Bob Weir and RatDog, Taylor Hicks, Decemberists, Umphrey’s McGee, the Disco Biscuits, Greyboy Allstars, Kaiser Chiefs, Stephen Marley and world-famous children’s performer Laurie Berkner are among the artists scheduled to headline the second annual Green Apple Music and Arts Festival. As previously reported, the world’s largest Earth Day celebration will expand to three cities this spring, simultaneously taking place in New York, San Francisco and Chicago from April 20-22. Produced by Relix Magazine and Peter Shapiro and presented by JP Morgan Chase, Green Apple is a direct descendent of New York’s famed Wetlands Preserve, which meshed music with activism. In total, Green Apple will present over 150 performances in 60 music venues.

New York’s festivities will kick off the night of April 19 with performances by the New Riders of the Purple Sage at the Canal Room and the Benevento/Russo Duo at downtown avant-garde womb Tonic. Weekend highlights include a free Earth Day concert by Laurie Berkner on the Great Hill in Central Park, a performance by American Idol winner Taylor Hicks at the Beacon Theater, appearances by folk legends Tom Paxton and Richard Shindell at The Society for Ethical Culture, an intimate show by New Orleans veterans The Radiators at the Lion’s Den, and a spot by seminal blue-rock group John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers at BB Kings Blues Club. In addition, Jerry Joseph will support Particle at the Bowery Ballroom on April 20, while Jon Fishman and Touchpants will support RAQ at the same venue on April 21. Phish cover band Phix brings its farewell tour to BB Kings Blues Club on April 21, a day before seminal jazz-electronic collective Fat Mama reunites for the first time since 2001 to close out the festival at the Knitting Factory. Fittingly, Fat Mama’s last performance took place at Wetlands and featured an early collaboration between Fat Mama drummer Joe Russo and his high-school friend Marco Benevento (who played keyboards on that night). Other New York performances include Junior Brown, Edwin McCain, Assembly of Dust, Mahavishnu Project, Over the Rhine, State Radio, Zero, Jake Shimabukuro, Avishai Cohen, Hiromi, Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, Cosmic Jibaros, The Bomb Squad, Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle, The Bridge, Jonny Lives, and Brady Rymer, among others.

Chicago’s lineup will be similarly eclectic. Indie sensations the Decemberists will kick off the weekend’s festivities at The Riviera on April 19. Umphrey’s McGee and the Disco Biscuits will co-headline a free show Earth Day show at Lincoln Park Zoo, while the Kaiser Chiefs and The Walkmen perform at The Vic and renowned Dub producer Mad Professor appears at The Double Door. Bluegrass legend Del McCoury will bring his acoustic styling to the School of Folk Music, while Andrew Bird will headline the Riviera. Other standout shows includes spots by Paul Green’s School of Rock, Brothers Past, JJ Grey and Mofro, Hoyle Brothers, New Monsoon, Juice and the Machine, The Lost Trailers and Mono.

San Francisco hero Bob Weir will headline a free performance on Earth Day at Golden Gate Park’s Speedway Meadow featuring his band RatDog, The Greyboy Allstars and Martin Sexton. The Fillmore will host Stephen Marley and his brother Junior Gong, San Francisco hometown heroes Tea Leaf Green and leaders of the “newgrass” movement Yonder Mountain String Band. Brit-funk band the New Mastersounds will appear at 12 Galaxies, while indie rockers Electric Six are slated for the Independent, the synth-pop collective Trans Am is scheduled at Bottom of The Hill and acoustic folk-rock act Girlyman is confirmed for the Swedish American Hall. Additional participating venues include Bimbo’s 365 Club, Bottom of the Hill, Café Du Nord, Club Six, DeYoung Museum, Great American Music Hall, Make Out Room, Mezzanine, and Three Parkside.

Furthering the festival’s zero waste goal, Green apple will be carbon-neutral, meaning it will offset any carbon dioxide emission produced as a result of the festival, making this the nation’s largest carbon-neutral event ever.  Additionally, each venue will have an informational table featuring educational and volunteer information relating to prominent environmental issues and organizations.

“The core idea of the Green Apple Festival is to raise awareness of Earth Day,” said Peter Shapiro, Founder and Executive Producer of the Festival. “By combining a diverse group of musicians and uniting these venues under one cause, we are able to coordinate an unprecedented event. We hope the national footprint of these gatherings will help inform as many people as possible on these important issues. And, we hope to expand to additional cities in future years, as I think everyone would agree that given current events, Earth Day should be recognized in a big way every year.”

 For more information please visit www.greenapplefestival.com

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