OntheWilderSide

The Clearwater Festival
Announces Musical Headliners For 2008
June 21 And 22 At Croton Point Park

Environmentally Concerned Musicians Promote Seeger’s Vision
of Education and Activism Through Song

One of the country’s first “green festivals”, the Clearwater Festival – The Great Hudson River Revival, has announced this year’s roster of musical performers. Continuing the legacy of Festival founder and legendary folk singer Pete Seeger, all of the performances were selected because they share Seeger’s philosophy of using the “power of song” to promote environmental awareness and action. The annual Festival will be staged on the shores of the Hudson River in Westchester County, June 21 and 22, on the weekend of the summer solstice.

“The musicians in this year’s Festival all have in common Seeger’s passion for both the environment and music,” remarked Ron Aja, Outreach Events Director. “They are also great entertainers. From Grammy-nominated Reggae bands to local performers, they bring an exciting weekend of music, dance, storytelling, and family fun.”

Aja noted that the Festival has significantly stepped up its efforts to reach its “Zero Waste” goal by arranging to collect all food waste for composing. “We were the first major festival to develop the concept more than 42 years ago with the Litter Picking Committee, and today it is an integral part of our efforts to make our event a model for all other Festivals to follow,” said Aja.

Clearwater is also using recyclable products and encouraging visitors to bring their own water, minimizing the environmental impact on the site. As well, the five performance stages are all powered with 100% sustainable energy that includes solar and bio-diesel.

Outstanding Musical Line Up
Offering a blend of Contemporary, Traditional and American Roots music, artists include:

• Pete Seeger, legendary folk singer, activist, and founder of the Clearwater organization.
• Skatalites, a Grammy-nominated ska and reggae band from Jamaica. Originally formed in 1964, the group has charted a number of Top Ten hits in the UK.
• Felice Brothers, a new group that is on the fast track to international success. Its gritty Americana sound has been compared to that of a young Bruce Springsteen.
• Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams, a quirky quartet reigning from the Hudson Valley. The group has been featured in both the New York Times and the CBS television show, Joan of Arcadia.
• R. Carlos Nakai, the world’s premier performer of the Native American flute. He uses his Navajo-Ute heritage as a source of inspiration and growth.
• Cheryl Wheeler, a writer of both emotional and humorous songs, who continues to gain more and more recognition with each new album.
• Happy & Artie Traum, a duo of brothers whose debut album was called “one of the best records in any field of pop music” by the New York Times.
• Kevin So, a first generation Chinese American whose passion for singing and playing piano and guitar has won him praise and helped him to build a substantial fan base coast to coast.

NEW! Circle of Gospel
A unique performance concept by Pete Seeger, Circle of Gospel reflects Clearwater’s ongoing efforts to diversify its musical offerings and encourage audience interaction. Three gospel groups will take center stage simultaneously under a large tent, with three audience groups facing them. Each choir will take turn singing, with the other choirs and audience members responding to their refrains. The singing will “circle” the tent for the entire program. Among the groups performing will be The Six of Us, an a cappella group of six women from Poughkeepsie; Just Voices, an a cappella group of four men from Wappingers Falls, and The Higher Ground Band, a seven-member group from Wappingers Falls that does gospel with a Caribbean flavor.

The festival will also feature hands-on environmental education workshops and exhibits, including the Green Living Expo, where companies, firms and organizations showcase green products or services. Returning this year is also the activist area, where visitors can get information on many of the community’s important environmental groups.

Filed under: activism, Ecology, events, More Events Calendars, Recommended Music