UNITY: THE DESMOND TUTU LEGACY PROJECT Kicks Off with Mini-Big Show Benefit Concert ft. Incubus, Steve Vai, Donovan and More on Fri, Oct. 7 at the Saban Theatre in LA

SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

FR: ALEXANDRA GREENBERG/LIBBY COFFEY

MSO PR

UNITY: THE DESMOND TUTU LEGACY PROJECT

KICKS OFF WITH MINI-BIG SHOW BENEFIT CONCERT

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7 AT THE SABAN THEATRE IN LOS ANGELES

IN CELEBRATION OF NOBLE PEACE LAUREATE

ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU’S 85TH BIRTHDAY

EVENING TO FEATURE MUSIC FROM

INCUBUS, IN A SPECIAL ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE,

STEVE VAI, FISHBONE, PATO BANTON,

MEMBERS OF THE MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES, SPENCER DAVIS AND DONOVAN

WITH ADDITIONAL GUESTS TBA

HOSTED BY GRANDSON XABISO TUTU-GXASHO

PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE DESMOND TUTU PEACE FOUNDATION

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

For many years, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has preached a message of “Ubuntu: what affects one of us, affects us all”. On Friday, October 7,2016 at The Saban Theatre in Los Angeles, an all-star group of artists will unite for the first UNITY Mini-Big Show in support of UNITY: The Desmond Tutu Legacy Project (www.unity4tutu.com) to put this philosophy into practice with a concert in tribute to the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

Hosted by Archbishop Tutu’s grandson Xabiso Tutu-Gxasho, the evening will feature music from Incubus (in a special acoustic performance), Steve Vai, Fishbone, Pato Banton, members of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Spencer Davis and Donovan, who will be accompanied by Lili Hayden. Kimo the Blaxican has joined the show as MC and Adam Gaynor as a presenter, with iconic American poet Stephen Kalinich will recite inspirational new works, with additional guests TBA. It will be held on Archbishop Tutu’s 85th birthday and coincides with a series of events attended by the Archbishop in Cape Town, South Africa. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation.

The Los Angeles show kicks off the Mini-Big Benefit concert series for UNITY: The Desmond Tutu Legacy Project, a global effort spearheaded by the Archbishop and his daughter Mpho Tutu to ensure his work for peace, justice and equality continues for generations to come. Each Mini-Big show is an intimate performance of notable artists taking place in a theatre as opposed to a stadium, designed to reach the largest audience possible worldwide via live stream in partnership with Facebook, with audio simulcasts on terrestrial radio in each market. Additional Mini-Big Shows will be held throughout 2016-7 including New York, December 2016, Miami, March 2017, Atlanta, April 2017 and Toronto, spring 2017, with more cities to be announced.

Each Mini-Big concert will be filmed for inclusion in an exclusive retrospective documentary on Archbishop Tutu’s life story, which will trace the evolution of his extraordinary legacy. The documentary will feature rare archival footage and interviews with iconic personalities including Annie Lennox, Bono, Samuel L. Jackson, Peter Gabriel, Steve Tyler, Alfre Woodard, Sean Paul, Johnny Clegg and others who have been inspired by his work. Quincy Jones will serve as Executive Producer of an all-star soundtrack to complement the film.

Quincy Jones said, “I am thrilled to be working on UNITY, the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Documentary and Soundtrack. Archbishop Tutu is a long time brother and friend of mine and I am excited to ensure that his legacy is carried on for future generations.”

“We have songs that are political,” adds Tim Burton of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones who are thrilled to get behind the cause. “They sound like goofy ska punk songs a lot of the time but they are about racism. They are about unity and justice.”

Tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices range from $60 to $105.

Now through September 23, fans 18+ have the opportunity to win a special package to the UNITY Mini-Big show including roundtrip travel for two to Los Angeles, hotel accommodation, premium tickets to the show and more. More information can be found here: https://www.propeller.la/unityla

Other sponsors in addition to Facebook include Astrella, Guitar Center and Musicians Institute.

www.unity4tutu.com

ABOUT ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS DESMOND TUTU:

Archbishop Desmond Tutu is a South African Anglican cleric who became one of the central leaders of the global peace movement. An outspoken defender of human rights and campaigner for the oppressed, Desmond Tutu’s eloquent advocacy and brave leadership lead to the end of South African apartheid in 1993 and the installation of Nelson Mandela as the nation’s first black President. The Archbishop has dedicated his life to reshaping conversations about peace, equality and forgiveness. In 1984, Tutu earned the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts as a global peacemaker and now devotes his time with the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation and the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation to teaching youth the powerful role and voice they play in creating a more compassionate and peaceful world.

Since the demise of apartheid, Desmond Tutu has been active in the defense of human rights and uses his high profile to campaign for the oppressed. He has campaigned to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, poverty, racism, sexism, the imprisonment of Chelsea Manning, homophobia, and transphobia. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984; the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism in 1986; the Pacem in Terris Award in 1987; the Sydney Peace Prize in 1999; the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2007; and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. He has also authored several books including The Book of Forgiving, which he co-wrote with his daughter, the Reverend Mpho Tutu, and forthcoming The Book of Joy (HarperOne, September 2016), co-authored with His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Douglas Abrams.

ABOUT THE DESMOND TUTU PEACE FOUNDATION (US):

The Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation is the only foundation in the United States incorporated by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. Its mission is to inspire young people to build a world of peace within themselves, peace between people, and peace among nations. Its programs are based on the teachings of the Archbishop who has dedicated his life to reshaping conversations about peace, equality, and forgiveness.

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For interviews, press list or more information on UNITY: THE DESMOND TUTU UNITY PROJECT Mini-Big Benefit Show October 7 in Los Angeles, contact:

MSO PR 818-380-0400

Alexandra Greenberg x223, agreenberg@msopr.com

Libby Coffey x224, lcoffey@msopr.com