Levi’s World Vision on Social Justice

The name Levi means ‘joined in harmony’, and it is an appropriate meaning for a young man who has joined in harmony with World Vision to use music to highlight social justice issues.

‘It’s impossible to listen to his music and not be stirred into action,’ says Tim Costello, the CEO of World Vision Australia.

I talked to Levi last week about his upcoming concert in Tasmania with US Christian rock band ‘Third Day’ (so named in reference to Jesus’s resurrection on the third day) and fellow US Christian rock band ‘Need to Breathe’, to be held at the Derwent Entertainment Centre on Wednesday 18th February 2015, as well as about his continued commitment to social justice through his music.

Levi tells me he has been visiting Tassie at least once a year for the past 6 years and has visited Devonport, Launceston and Hobart touring churches and schools. He tells me his favourite place in Tassie is The Gorge in Launceston and of course he can’t fault ‘Tassie’s ‘beautiful food’.

Levi says he has always been interested in social issues from his childhood when he would become aware of stories of inequality on the news and would ask what he could do about improving things.
Well, Levi found that he could do something in bringing to notice these problems using his music ‘as a vehicle to educate on issues of social justice’.

Levi remarks on the fact that nowadays there aren’t many bands, like Midnight Oil in the past, writing and performing on social justice issues.

Levi has worked in Uganda as a volunteer with child soldiers and sponsored by World Vision toured Australia with his album ‘Children of War’ (Small House Records 2010). Levi toured Australia to spread the message to rescue these children of war. Three albums on and Levi is still strongly committed and excited by social justice.

Levi tells me his love for Africa initially grew out of another love, that for his wife. When he met his wife he found she had a love for everything African including gorillas, in an attempt to impress his beloved he followed her on a trip to Africa to win her heart.

Levi will soon visit Ethiopia on a mission in March to highlight the situation of homeless children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital. It is estimated by the UN that close to 100,000 children are homeless in Ethiopia. Levi and his drummer Andrew Horneman will employ local instruments to engage and create music with the children.

However, before then, you can see Levi with ‘Third Day’ and ‘Need to Breathe’ at the Derwent Entertainment Centre on Wednesday 18th February 2015.

You can read more about Levi and his music at:

www.levimcgrath.com.au
Paula Xiberras