In January, the pair embarked on a journey to the country with an organization called On the Ground, which is a nonprofit group that addresses the needs of sustainable development in farming communities throughout the world.

“I think their album is an amazing testimony to the sites, sounds, emotions and inspirations that one finds when going to Ethiopia,” On the Ground founder Chris Treter said in an email. “They encapsulated the experience in an amazing way that allows listeners to enter into the experience of participating in an experience that not only changed the lives of those participating but also those that we met there.”

On Oct. 28, the CD inspired by Bernard and Erlewine’s trip was released, and on Friday, band members performed songs from the album, “New Flower,” at Timberlane Auditorium, 841 Timberlane St.

Students from Red Cedar Elementary School, 1110 Narcissus Drive, joined the group, singing along to several songs.

“(Seth and May’s music is) just always amazing,” said Haslett, Mich., resident Beth Grimshaw, who attended Friday’s show. “And to hear them with the kids — I don’t know that there’s a word (to describe it). It was pretty great.”

Earlier this year, Treter brought the couple, who go by Seth and May when performing, to Ethiopia with him to participate in Run Across Ethiopia, a fundraising event that helped build several schools and fund other education projects in Ethiopian communities.

He said because Bernard and Erlewine are two leading musicians and activists in Michigan, it was imperative to have their participation in the project.

“They were able to communicate (through music) with people across cultures and language and added an element of celebration and art to the project,” Treter said.

The fundraiser consisted of a 250 mile run across southern Ethiopia during which Seth and May acted as on-site encouragement, performing for the runners, and also as educators, working with students in the area to teach them about music and art.

“Not everyone (on the trip) knew each other, but by the end of the 250 miles, it was a pretty tightly knit crew,” Erlewine said.

When they weren’t motivating the runners with their music, the act performed music for Ethiopian students while they painted or drew and also wrote songs with them.

“To have them embrace this project and make it their own through music added an important layer to the overall mission of the project,” Treter said.

The couple hoped the journey would act as a cultural exchange for them, and it did. Not only were they able to teach the people of Ethiopia about their music, but they also were able to learn about Ethiopian music, dance and art.

“American pop music is really popular there,” Erlewine said. “So we re-embraced some of our American pop roots, which is something we’ve shied away from with our music.”

Following their trip, the band rented a house in Old Mission Peninsula, Mich., to record “New Flower,” which consists of 12 tracks all written by Bernard and Erlewine while on their voyage.

“We found the people (in Ethiopia) to be so inspiring,” Erlewine said. “It was so easy to find things to write about.”

In addition to donating half the money made from their album sales back to communities in Ethiopia, the band will donate half of the proceeds from the Friday performance to Red Cedar Elementary School to help with the purchase of music supplies for students.

“It’s selfless,” attendee and Saginaw, Mich., resident Bob Buchanan said. “They’re promoting something that the whole world is lacking right now and needs.”

Grimshaw, who has been listening to the band’s music for several years, said she was happy to be able to attend Friday’s event and support the group’s endeavors.

She said she kept herself updated with Bernard and Erlewine’s trip to Ethiopia and other activities.

”It’s very powerful,” Grimshaw said. “I think it’s a great way to share their experience with everybody — and in a really impactful way.”

Buchanan, who was a musician in the 1960s that protested against events such as the Vietnam War, also has been a fan of Seth and May’s music for years and said he is inspired by their activism.

“I’m excited to see the younger people today doing the same thing (I once did) about social issues,” he said. “(Seth and May) encompass that.”

After once hearing the band perform briefly in downtown East Lansing, Buchanan said he instantly was attracted to the music.

“I know good music when I hear it, and I heard just one song of theirs and I said, ‘They’re above the rest — they’re something special,’” he said.