As the summer concert season rapidly approaches, our music outreach shifts into high gear. In addition to many festivals (like Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Summer Camp, and Gathering of the Vibes), Oxfam volunteers connect with thousands of fellow music fans at concerts by artists who support our work. This summer, a diverse group of artists have invited our volunteers to join them at select shows.

So make sure you look for Oxfam, and learn more about our efforts to right the wrongs of poverty and injustice, at these summer dates by the following great bands:

1. Fitz & The Tantrums

Known for their incredibly fun live shows, Fitz & The Tantrums plan to spend most of the rest of 2013 on the road, and Oxfam will be at many of their tour dates too.

Fitz & the Tantrums. Photo: Bob Ferguson/Oxfam America

2. The National

Touring behind their new album, Trouble Will Find Me (out May 20), The National recently released a video for “Demons” from that album:

3. DJ Shadow

DJ Shadow has been an Oxfam supporter since his trip with Oxfam to Kenya in 2007 (see more about the trip in the video below). His current tour features his “All Basses Covered” DJ set.

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A couple of months ago, we invited you to submit your photos and videos to produce a crowd-sourced video set to an acoustic version of Coldplay’s “In My Place.” Now, we can share the resulting film, which is drawn from footage submitted by thousands of fans in 55 countries:

The concept and film was created by award-winning director Mat Whitecross to echo the dislocation and displacement thousands of families experience as a result of land grabs. (For one example, see this compelling series of photos of families affected by land grabs in Cambodia).

The film shows people from Argentina to Indonesia moving something favorite, personal, or familiar from their home to somewhere it doesn’t belong. Others show people doing something personal and familiar totally out of place, such as actor Dominic Cooper taking a nap outside in the freezing city of Budapest and the band Wolf Gang jamming in the street. Singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran also makes an appearance holding a sign in support.

Coldplay, who have been working with Oxfam since 2003, said they were happy to break new ground with a crowd-sourced video. “Not only are Coldplay fans very good-looking but they’re also incredibly creative,” said the band. “We’re proud that they’ve dedicated their collective talent to this important cause.”

Longtime supporters of Oxfam’s work know that we have a long and creative history of working with our global ambassadors, Coldplay. This week, we’ve taken this collaboration to new creative heights with the announcement of a crowd-sourced project that asks fans of the band to contribute to a video highlighting the global injustice of land grabs. Every two days, an area of land the size of Chicago is sold to foreign investors in developing countries; two-thirds of those investors plan to export everything they produce on the land – in some cases, destroying local food supplies in places where food insecurity is already dangerously high and forcing many people to go hungry.

For their contributions to the video, participants will move a favorite, personal, or familiar item from their home to somewhere it doesn’t belong, or do a personal, everyday, or familiar activity that they’d usually do at home, in totally the wrong place.The video, which will be set to an exclusive just-for-Oxfam acoustic version of the classic “In My Place,” will be stitched together by Coldplay’s music video and film director Mat Whitecross.

The project has already received quite a bit of attention in the mainstream media, the music press, and on Sirius/XM Radio. For more information on how to participate in the project, check out the widget above.

If you’re a fan of Ra Ra Riot, or of music in general, then let me recommend the band’s excellent new album, Beta Love. Released this past Tuesday to much critical acclaim, Beta Love relies less on the string-heavy arrangements of previous albums that allowed critics to pigeonhole them as “chamber pop.” Ra Ra Riot incorporates many more synth sounds on the new album, which allow the band’s knack for writing singalong hooks to shine at a brightness not seen on the first two albums.

Though the band claims inspiration for this album from the works of futurists William Gibson and Ray Kurzweil, my ears hear equal influence from ’80′s popsters like Steve Winwood and Robert Palmer. It’s likely the smartest dance record you’ll hear this year.

For a taste of Ra Ra Riot’s new sound, watch this video of the band performing “I Shut Off” from their new album recently at a studio in NYC:

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As a Radiohead fan, I’m always proud to count the band among the list of great artists supporting Oxfam America. Ever since Haiti was devastated by a major earthquake in January 2010, Radiohead and their fans have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Oxfam’s Haiti earthquake relief and recovery efforts, via a benefit concert, fan-sourced concert videos, and more.

Just last week, a group of fans released a new concert film of Radiohead’s show at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom on September 29, 2011—one of only two US shows the band played that year. (I was lucky enough to be there that night, along with a group of Oxfam concert volunteers who reached out to Radiohead fans before the performance.) The crowd-sourced video was created with the blessing of the band, who even contributed audio from the soundboard of the show.

The film, below, is free, but they are asking those who watch and download it to give to two great causes: Hurricane Sandy relief in the US and Oxfam America’s Haiti Earthquake Fund. As Oxfam’s programs in Haiti move more toward long-term rebuilding and recovery efforts, it’s good to know that Radiohead and their fans are still supporting the cause.

In my quest to be the best-informed citizen I can be, I, like much of America, have been glued to the recent presidential debates. I’m smart enough to recognize that in addition to the actual debating of important issues, there’s a certain amount of gamesmanship and strategy employed by candidates at these events. However, like many people, I’ve been dismayed and disappointed with the blatant careless attitude both candidates (and their spokespeople) have had with being truthful and accurate. Trustworthiness, I would think, is the most basic quality a candidate for any office would want to display when given the chance.  Sadly, it seems this year that bluster is better strategy than honesty.

To prove my theory that I’m not the only one who feels this way, Oxfam supporter and cellist Ben Sollee released a new video today for his very timely song, “A Few Honest Words”.

“Like nearly everyone,” explained Ben, “my attention this week has been focused on Sandy and all of her devastating effects … There are so many people dealing with fundamental challenges in their lives at this moment: food, shelter, clean water, etc. These are things that are not debatable or points of policy; they are human needs. And as the country inevitably shifts its gaze back to the final stretch of the election, I’m hoping we can keep the human-to-human conversation going.”

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Did you have your photo taken by an Oxfam volunteer at a Coldplay concert this summer? Were you drawn into a compelling conversation with someone dressed as a tomato, taco, or giant banana? If so, you might just make a cameo appearance in an exclusive Coldplay tour video. The brand-new video, released today, features special tour footage shared by Coldplay as a way to say thank you to all of the fans who supported Oxfam on their recent world tour:

Here in the US, you may have caught the multiple-Grammy-winning Oxfam ambassadors as they trekked across the country on this summer’s “Mylo Xyloto” tour. Coldplay invited Oxfam America volunteers to join them at every date as a way to spread the word about Oxfam’s GROW Campaign for food justice.

Nearly 600 volunteers joined Coldplay at 28 concerts from coast to coast. Some even took the plunge and dressed up in food costumes, which served as a great conversation starter and helped draw attention to the cause. Thanks to the volunteers’ efforts, 13,000 new US supporters took Oxfam’s GROW pledge this summer. They’ll now be part of the Oxfam community, and will have the opportunity to take action against hunger and tell companies and governments to make our food system fairer for everyone. And that’s an accomplishment well worth celebrating—taco suit not required.

Amadou and Mariam show their support. Photo: Charlotte Wales/Oxfam

If you’re a fellow music fan, you probably caught some of the incredible live performances at the London Olympics closing ceremony last night. From the Who to Annie Lennox to the Spice Girls reunion, all kinds of British musical talent was on display for the world to see.

However, you may not have heard about another event taking place the same day—the Hunger Summit—that also inspired world-renowned artists to come together for a good cause.

To coincide with the end of the world’s biggest gathering of nations, UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Brazilian vice-president Michel Temer co-hosted a mini-summit of world leaders, NGOs, and leading businesspeople. They discussed ways to address hunger and malnourishment in some of the world’s poorest countries.

In an open letter to the global media published just before the summit, more than 30 leading musicians, actors, and writers joined forces to call for sustainable solutions to hunger and urgent action on the immediate crisis in the Sahel region. Those signing the letter included Oxfam ambassadors Djimon Hounsou, Angelique Kidjo, and Baaba Maal, as well as Brazilian, British, and African musicians like Sidi Touré (recently interviewed on this blog), Amadou and Mariam, Femi Kuti, Roots Manuva, Gilberto Gil, Mulatu Astatke, and many more.

Sidi Toure's sign reads "drought is natural, hunger is not." Photo: Charlotte Wales/Oxfam

Many of these artists also posed for exclusive photos for the Sahel 2012 campaign led by Oxfam, Africans Act for Africa, and Avaaz. More than 500,000 people worldwide signed the petition demanding concrete action from world leaders in response to the crisis in the Sahel, as well as an investment in long-term solutions to hunger.

In their letter, the artists also make a powerful call for a change in the way we think about Africa and crises like this one. Here’s an excerpt:

Let’s also be clear the solution [to crises] lies in Africa– a continent of vibrant, talented, creative and hardworking people.  Africans need a relationship with the rest of the world that treats them as who they are – equals with something to offer. … Together we can make an African future where ‘charity will have become unnecessary.’

Oxfam is aiming to help 1.2 million people across seven countries with programs that include cash transfers and cash-for-work initiatives, veterinary care for the livestock on which many families depend, and access to clean water and sanitation. We are also campaigning to change the root causes of this crisis. Find out how you can support our efforts.

Oxfam America’s Music Outreach team joined music fans from all over the world at the recent Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. In our fifth consecutive year at Bonnaroo, this year’s team featured Oxfam staff members and volunteers from New York, Wyoming, Indiana, New Jersey, and Vermont. We were there to talk with attendees about Oxfam’s GROW campaign for food justice and to raise awareness about the food crisis in the Sahel region of West Africa. Oxfam’s team of 10 had literally thousands of conversations over the four days, and over 3,000 people signed a pledge to join our efforts.

As one of the yearly highlights of Oxfam’s festival outreach season, Bonnaroo has also become a place for music artists who support Oxfam’s work to do so in front of tens of thousands of fans. Oxfam-supporting artists like Radiohead, Flogging Molly, Fitz & The Tantrums, Aziz Ansari, and tUnE-yArDs all happened to be in the festival lineup, which allowed us to talk about the intersection of music and social justice in truly tangible ways.

A personal highlight for me was being invited to introduce a special screening of the incredible documentary The Island President in Bonnaroo’s Cinema Tent.  The award-winning movie is about the efforts of former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed to tackle climate change before it literally causes oceans to swallow his country’s land whole, and the introduction gave me a chance to talk about Oxfam’s ongoing climate justice work.

Here are a few photographic memories of Oxfam’s Bonnaroo adventures this year:

Aziz Ansari

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Aziz Ansari (from NBC's Parks and Recreation) shows his support for Oxfam and the GROW campaign just before taking the stage at the Bonnaroo comedy tent. Photo: Bob Ferguson/Oxfam America

Oxfam America CHANGE Leader Paul Gallegos recently traveled around the eastern US with the Reverb Campus Consciousness Tour, which aims to “inspire and activate students in an electric atmosphere while leaving a positive impact on each community the tour visits.”  This particular tour featured international sensation Janelle Monae and indie-popsters fun. Check out some of Paul’s highlights and his comments below:

Photo: Bob Ferguson/Oxfam America

At Cornell University, above, our second stop on the tour, about 200 people signed our petition asking Congress not to cut life-saving aid.

Photo: Josh Glasheen/Reverb

Our table was never short on information to give to inquisitive students, like these two new Oxfam supporters at the University of Maine.

Photo: Pretty Polly Productions

Janelle Monae took time out of her hectic post-show schedule to meet with a couple of Oxfam volunteers during our tour stop at Dickinson College.

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