Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and G. Hastings – today announce news of an exclusive three track live video filmed in partnership with Amnesty International to raise awareness for Refugee Week. The session, directed by Tom Hingston, features performances of the tracks ‘I Saw’, ‘Rice’, and ‘Geronimo’ and perfectly captures the trio’s electrifying energy they pour into every live show.
The full video will be available to view on Bandcamp from 6:30pm tomorrow, Wednesday 21st June to mark Refugee Week (19-25th June 2023) an annual arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.
Fans are able to watch the frenetic rendition of ‘Rice’ individually as a preview of the intimate performance, with the full session available to watch on Bandcamp when donating to Amnesty International from tomorrow.
The launch of the video and Refugee Week comes as the UK government prepares to permanently disqualify people’s asylum claims en masse regardless of the strength of their case. Amnesty International says the current immigration bill speeding through parliament will create significant obstacles, penalties and harms to people seeking asylum in the UK. Speaking on the bill, Graham writes;
“How anyone can look at what just happened in the Mediterranean and not see how important it is to have safe passage for people looking for refuge is beyond belief. We should be proud the UK is considered by some refugees as their first safe country.
This bill is nothing to do with immigration and all about dividing us, distracting us. We are all better when we get together to make good things happen. A good thing is this government’s immigration bill being revoked”
Alloysious Massaquoi who arrived in the UK with his family as a 4-year-old child refugee, said:
“I know full well the hardships of fleeing a warzone. That’s why it’s important for us to collectively speak up for refugee rights and show comradery.
Most of all we need to show compassion – it brings hope and understanding. It’s transformative. It gave my family and I the chance at a new life.“
Alongside the news of the live session, the band will release two limited edition t-shirt designs in conjunction with Everpress to further raise money and highlight the cause. All proceeds from the sale of the t-shirts will be donated to Amnesty International.
All three tracks from the session are taken from the band’s fourth album ‘Heavy Heavy’ released to wide-spread critical acclaim on February 3rd via Ninja Tune. Since its release the trio have played a host of sell-out shows across the UK and Europe and are now set for a summer of festival performances followed by a full tour of North America – including a televised performance at 20:30 on Friday 23rd June at Glastonbury Festival’s West Holts Stage. Known for their electrifying performances, their shows are a blur of ritualistic energy, marking them as one of the most must-see acts operating today. For your chance to see the band live checkout the full dates below.
HEAVY HEAVY FESTIVALS & NORTH AMERICA TOUR 2023
23 JUN 2023 GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL (20:30 WEST HOLTS) PILTON – UK
01 JUL 2023 OPEN’ER FESTIVAL GDYNIA – POLAND
08 JUL 2023 BILBAO BBK BILBAO – SPAIN
13 JUL 2023 PLAGE DE ROCK ST-TROPEZ – FRANCE
15 JUL 2023 SOMERSET HOUSE LONDON – UK
22 JUL 2023 LATITUDE FESTIVAL HENHAM PARK – UK
23 JUL 2023 BLUEDOT FESTIVAL JODRELL BANK – UK
28 JUL 2023 POP MESSE BRNO – CZECHIA
13 AUG 2023 YPSIGROCK SICILY – ITALY
18 AUG 2023 LA ROUTE DU ROCK SAINT-MALO – FRANCE
20 AUG 2023 GREEN MAN FESTIVAL CRICKHOWELL – UK
26 AUG 2023 CONNECT FESTIVAL EDINBURGH – UK
27 AUG 2023 ROCK EN SEINE FESTIVAL PARIS – FRANCE
01 SEP 2023 ELECTRIC PICNIC CO. LAOIS – IRELAND
02 SEP 2023 MEO KALORAMA LISBON – PORTUGAL
26 SEP 2023 COMMODORE BALLROOM VANCOUVER, BC – CANADA
27 SEP 2023 THE SHOWBOX SEATTLE, WA – USA
28 SEP 2023 REVOLUTION HALL PORTLAND, OR – USA
30 SEP 2023 PORTOLA FESTIVAL SAN FRANCISCO, CA – USA
01 OCT 2023 EL REY THEATRE LOS ANGELES, CA – USA
02 OCT 2023 CRESCENT BALLROOM PHOENIX, AR – USA
04 OCT 2023 THE VIC THEATRE CHICAGO, IL – USA
06 OCT 2023 9:30 CLUB WASHINGTON, DC – USA
07 OCT 2023 UNDERGROUND ARTS PHILADELPHIA, PA – USA
09 OCT 2023 BROOKLYN STEEL BROOKLYN, NY – USA
11 OCT 2023 ROYALE BOSTON, MA – USA
12 OCT 2023 PHOENIX CONCERT THEATRE TORONTO, ON – CANADA
