Up! Downunder

Australia is Michael Franti‘s largest record market per capita, so it was no surprise that Franti’s new music, art and media Up! Festival chose Australia for its first appearance outside the United States.The bill will include Franti and his band Spearhead, Ben Lee, and rising acts Blue King Brown and Old Man River.The arena dates are organised through Frontier Touring Company, which brought Franti out as an unknown ten years ago. Stops include Challenge Stadium, Perth (September 14), Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (16), AIS Arena, Canberra (19), Festival Hall, Melbourne (20), Horden Pavilion, Sydney (21) and Riverstage, Brisbane (22).