Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival (Clearwater Festival), the country’s oldest music and environmental festival, takes place June 18 and 19 at Croton Point Park in Croton-on-Hudson, NY. Over the course of the weekend, hundreds of artists will perform on 7 bio-diesel powered stages. Featured artists include Pete Seeger, Drive-By Truckers, Martin Sexton, Indigo Girls,Arlo Guthrie, Josh Ritter Trio, Suzanne Vega, Jorma Kaukonen, Billy Bragg, Dar Williams, David Bromberg Quartet, Peter Yarrow, John Sebastian, Janis Ian, The Low Anthem, Red Horse (Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka & Eliza Gilkyson), The Felice Brothers, Toubab Krewe, Justin Townes Earle, The Klezmatics, Chris Smither, Joanne Shenandoah, Bernice Johnson Reagon, David Amram, Dan Zanes, Tom Chapin, James McMurtry, The Nields, The Kennedys, Tosh Reagon & Big Lovely, Tao Seeger Band the Guy Davis Band, Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy among many others.
Cuban singer-songwriter and poet Carlos Varela, a protégé of Silvio Rogriguez, who is also a friend of Pete Seeger’s, will perform with Jackson Browne and host his set on Friday evening. (See below) This year’s festival carries the theme “Clearwater Generations.” The idea behind Generations comes from a desire to honor Pete Seeger’s vision and Clearwater’s mission – to inspire, educate, and activate the next generation of environmental leaders. We are emphasizing this theme by featuring classic Clearwater artists performing with their own next generations.
Each day the Festival will close with “Generations” sets featuring performances by Pete Seeger and Tao Seeger; Arlo Guthrie and Sarah Lee Guthrie; Peter Yarrow and Bethany Yarrow; Bernice Johnson Reagon and Toshi Reagon; Tom Chapin and Jen Chapin (Tom’s niece and Harry Chapin’s daughter); Jay Ungar and Ruthy Ungar Merenda; David Amram and Alana, Adira, and Adam Amram; plus other special guests. In addition, the “Generations” artists will perform their own sets throughout the weekend.
The World Dance Stage features dance music artists from the around the globe, featuring The Klezmatics (klezmer), Jay Ungar & Molly Mason performing The Waltz Hour as well as with Swingology, Jeffrey Broussard & The Creole Cowboys (zydeco), Bethany & Rufus Roots Quartet (African/Haitain folk), Clayfoot Strutters (contra dance), Zlatne Uste (Balkan brand), Zon del Barrio (music from the streets of Latin New York), Vanaver Caravan (ethnic dance), Folklore Urbano (Colombian folkloric dance), Brooklyn Qawwalli Party (jazz arrangements of Pakastani folk music), Jesse Lege & The Bayou Brewe (cajun) and others.
As always, there will be plenty of family-oriented programming with the Family Stage, juggling and roving artists, face painting plus lots of other activities and vendors for kids. Family Stage performers include Pete Seeger, Peter Yarrow, Dan Zanes, Tom Chapin, David Amram, The Nields, Sarah Lee & Johnny, Bari Koral, Mustard’s Retreat, Elizabeth Mitchell and many others. Full listing of performers can be found at www.ClearwaterFestival.org .
There are also other performances that make the Clearwater Festival unique. At Story Grove you can sit under the cool shade trees and listen to America’s best-loved storytellers. The Arm-of-the-Sea Theater is a contemporary mask and puppet theater company that performs a large-scale production by the river’s edge. At the Working Waterfront, take rides on small boats and tall ships including the Sloop Clearwater and the Mystic Whaler. The juried Crafts Area showcases over 50 Crafters and folk artists with quality hand-made items, demonstrations and workshops. The Green Living Expo Tent is the place to learn about products, services, concepts and technologies that can inform your 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 will highlight Clearwater’s watershed and environmental justice initiatives in cities up and down the Hudson.
The festival is wheelchair accessible and most stage programming is staffed with American Sign Language Interpreters.
Jackson Browne Event
On Friday, June 17, the night before the Festival, Clearwater will host a very special fundraising event for its educational programs featuring musical icon and activist, Jackson Browne. The evening will include a waterfront reception, intimate performance with Browne, an evening sail on the Hudson River, and a weekend pass to the Festival. Guy Davis and Carlos Varela will join Jackson for a couple of songs. Individuals who wish to attend this event can do so by making a donation of $1,000 or more. Tickets are only available by contacting Ann Mellor at the Clearwater offices at Ann@clearwater.org, or call (845) 265-8080 ext. 7119.
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.
