The band, which just returned from making its debut at Australia and New Zealand’s WOMAD festivals, will kick off a two-week run of cross-country dates at The State Theater in Falls Church, Va., on April 17.
The show will also mark the launch of Dengue Fever’s partnership with non-profit environmental organization Wildlife Alliance, which will set up a booth at the band’s shows.
The goal of the partnership is to raise awareness and funds to preserve Cambodia’s natural heritage, including threatened populations of tigers, Asian elephants and some of the largest tracts of rainforest remaining in Asia.
“We share a common vision,” Dengue Fever guitarist Zac Holtzman explained. “We want to preserve Cambodia’s wildlife species and forests. By rescuing and caring for wildlife species victimized by illegal trade, preserving habitat and educating and creating jobs for Cambodians, Wildlife Alliance’s work is vital to preserving Cambodia’s natural legacy for future generations.”
Future collaborations include benefit concerts, charity remixes, online commercials and cross marketing on social networking sites and Web sites.
Dengue Fever’s ties to Cambodia run deep. The group was formed when Holtzman and his brother Ethan decided to turn their love for psychedelic, pre-Khmer Rouge Cambodian pop into a multi-cultural rock band and convinced Cambodian singer Chhom Nimol to front it.
A well-received visit to Phnom Pehn where they were the first Western band to perform Cambodian Khmer rock since the fall of the Khmer Rouge became the basis for the band’s documentary “Sleepwalking Through the Mekong,” released last year.
Here’s the trailer for “Sleepwalking,” which is now available on DVD.
Checkout the documentary trailer about thier trip to Cambod
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In addition to its work with Wildlife Alliance and its tour, Dengue Fever has been commissioned by the San Francisco International Film Festival to score and perform a brand new soundtrack for the classic 1925 silent film “The Lost World.”
The work will premier May 5 at San Francisco’s historic Castro Theatre. Tickets are $15 for San Francisco Film Society members and $20 for the general public.
For more info on “The Lost World” and the San Francisco International Film Festival, visit SFFS.org.
For more info on Wildlife Alliance and its mission, visit WildlifeAlliance.org.