Michael Franti & Spearhead

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD

Next to being a poet, a humanist and an eternal optimist, Michael Franti has been a respected musician and singer-songwriter throughout the past two decades. Together with his band Spearhead, they have distinguished themselves at several points. On their debut Home (1994), Michael Franti & Spearheadmerged social commitment with soul, funk and hip hop, and they secured themselves a place in music history.

Now, twenty years later, the new album is presented: All People. Solid dance beats, electronics and – what did you expect – committed lyrics about politics and love. Apparent influences on this album are John Lennon, Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Marvin Gaye and the Clash. Simplicity and efficiency, that was the device.

Expect new as well as old material, because Franti has written classics by the cartload: ‘Of Course You Can’, ‘People in tha Middle’, ‘You Can’t Sing R Song’, ‘Why, Oh Why’, … Gefundenes fressen for this entertainer.

NICK SAXON

Nick Saxon taught himself to play the guitar at an early age by secretly lending the instrument of his brother when he was not at home. Hours on end, he looked for the right chords. Several years later, a nervous Saxon participated in his first open mic night, a thrilling experience. Important influences that helped creating his music are Cat Stevens, Tommy Emmanuel, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin.

Meanwhile, the 30-year old musician is better known as the Australian host of National Geographic. "There's two things I really love in life, travelling and music. NatGeo is amazing. It gives me the opportunity to experience and document cultures, environments and people from around the globe. It’s what fuels my inspiration - the places, the people”, dixit Saxon.

And you have to give in: this multitalented celebrity has everything to make it in music too. The looks, the guitar and the statute of an adventurous and desired man.