Quick sidebar: Dispatch was one of the original stars of Napster. The band, which had sort of a jam-festival vibe to it, broke up before it ever got a major record label deal.
Yet, on its last show, 100,000 fans from all over the world arrived to see the Boston-based unit say goodbye. They re-formed in 2007 to raise awareness about atrocities in Zimbabwe with three sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden.
So, for those Dispatch folks out there, consider this a special tour announcement just for you. Francis and New England’s roots-rock outfit Barefoot Truth will be playing Dispatch material, along with Francis’ and Barefoot Truth’s stuff.
The tour kicks off in Portland, Maine, Feb. 19, and hits the right side of the U.S. with stops in Boston, NYC, Chicago and smaller markets like Lewiston (a lot of the shows are all ages). Its last date as of now is May 3 at New England College in Henniker, N.H.