Hudson Valley Earth Day Celebration: Two Days of Music, sweet music!

Just two weeks from today, the Hudson Valley 40th Anniversary Earth Day Celebration at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds begins! So it's time to start giving y'all the schedules and the scoop about what you'll find when you pass through the gates. And today, I feel like talking about the Musicians for Clean Air concerts that will run all weekend.

OH, the MUSIC we're going to have! Two full days of it, my friends, from rock to classical to jazz/funk to African drumming to Ukranian folk dance and beyond.

Why "Musicians for Clean Air"? Simple: People who make their livings with their lungs need to breathe clean air to stay healthy. In fact, we all need to. Many people who work in the arts make their living with their lungs -- singers, dancers, wind instrumentalists, for instance -- or breathe air that is affected by the materials they use (think painters, sculptors, welders, glass blowers--the list goes on...). By naming our concerts "Musicians for Clean Air," we would like to draw your attention to the fact that our air quality in the Hudson Valley -- and in so many spots around the country, and the world -- is not what it should be. Asthma rates are higher -- particularly in our cities -- than they ever have been; children suffer the most.

And they're waayy too high in the Hudson Valley! In fact, in a report released recently by NY US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, over 40,000 Hudson Valley children suffer from asthma. Between 2005 and 2007, more than 2,500 of our kids were hospitalized overnight for the condition. That's at least double the numbers in each of the following areas: the North Country, the Capital Region, the Southern Tier, Central NY, Western NY and the Rochester-Fingerlakes Region. Only NYC and Long Island's rates are higher than ours!

So, as you listen, and dance to the rhythms and lyrics or our well-known and new performing artists two weeks from now, remember that we all still have a lot of work to do to make and keep our region more livable for all its inhabitants. With that said, here's the lineup!

Saturday, April 24^th:

10 a.m. Sasha and the Vocal Souls – Neo-Soul/ R and B/ Roots

11 a.m. Bak 2 Roots – Internationally-acclaimed African Drum Band (www.bak2roots.com)

1 p.m. David Temple – Guitarist, composer and recording artist, featuring music from Brazil and Spain in addition to original arrangements and compositions (www.davidtemple.com)

2 p.m. We Must Be – R&B/Pop/Soul, opening for…

2:30 p.m.The Christine Spero Group – original nu-Jazz/Latin/pop/ Brazilian influenced, mixed with covers by writers, Stevie Wonder, Beatles, Sergio Mendes, Jobim, Laura Nyro & Joni Mitchess. (www.Christinesperogroup.com)

4 p.m. The Korinya Ukranian Folk Band – classic Ukranian folk music (www.shawangunkridgefarm.com)

Sunday, April 25^th:

10 a.m.: Sidereal – an Acapella group of Poughkeepsie Day School students, with classic vocal arrangements

11 a.m. Jive Turkeys – Rhinebeck High School students, blues-based rock group

Noon: Todd Young – Original songs and covers of some of the best known hits from the 60's to present day

1 p.m.: Karl Allweier & Annie Fox – Original rock acoustic duo (www.karlallweier.com)

2 p.m. The Erin Hobson Compact – Alternative/Pop/Americana (www.erinhobsoncompact.com)

3 p.m.: Sean Crimmins – Acoustic, Freestyle

4 p.m.: The Riches -- Original songs and cover tunes of noted artists not typically heard

And a thankyouthankyouthankyou shout out to our Musicians for Clean Air concerts organizers: Suanne Elisabeth of Gutsy Woman Productions, Inc. (www.gutsywomanpro.com) ,
Anthony Todisco: BEEKMAN TERRACE MUSIC: Publishing | Management | Production |845.901.7044, and
Steve Mosto of Royal Noise Recordings (www.stevemosto.com)

So, get out your dancing shoes -- this isn't just a sit there and listen sort of experience, folks. You'll have to come BOTH days of the Celebration to hear and shake to it all!!

Some pix of a few of our artists!: