Spearhead to put Missoula in the spring break mood with reggae concert

If you’re not going to be on an island this spring break, the music of Michael Franti and Spearhead can help you pretend you are.

“It’s worth sticking around for,” said Porterhouse Productions head Sam Porter.

The band will perform at the Wilma Theatre March 27 at 8:30 p.m., and the show holds promise. Porter described Spearhead’s concerts as an inspirational experience.

“By the end of the show, everyone is dancing, hands in the air … it’s just a very positive experience,” Porter said.

And educational, he added.

Spearhead is very involved in educating the public on global issues. Last year, the band came to Missoula for the Northern Rocky Mountain Bioneers Conference, which was devoted to finding solutions for the planet concerning issues ranging from sustainable farming to women’s rights.

But don’t expect a lecture. The San Francisco Bay area-based band will be performing some new songs from their work-in-process album, set for release later this summer.

Think of upbeat reggae/hip-hop – like G. Love and Special Sauce, Matisyahu or Slightly Stoopid – to get a rough idea of Spearhead’s sound.

“They put on a rockin’ show. The sets are awesome,” Porter said, adding that the best part of the show usually happens during the after-party at the Loft, when the artists “grab the mike and start free-forming like crazy.”

Paying a $5 cover at the Loft is one way to get around coughing up $35 for a concert ticket.

Though the show is “sold out,” Porter said he usually releases around 40 extra tickets at the door.

Or, wait for the next reggae concert, as Missoula tends to see a few of them every year.

“It’s only natural that more reggae concerts happen in the spring,” Porter said. “The artists like a warm climate. It’s what they are used to.”

The Michael Franti and Spearhead concert will be at the Wilma next Thursday. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with hip-hop DJ J. Boogie opening.