For those of you who aren't familiar with Clearwater, one of the nation's first environmental organizations, it does environmental education, enviromental advocacy, and sails the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater -- a beautiful replica of an 18th century Dutch work sloop. Clearwater began in 1966, when a handful of Hudson Valley residents, including Pete Seeger, came together "believing that by learning to care for one boat on one river, the public could come to care for all our threatened waterways."
I've been a Clearwater board member for nearly three years, and Clearwater's staff, board and members are all committed to reinvigorating not just the Hudson River, but our entire natural environment. Perhaps Clearwater's greatest quality is its love for celebration, and each year in June, it hosts the Great Hudson River Revival Festival on the banks of the Hudson in Westchester County just north of New York City.
This year's festival is June 17 and 18 in Croton Point Park and features music, crafts, storytelling, family stages and environmental expositions. Performers include: Guy Davis, John Gorka, Janis Ian, Lucy Kaplansky, The Mammals, Holly Near, and Michelle Shocked.
This year, Pete Seeger will be featured on the Main Stage, when he will share seven decades as a singer, songwriter and activist. In light of the release of the Bruce Springsteen's "Seeger Sessions" this year, Pete undoubtedly will perform some of his songs that were recorded by Springsteen. You can hear Pete's original Seeger sessions by going here and clicking on Pete Seeger.
For tickets to the Clearwater festival, go here.
Also, here's an interview with Pete Seeger on Living on Earth rebroadcast several weeks ago in connection with release of the "Seeger Sessions."
