A memorable Great Hudson River Revival will feature artists from around the world, and tributes to Pete and Toshi Seeger
BEACON, NY – Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival, the country’s oldest and largest music and environmental festival, brings together major musical acts and Clearwater’s own brand of green activism for a unique weekend every June. This year, the Clearwater Festival takes place June 21 and 22, on the banks of the Hudson River at beautiful Croton Point Park, Croton-On-Hudson, NY, and offers a rich and diverse lineup of musical headliners. This year’s Great Hudson River Revival will honor Pete and Toshi Seeger, co-founders of the festival and the organization, and is pleased to welcome many Clearwater friends to perform tributes over the festival weekend. As always, kids 12 and under get in for free.
Lucinda Williams and Rory Block are the latest additions to Clearwater Festival’s biggest line-up ever, which features Norah Jones with her new project, Puss N Boots (Norah, Sasha Dobson and Catherine Popper); singer-songwriter, Rufus Wainwright; alternative Country/Swing band, The Mavericks; legendary guitarist and singer, Richard Thompson; jam band moe.playing a special acoustic set; Martin Sexton; Josh Ritter; Dar Williams; David Bromberg’s Big Band; ukulele virtuoso, Jake Shimabukuro; Buckwheat Zydeco; soul diva, Bettye LaVette; indie jazz/soul band, Lake Street Dive; Congolese Salsa great, Ricardo Lemvo; children’s music artist Laurie Berkner, and many others. Visit www.ClearwaterFestival.org for the complete list of performers.
Musical Tributes
This year marks the first Clearwater Festival since Pete and Toshi Seeger’s recent passing, and promises to be a special celebration with many Clearwater friends, old and new, performing tribute sets in celebration of the Seeger’s and their enduring legacy.
“We are pleased to feature numerous tributes to Pete and Toshi Seeger, on and off the stages, over the festival weekend,” said Steve Lurie, Festival Director. “Highlights include a Native American Prayer for Pete & Toshi; sets featuring songs of The Almanac Singers and The Weavers, both groups of which Pete Seeger was a member; a set of songs that Pete wrote for the Americans who volunteered for the Spanish Civil War; a special, “Square Dance Celebrating How Pete and Toshi Met”; a “Banjo Salute to Pete,” featuring Tony Trischka and other banjo players; as well as many other great performances in honor of Pete and Toshi.”
Tickets are on sale now at www.ClearwaterFestival.org or by calling (877) 435-9849. Clearwater Members receive a 20% discount off of all advance ticket purchases. Kids 12 and under get in for free.
Gates open at 9:00AM both days.
In addition, The Dance Stage will present global beats perfect for dancing, with a wide array of artists, including Buckwheat Zydeco; Wild Asparagus (Contra-Dance); Congolese Salsa great, Ricardo Lemvo; Cajun band, The Revelers, featuring members of the Red Stick Ramblers and the Pine Leaf Boys; Clearwater friends Jay Ungar & Molly Mason with Swingology; Cajun artist, Jesse Lége & Bayou Brew; Grammy award winners, The Klezmatics; Moraccan artist Hassan Hakmoun; NYC based Colombian band, The M.A.K.U. Soundsystem, mixing traditional music with psychedelic rock; and The Vanaver Caravan, paying tribute to Pete & Toshi on both days with special dance performances.
Metro North Great Getaways
The Metro-North Festival Package is now on sale and offers a discounted rail fare from any Metro-North Station, plus a discounted Festival Pass. Festival-goers can get off at Croton-Harmon Station and jump on a free shuttle bus to the festival entrance. Free shuttle service runs all day. Purchase your package from any Metro-North ticket office or full-service ticket vending machine (excluding Croton Harmon Station) Visit the MTA website for more information.
Come Sailing Onboard a Tall Ship
One of the most memorable ways to experience the Hudson River and Revival is by taking a two hour sail onboard the sloop Clearwater or schooner Mystic Whaler. Sails can be booked in advance at http://www.clearwaterfestival.org/sloop-schooner-sail-tickets/ and at The Working Waterfront. Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival is a destination for Hudson Valley families and offers a plethora of family-oriented programming and activities, such as special performances on The Family Stage, vendors for kids, juggling and roving artists, Children’s Area, storytelling, river beach combing and net seining, and lots of kid-friendly activities. The very popular Todd’s Musical Petting Zoo also returns this year.
Other offerings that make the Revival experience unique and memorable include The Handcrafters’ Village showcasing over 50 crafters and folk artists with quality hand-made items, demonstrations and workshops. An expanded Artisanal Food & Farm Market offers Hudson Valley foods and specialty items as well as demonstrations and performances by local musicians. The Green Living Expo is the place to learn about sustainable products, services, concepts and technologies for informed lifestyle and business choices. The Discovery and Tideline tents feature Clearwater’s original hands-on environmental education programs and Hudson River research. The Environmental Action Tent highlights Clearwater’s watershed and environmental justice initiatives in our Hudson Valley communities
The Clearwater Festival is wheelchair accessible and most stage programming is staffed with American Sign Language Interpreters.
Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival is produced by the nonprofit, 501(c) 3 and member-supported, environmental organization Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. All proceeds go directly to support Clearwater’s environmental education and advocacy efforts to help preserve and protect the Hudson River, and serve the communities and youth of the Hudson Valley, as well as to help keep the sloop Clearwater afloat.
About Hudson River Sloop Clearwater and the Great Hudson River Revival (Clearwater Festival) In the mid-1960s, the Hudson River, like many of America’s estuaries, was declared dead due to decades of dumping raw sewage, industrial waste, and toxic chemicals. Recognizing this social and environmental tragedy, Pete Seeger decided “to build a boat to save the river” by holding small, fundraising river concerts throughout the Hudson River Valley where he opened his banjo case to collect contributions to build the sloop Clearwater, a tall ship that would become recognized as America’s Environmental Flagship and a symbol of environmental advocacy. The sloop was launched in 1969, and to date, more than half a million people have experienced their first real look at an estuary’s ecosystem onboard. Today Hudson River Sloop Clearwater continues its work at the forefront of the environmental movement as champion of the Hudson River, working to pass landmark legislation like the Clean Water Act, providing innovative educational programs, environmental advocacy, and musical celebrations, including the renowned annual Clearwater Festival, the country’s oldest annual environmental celebration, its music, dance and storytelling, education and activism attracting thousands of people of all ages to the shores of the Hudson River. For more information, visit www.clearwater.org, or visit the Clearwater Festival website at www.ClearwaterFestival.org # # #
