Let the Soulshine In
Michael Franti Headlines a Night of Yoga and Music
If ever there was a music event made for Santa Barbara, it would look a whole lot like Soulshine. The nationally touring mini-fest is boasting live sets from Michael Franti & Spearhead, SOJA, Brett Dennen, Trevor Hall, and Sonna Rele, as well as appearances by some of the biggest names in yoga, including Ryan Leier, Baron Baptiste, and Seane Corn. There will be yoga classes. And sustainable living workshops. And acoustic jam sessions. And more good vibrations than you can shake a stick at.
The whole thing rolls into town for an afternoon and evening at the Santa Barbara Bowl on Thursday, June 19, and if you’re of the yogi persuasion, this is sure to be the ticket of the season. But even those of the non-mat-toting kind can find something to love here. For starters, Soulshine is offering one of the more diverse (and massively stacked) musical lineups this season. Franti is the kind of musician who wears his positive message on his sleeve, and his upbeat brand of pop rock matches his lyrics note for note. Meanwhile, SOJA’s groove-filled tunes succeed in bridging the worlds of American folk and Jamaican roots reggae. Both Dennen and Hall operate in singer/songwriter mode, but where Hall veers toward a grizzled voiced take on acoustic hip-hop, Dennen heads in the opposite direction, pairing a wavering folksy speak-sing with strong pop sensibilities. And as the lone lady sharing the stage, Rele promises to inject the night with some seriously sultry vocals.
The Santa Barbara installment of the Soulshine tour kicks off at 6 p.m. at the S.B. Bowl and is open to all ages. Call (805) 962-7411 or visit sbbowl.com.
