Inspired by Pete Seeger’s desire to clean up the river over forty years ago, the Great Hudson River Revival initially helped raise the funds to build the sloop Clearwater, which has since become a world-renowned floating classroom and a symbol of effective grassroots action. Today, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater is a non-profit organization that sails at the forefront of the nation’s environmental challenges. The revenue raised by the Revival goes to support Clearwater’s numerous educational programs and its work toward environmental and social justice—as well as keeping the sloop Clearwater afloat.
Pete Seeger & the Power of Song gets us underway on Saturday, June 19 on the Rainbow Stage. Also featured on this stage throughout the weekend are famed singer-songwriters Steve Earle and Shawn Colvin, contemporary music star Joan Osborne; Westchester County native David Bromberg and his quartet, Keller Williams, “newgrass” sensation Railroad Earth, Donna the Buffalo, Toshi Reagon, The Felice Brothers, sacred steel guitar family band The Lee Boys, and Hazmat Modine, a global blues band based in NYC.
Appearing on the Hudson Stage will be Steve Forbert, Rhett Miller, Jonatha Brooke, Mike Doughty, Dan Bern, Lucy Kaplansky, David Amram, Canadian duo Dala, Milton, Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion and the Tao Seeger Band.
New for this year is the renamed “World Dance Stage” with a bigger dance floor and bands from around the globe. The mission for the stage is audience participation. The diverse roster features many different dance music styles and wonderful artists including Zydeco greats Buckwheat Zydeco, and C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band; Quebecois Cajun group Le Vent du Nord; Celtic artist and fiddle player of Riverdance Eileen Ivers; Contra Dance bands Nightingale and Jay, Molly & Peter; Brooklyn based Eastern European brass band Slavic Soul Party; Haitian drumming and dance ensemble Bonga & The Vodou Drums of Haiti; Columbian folkloric dance band Folklore Urbano; West African Balafon troupe Kakande and from New Orleans, The Subdudes and funk-soul band Brother Joscephus & the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra.
Pete Seeger will be performing at various junctures during the two-day festival including performances with two different kids groups.
The Revival is full of unique experiences. Story Grove, with professional storytellers and Circle of Song (audience participatory singing) keeps alive these unique and long-standing traditions. Performers at Story Grove include The Storycrafters, Dave Conover, Robert DeMayo, Bob Reiser, Nancy Marie Payne, Anne Shapiro & Tom Callinan and Bobaloo Basey. At Circle of Song we have Marva P. Clarke and Kim Harrisleading gospel sings, the Dirty Stay Out Skifflers, the Edukated Fleas, Hope Machine, Captain Killian & Crew, Mel & Vinnie, Eric Russell, Evy Mayer, Steve Stanne, Stout and Matt Turk.
Other programming that sets Clearwater apart from other festivals include Arm-of-the-Sea Theater (mask and puppet theater), the Rude Mechanical Orchestra (30-odd-piece New York City radical marching band and dance troupe), the Walkabout Clearwater Chorus (celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2010) and more.
As always there will be plenty of family oriented programming including the Family Stage, juggling, roving artists, face painting plus lots of other activities and vendors for kids. Appearing on the Family Stage will be Pete Seeger & Tomorrow’s Children, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, David Amram, Elizabeth Mitchell & You Are My Flower, Kim & Reggie Harris, Jay Mankita, Grenadilla, Nancy Tucker, Roger the Jester, Dog on Fleas, Uncle Rock, Linda Richards and Dan Einbender.
There’s also a Juried Crafts Fair with over 40 Crafters and folk artists with quality hand-made items, demonstrations and workshops and a Green Living Expo Tent where you can learn about products, services, concepts and technologies that can inform your lifestyle and business choices.
The sloop Clearwater and the schooner Mystic Whaler will be conducting sails throughout the weekend as well as rides being offered on smaller boats.
The Discovery and Tideline tents will feature Clearwater’s original hands-on environmental education programs and Hudson River research. The Environmental Action Tent will highlight Clearwater’s watershed and environmental justice initiatives in cities up and down the Hudson River Valley.
Keeping with tradition, the entire festival is wheelchair accessible and most stage programming is staffed with American Sign Language interpreters.
The 2010 Great Hudson River Revival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 19 and 20 at Croton Point Park in Croton-on Hudson, NY. Tickets range from $40 (early bird) to $80 (gate). Tickets are available atwww .ClearwaterFestival.org or 845-418-3596
Submitted by Clearwater Festival
Exciting Jonatha Brooke news… She has given he vocals on a hook for a brand new UK artist called “Kingz”, I found this one on Youtube, here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W78GeNomiGg
So, so catchy!!! I love Jonatha, she is so talented.