Music News Roundup: New Tracks from Justine Bennett and Stars Go Dim

Exciting news on the music front keeps coming. We’re honored to announce to two new partnerships with some amazing artists- Justine Bennett and Stars Go Dim!

Justine Bennett- “Who says music can’t change the world?” With the release of her EP ‘Invisible’ available on iTunes (we like it already..), 1/3 of the proceeds will be going to Invisible Children. We’re both really excited about this, check out her video here.

Stars Go Dim- Download the track ‘Come Around‘ for 99 cents on Itunes between Feb.9th-22nd and Stars Go Dim will give 100% of the proceeds to Invisible Children. Stars Go Dim’s Michael Wittig says, “ I hope our partnership with Invisible Children will help create more awareness among our fans which will ultimately lead to action”.

IC Band Tour: Hitting the Road With Tokyo Police Club!

Invisible Children’s band tour crew is packing their van for yet another stellar tour this spring. On Feb. 24^th, they will be heading out with Tokyo Police Club and supporting band, Born Ruffians. The tour will cover 23 cities across the US and Canada. This tour is a great opportunity for Invisible Children to reach entirely new ground with an ever-expanding eclectic roster of supporters from the music community. Tokyo Police Club has been self-described as, “wide-eyed post-punk with a tendency to get over excited-so much so that someone has to come and tell it to settle down,” which is conveniently characteristic of our very own band tour guys. Sounds like a musical match made in heaven.

Check out the tour dates below. Tickets are selling out quickly, so buy them today and hangout with us!

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Invisible Children and Better World Books are at it Again

When we partnered with Better World Books to launch the biggest book drive in history we had some really high expectations. We thought it would be impossible to achieve (but where’s the fun in trying if it’s not impossible right?). The book drive ends in three days and we have already far surpassed our original goal… thanks to you. You have helped us bring opportunities to northern Uganda in a fresh, exciting way.

So, as we get ready to launch our World Tour in February we thought we would jump right in (and fear later) to another Book Drive. A book drive even bigger than before. If you are looking for a way to get your hands dirty and do your part to bring new hope to northern Uganda this is your way to do it, especially you college students. Forego the six bucks your University Bookstore will give you for that Robert Frost Anthology and sell it back online at www.betterworld.com/invisiblechildren to raise money directly for Invisible Children. Run a book drive on your campus, and help everyone you know to benefit IC with their used books. For more information contact nharris@invisiblechildren.com. That’s Natasha, our resident book drive expert.

Invisible Children on Tour with Delta Spirit

“San Diego band Delta Spirit invests a lot of time contemplating the variants that these human hearts of ours – of all stripes – have to endure to get through the winter days of life, fallen beneath the tires and fading light, without being heavy boulders that would take armies to lift or ease” daytrotter.com

On Feb. 4th, Invisible Children will be heading out on the road with band Delta Spirit on their nation-wide headlining tour with supporting bands Other Lives and Dawes. For a band described as ‘a force to be reckoned with’ paths would inevitably be crossed with IC’s band crew: a nomadic team that redefined the fusion of music with social justice, to the tune of 12 tours in 8 countries around the globe.

Delta Spirit’s run with bands like Cold War Kids served to train their free-thinking muscles with lyrics like, “this world is burnin’ down and you’re the ones to lead” off their latest album ‘Ode To Sunshine’. This is not their first brush with activism, as they set out to New Orleans to help with the Hurricane Katrina aftermath; a heavy reminder of tragedy and the resilience of the human spirit. As the band’s San Diego roots practically run into our own backyard; the tour’s synthesis of music and activism will surely strengthen ‘the force’ of Delta Spirit’s youthful rebellion. (more…)

Pete Wentz and Tyrone Wells <3 Invisible Children: Valentine’s Day Raffle

This Valentine’s Day, Invisible Children is teaming up with Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy and singer-songwriter Tyrone Wells to play cupid for a cause. We’re putting on a raffle to win a personal videogram for your sweetheart from either Pete or Tyrone. Tickets are being sold at two for $2, four for $5, or 20 for $20 by clicking on the links below to specify which artist you would most like to send a heart-filled message to your loved one. All the proceeds go towards Invisible Children, so this is your chance to show someone you care by giving to the children of northern Uganda (and really, what’s sweeter than that?)

For Pete Wentz raffle tickets click here.

For Tyrone Wells raffle tickets click here.

The contest ends February 11th, so buy your tickets today. This year, celebrate your love by spreading compassion. It beats your ordinary chocolate and flowers any day

Invisible Children en Español

This is an open call to all friends who live in Mexico, have a sister/best friend/neighbor or an awesome contact we need to meet. Talk to your friends, dig through Facebook, if you know someone who’d like to have us screen our new documentary at their school/church/backyard, please let us know. As always, you’ve been a vital part of making our tours successful, so we are asking you to be apart of our biggest tour yet. Invisible Children is going global, and we invite you to join the movement. See you on the road.

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Your New Resolution

This year, use your New Year’s Resolution to do more than just change yourself. Change others.

From $10 to $25 a month, you can transform lives. We’ll tell you how along the way – every quarter you’ll get information about how your gift is enhancing life, advancing freedom and empowering Uganda’s future leaders.

Your new resolution: provide hope this year.

Invisible Children a Hot Topic at Humanitarian Conference

This past weekend our very own Mission Director, Adam Finck spoke to a conference of academics and activists at the University of California, Irvine. The conference, “Critical Investigations into Humanitarianism in Africa” sought to discuss hypothetical ideals vs. practical application of African humanitarian assistance. Among those present at the conference included PhD students, professors, and representatives of several NGO’s. Adam was there to speak about our programs and to moderate some often-heated dialog about what we are doing in northern Uganda. A lot of concern was given to the collision of development practices and a youthful Western culture, specifically one with media and pop-culture influence. (more…)

The Future is Now

Tuesday, January 20th, the IC Offices…

This morning at 8:30 a.m. in San Diego, close to 100 Invisible Children staffers crowded into the boardroom to watch Barack Obama being sworn into office. It’s official: Today marks the beginning of the 44th presidency of the United States. A new era is clearly on the horizon for America. The historical inauguration marked the first African-American president taking office, a day after our nation celebrated the dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

For the vast majority of Invisible Children’s supporters (high-school and college students), the dividing era that was the past 8 years is all we have known. As a 24-year-old myself, I can’t recall much about how I was personally affected by the presidencies of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, or Bill Clinton, but I can certainly look back to 2000 and think about how much I’ve seen change during our nation’s time with George W. Bush. Regardless of how you feel about that change, Barack Obama certainly marks something different. Over the next 4 years, the choices he and his team make will show just how different that is.

With a new president coming in, it’s important to remember that the changes being presented won’t only impact us here in America. Our friend John Prendergast at Enough points out, it also marks “an opportunity to fundamentally remake U.S. relations with Africa.” After seeing what millions of people are living through in the documentaries put out by our art department, the chance to restructure how things are solved is something to get excited about.

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Send Your Thoughts to Barack Obama

Our friends at CauseCast have two opportunities for you to welcome in ‘Uncle-O’ and his new administration, but it’s time to act. It all centers on MLK Day this Monday January 19th. The ask is nationwide: make this day a day of service. Go out and do something to better the world around you. At the same time, you can send a video-message to soon-to-be President Obama’s inauguration team and let them know what’s on your mind. Why not do both at the same time? Take this weekend to make a short video and let them know you care about the Invisible Children of northern Uganda and you want them to as well. (more…)