Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars

Presented by MUD Talks=Middlebury Underground Discussions

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars have one of the most remarkable stories in music.  Decades ago, they were forced to flee their war torn home, to refugee camps in neighboring Guinea. But they persevered through music. Ten years and four albums later, they’ve evolved to become one of Africa’s most recognized bands. Today, they tour the world’s biggest stages, recognized by legends like Paul McCartney and Angelina Jolie—they’ve played with Aerosmith and Bonnie Raitt… and even partied with Cedella Booker (Bob Marley’s mom).  All thanks to their music. 

Now, their world is turned upside down… again.  They’re refugees once more… this time in Providence, Rhode Island, while their home and family is being ravaged by Ebola.  But once again, they will endure.  This concert will help benefit the band, their families, and WeOwnTV, a non-profit working in Freetown Sierra Leone to educate the community about the epidemic.

At this MUD Music event, we’ll hear the story of the band’s lives and personal triumphs through their music. We’ll see brief film clips from the documentary, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars (2006), a film created by Middlebury graduates Banker White, Zach Niles, Chris Velan, Andy Mitchell, and Jim Bruce, which won more than a dozen international film awards. And, through this lyrical and visual mash up, we’ll witness how music can help overcome adversity.

Doors open at 7 p.m., micro Mud Talk at 7:30 pm; music at 8:00 pm

A benefit for Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, the Bridge School Scholarship Fund, and WeOwnTV

For more information, visit www.mudtalks.org, and follow MUD Talks on Facebook for the updates on this show and other upcoming events.

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