Green Apple Thank You Concerts

Maybe Kermit was wrong. Being green is easy – so easy, in fact, that volunteers that participate in Green Apple Festival events in 10 major U.S. cities over Earth Day weekend will be treated to free thank you concerts April 19.

Artists participating in the volunteer concerts include Galactic, Travis Tritt, Soulive, Cracker, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Cary Brothers, Deep Banana Blackout featuring Fred Wesley, Bassnectar and the Blue Scholars. All artists will also be bringing along some special “friends” to each show.

Photo: AP Photo

Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta.

After kicking off in 2006 as a New York event, this year Green Apple Festival and Earth Day Network have teamed up to celebrate environmental volunteerism across 10 major cities including Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Denver; Los Angeles; New York City; San Francisco; Seattle and Washington, D.C.

The community fun takes place over Earth Day weekend April 17-19 in parks, beaches, schools and forests. Activities will focus on climate change solutions including tree planting, energy efficiency retrofits, water protection, urban gardens and forest restoration. The whole family is invited to participate as the activities are suitable for all ages.

Photo: John Davisson

While the Green Apple thank you shows are taking place, the flagship concert, “Earth Day on the National Mall” will be held the same day at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Artists will be announced soon. Sponsors include Disneynature, Timberland, Motorola, Inc. and Clear2GO and FedEx and media partners Planet Green and USAToday.

If you haven’t signed up yet to be a volunteer, there’s still time to get involved. Head over to greenapplefestival.com to check out volunteer events in each city. A link will then take you to PlanetGreen.com to sign up.

Here’s the Green Apple Thank You Concerts lineup:

Atlanta: Galactic & Friends with opener Victoria George (Variety Playhouse)
Austin, Texas: Travis Tritt & Friends (Antone’s)
Boston: Soulive & Friends (Paradise Rock Club)
Chicago: Cracker & Friends (The Metro)
Denver: Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk & Friends (Cervante’s Masterpiece)
Los Angeles: The Hotel Cafe Presents Cary Brothers & Friends (The Roxy)
New York City: Deep Banana Blackout featuring Fred Wesley & Friends (Bowery Ballroom)
San Francisco: Bassnectar & Friends (Slim’s)
Seattle: Blue Scholars & Friends (The Crocodile)

All shows take place April 19 except for the Travis Tritt & friends show in Austin, Texas, which takes place April 20.

Click here for more information about the Green Apple Festival.