NEW YORK (Top40 Charts/ By Tiffany Shipp/ Sunshine, Sachs & Associates) - Earth Day Network and Green Apple Festival organizers estimate approximately 200,000 attended the all-inclusive, interactive and free festivals in public parks over the weekend. The diverse line-ups reflected artists from a range of genres, politicians, athletes and activists. Mother Earth smiled on seven cities, while the DC/National Mall event came to an early close due to inclement weather. Nothing however deterred fans and families alike from coming out to support one of the most pressing issues of our time. Organizers were so pleased with the turn-out that
Peter Shapiro, Green Apple founder and Executive Producer, has set his sights on April 19th, 2009 as the date for next year's national celebration of Earth Day.
Highlights from this year's Green Apple Festival will be streamed on MySpace's Impact Channel at 8:00pm EST/5:00pm Pacific on Earth Day – Tuesday, April 22, 2008. MySpace, the world's largest and most popular social network, will stream highlights on the Impact Channel, MySpace's home for civic and social engagement (https://impact.myspace.com). The two hour broadcast of the Green Apple Festival will feature performances, speeches and exclusive interviews.
"America's largest Earth Day celebration" was presented by Chase in New York City (Central Park), Chicago IL (Lincoln Park Zoo), Miami FL (Bicentennial Park), Denver CO (City Park), Dallas TX (Fair Park), San Francisco CA (Golden Gate Park), Los Angeles CA (Santa Monica Pier) and Washington DC on the National Mall. Events combined environmental addresses by prominent speakers, the presence of a wide variety of organizations and educational displays on the theme of environmental awareness. The line-up ranged from blues legends to Latin powerhouse pop stars, reggae greats, jam band favorites, conscientious hip-hop artists, R&B icons, rock bands and singer/songwriters. In addition to local speakers, television talent from Discovery Network's new Planet Green channel emceed Green Apple events – Boise Thomas (Los Angeles), Jodi Murphy (Chicago), Summer Rayne Oakes (San Francisco) and Annabelle Gurwitch (New York).
In Washington DC on the National Mall, American Idol's Blake Lewis performed 'America The Beautiful' in his unique beat-boxing/vocal-scratching style. Local heroes Mambo Sauce performed 'Welcome To DC,' members of rock band O.A.R. delighted the crowd with an acoustic set, Umphrey's McGee rocked and Warren Haynes' solo acoustic performance included a haunting cover of U2's 'One.' Chevy Chase, Ed Norton and Ed Begley Jr. motivated the crowd with humor, camaraderie and a call to action. NASA scientist, Dr. James E. Hansen, 'the whistle-blower' whose testimony on global warming brought national attention to the issue's urgency spoke, as did New York Times columnist, Thomas Friedman. Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network issued the hosting organization's Call For Climate – asking attendees to enter the Congressional switchboard number into their cell phones on the spot to call their representatives about climate change.
In San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart's Mass Drum troupe of leading African, Cuban and Brazilian drummers was enhanced by Jon Fishman (Phish) and Tommy Lee (Motley Crue) and made for an unforgettable mash-up with Joan Baez, Bob Weir, Tommy Lee when they performed an impromptu version of 'Not Fade Away.' Rapper and actor, Ludacris was backstage – he and Tommy Lee recently announced television collaboration with Discovery Network's Planet Green channel. The show, 'Battleground Earth' features the two engaged in a cross country competition in various challenges designed to highlight green issues. Yonder Mountain String Band performed, as did Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks featuring Michael Kang of String Cheese Incident and break-through singer/songwriter Brett Dennen opened the day.
In New York City's Central Park, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, The Bacon Brothers, Vusi Mahlasela and Vienna Teng performed.
The Los Angeles festival on the Santa Monica Pier drew a crowd worth jumping into –musician/actress Juliette Lewis thought so as she left the stage and raced into the crowd during a rocking set by Juliette and The Licks. Santa Monica City Councilman Bobby Shriver introduced Ziggy Marley's performance. Actress Amy Smart represented the Heal The Bay organization, Escalera featured pro-skateboard legends Danny Way and Bob Burnquist and other festival goers included Elle Mcpherson, Esai Morales, Jesse McCartney, Andrew Keegan and others. The legendary Taj Mahal topped the bill that also included performances by the School of Rock Hollywood Allstars, The Frequency and Coby Brown.
Among the speakers at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo was U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, whose initiatives have earned him the reputation as a significant environmental steward. Kyle Orton, quarterback for the Chicago Bears served as event emcee with help from Planet Green's Jodi Murphy. The bill was headlined by the trio of Bill Kreutzmann (Grateful Dead), Oteil Burbridge (Allman Brothers), and Scott Murawski (Max Creek), after a change in the Derek Trucks Band's tour schedule prevented their appearance. Other acts included Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Meshell Ndegeocello, Bassnectar, Chicago Afrobeat Project, Miss Lori Holton Nash and The Gwalla Gwallas.
In Denver, Mayor John Hickenlooper welcomed the crowd and Denver Bronco Dominique Foxworthy received a warm welcome. The Neville Brothers headlined, The Benevento/Russo Duo performed and local favorites Rose Hill Drive were unconventionally acoustic, Jackie Greene and The HeyDay also performed.
In Miami's Bicentennial Park, Menudo, Arrested Development, Baby Loves Salsa, and Caravan of Thieves performed.
In Dallas' Fair Park, Los Lonely Boys headline a bill that included Martin Sexton, Junior Brown, Cas Haley, The Steps and George Stanford.
About Earth Day Network: Earth Day Network seeks to grow and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable planet. It pursues these goals through education, politics, and consumer activism. With year-round programs in environmental education, campus activism, global warming and international issues, Earth Day Network combines the forces of its 500,000 activists and members to mobilize action on the most pressing environmental issues. Earth Day Network has a global reach with a network of more than 17,000 partners and organizations in 174 countries. More than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.
About Green Apple Festival: Now entering its third year, The Green Apple Festival was founded by producer Peter Shapiro and Zenbu Media, a music media company that publishes Relix Magazine, Global Rhythm, Metal Edge and Metal Maniacs and co-produces the Jammy Awards.
Since 2006, when The Green Apple Festival began in New York City, the event has galvanized music fans, environmentalists, progressive consumers and families in a growing number of cities on Earth Day by providing "something for everyone" events with music performances, family entertainment and interactive exhibits at public locations. In 2007, capacity crowds attended Green Apple events in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, setting a one-day attendance record at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, IL, for example, with over 40,000 people present. Lending weight to the Festival's endeavors is their partnership with Earth Day Network - the non-profit organization founded by the creators of the first Earth Day in 1970.
The 39th Earth Day celebrated on April 22, 2008.
