Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin & Buddy Miller Team Up

In the late 1990s artists such as Harris, Miller, Elvis Costello, John Prine, and Steve Earle took part in acoustic concerts to raise awareness and funds to ban landmines in Southeast Asia, according to Global Pulse Magazine.

Harris is continuing to do her part to give back through “Lampedusa: Concerts For Refugees.” The outing takes its name from the Italian island of Lampedusa. The island made headlines in October 2013 when a boat transporting migrants from Libya to Italy sank near the coastline. More than 360 people died, according to the BBC.

All proceeds from the tour go to Jesuit Refugee Service’s Global Education Initiative. A post on Boulder Theater’s website notes that the Initiative provides “education opportunities for refugees living in camps and in urban settings worldwide.”

Select dates feature Steve Earle, The Milk Carton Kids and additional special guests.

After visiting several of the Jesuit Refugee Service projects in Ethiopia in June, Harris shared her thoughts about the importance of supporting refugees through education in a video filmed for JRS.  

“I know that there are still terrible conditions and a lot has to be done. But there is so much hope there,” Harris said. “There is so much promise. It really affected me in a very positive way. The ability to actually see it firsthand was an extraordinary gift, I think, for me. I think if I’ve got one thing I’m going to take back, I believe that education is the key to everything. These minds need to be challenged and developed. … We have to give them the tools to develop their hearts, their minds, their souls, to use the abilities that they have that are still untapped. It’s just a huge potential.”

Here is the routing for the tour:

Oct. 6 – Boulder, Colo., Boulder Theater     
Oct. 8 – Kansas City, Mo., Kauffman Center For The Performing Arts – Helzberg Hall
Oct. 9 – Lincoln, Neb., Rococo Theatre        
Oct. 11 – St. Louis, Mo., Sheldon Concert Hall       
Oct. 12 – Milwaukee, Wis., Pabst Theater    
Oct. 14 – Toronto, Ontario, Massey Hall      
Oct. 19 – Philadelphia, Pa., Merriam Theater

Select dates are on sale now. Tickets for Toronto go on sale Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. local time.  Kansas City’s onsale is scheduled Aug. 19. A member presale for Philadelphia’s Merriam Theater begins Aug. 8, followed by the general onsale Sept. 10.

Visit JRSusa.org and check with your local venue for more information.