officially launch the group.

It was also in this camp that American documentary filmmakers Banker White and Zach Niles along with Canadian singer-songwriter Chris Velan encountered the group, which by that point also included Black Nature, a teenaged orphan with a gift for rap, as well as Abdulrahim Kamara (Arahim) and Mohamed Bangura (Medo), both of whom had had limbs amputated by the rebels. The first-time filmmakers followed the band for three years as they moved from camp to camp. While filming, the United Nations sponsored a trip for the group to return to Freetown so they could see for themselves that the war was indeed over and safe for thousands of refugees to return home. As part of the trip, the UNHCR offered the band the opportunity to make their first studio recordings, which led to leader Reuben Koroma uniting the core group from the refugee camp with his former band mates, The Emperors, many of whom had remained in Freetown during the war. Together they recorded their debut album as Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars. The current touring lineup features members of both entities.

   


mon/year
S M T W T F S
             
             
             
             
             
             

Date/Time:  August 7, 2010, 8:00 pm

Audience:  All Ages

Seating:  Standing Room & Seated Balcony

Ticket Availability:  Yes

On Sale Date/Time:  June 26, 2010

Internet On Sale Time:  10:00 am

Box Office On Sale Time:  12:00 pm

General Admission:  $24.50


http://www.refugeeallstars.org/

(ticket prices are all inclusive)

 
 

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