Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars embody the best elements of the human spirit. The musicians came together in a refugee camp in Guinea, populated by people fleeing the brutal civil war in Sierra Leone. Originally formed to entertain residents of the camp, the group has expanded since then, and their reggae-esque melodies are both enjoyable listening and message driven.  The All Stars have seen remarkable success, from being featured in a critically acclaimed documentary to appearing on Oprah. Rise & Shine, released on the Cumbancha label, is the group’s second album. They began work on it in Sierra Leone (where war has now ceased), and then traveled to New Orleans to collaborate with producer Steve Berlin and some New Orleans musicians, who imparted a distinct flavor to the album. ”Living Stone,” with its feel-good horns and foot-tapping rhythms, exemplifies this Big Easy influence. Click here to listen to the album and download a free track from Rise & Shine. For more background on the group, check out the two videos below.

Fans of vicarious travel will soon have a new show to tune in: Music Voyager. The program begins broadcasting this month on PBS, Nat Geo Music & Adventure, and other television outlets. Host Jacob Edgar (head of indie label Cumbancha and music researcher for the Putumayo World Music label) travels the globe in search of great music and adventure. The first three episodes find him in India; the second three trek through Jamaica. Local musicians guide him in each location, and viewers get a backstage pass to festivals, recording studios, and little-known venues. Enjoy the journey!

Hey, live music lovers! It’s summertime, and the concert season is upon us. Here’s a round-up of music festivals happening in 2009.

Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, June 11-14, 2009
Manchester, Tennessee
100+ bands perform on 10 stages on 700 acres of rural Tennessee farmland.
Visit the website.

CMA Music Festival, June 11-14, 2009
Nashville, TN
“Country Music’s Biggest Party” is hosted for the 38th time by the Country Music Association.
Visit the website.

Caribana, June 2009
Toronto, Canada
North America’s largest Caribbean festival.
Visit the website.

Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, June 19-21, 2009
Boonville, CA
A world music festival with a reggae focus.
Visit the website.

KCRW’s World Festival, Summer 2009 (first concert is June 21, 2009)
Los Angeles, CA
World music concert series at the famous Hollywood Bowl.
Visit the website.

Waltons Guitar Festival of Ireland, July 1-5, 2009
Dublin, Ireland
Ireland’s largest guitar festival.
Visit the website.

Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, July 1-12, 2009
Montréal, Canada
This is the world’s largest jazz festival with 3000+ artists from 30 countries. Visit the website.

Roskilde Festival, July 2-5, 2009
Denmark
Northern Europe’s largest music festival.
Visit the website.

Country Music Festival of Mirande, July 9-14, 2009
Mirande, France
Europe’s largest country music festival.
Visit the website.

Rainforest World Music Festival, July 10-12, 2009
Sarawak, Indonesia
Visit the website.

The Royal Windsor Beer & Jazz Festival, August 12-16 2009
Windsor, England
Visit the website.

World Music Festival: Chicago 2009, September 2009
Chicago, IL
This one-week festival is in its 12th year and is celebrated at venues throughout the city. Some events are free.
Visit the website.