Photo via Bonnie Raitt

Rock the Earth has bestowed the honor of 2010 Planet Defender in the artist category to Bonnie Raitt. And with good reason.

Bonnie’s environmental resume includes dozens of benefit concerts promoting awareness of environmental issues like forest preservation, water protection, the effects of mining, and the need for alternative energy. She was a founding member of MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy) and the Green Music Group. She even got arrested not once, but twice, for her activism on forest policy.

Sometimes referred to as the “godmother of green touring,” Bonnie started Green Highway on her summer 2002 tour. Green Highway was one of the first comprehensive green touring programs: it included using biodiesel, purchasing carbon offsets, and connecting fans to environmental nonprofits through a traveling eco-village. Green Highway continues to be a feature of all Bonnie’s tours. The program has not only inspired other artists to go green, but also served as the model for Reverb.

Here’s what Bonnie had to say about her latest honor:

“As a long-time advocate for the environment and safe energy, it is such an honor to receive the Planet Defender award from Rock the Earth.  This organization has been a faithful non-profit partner in my ongoing effort to share the message of ultimate environmental responsibility with fans at my concerts. Thank you, Rock the Earth, for helping to spread the word about protecting the environment and encouraging people to get involved at the local level. Keep up the great work!”

I think I can speak on behalf music fans everywhere when I say, thank you, Bonnie Raitt!

via Rock the Earth

Image via Sheryl Crow

The Green Music Group is at it again! A few weeks ago, Stefan Lessard from the Dave Matthews Band kicked off the organization’s Green Music Challenge by asking us to volunteer in our communities.

Challenge two comes from Sheryl Crow, who urges us to write a letter to our Representative or Senator in Congress in support of strong, effective environmental legislation. It’s all part of the Green Music Group’s plan to help the music industry  - and music fans – to be better environmental citizens.

Writing a letter sounds like a lot of work, but maybe the fact that it requires effort is the reason why it’s such a successful advocacy tool. Taking the time to share your opinion on environmental policy sends a powerful message to Congress that this issue matters to their constituency.

To enter the challenge’s drawing for a Patagonia prize pack plus a shot at winning a 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid, take a photo with your local representative or Congressional office staffer or even a shot outside your district office. Upload the shot to the Green Music Group’s website by noon EDT on Friday, May 7, tag it with the word “TWO,” and you’re entered to win!

Headcount is sweetening the deal by giving away a free “Best of Bonnaroo” compilation download featuring exclusive tracks from the Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson, Ani Difranco, Wilco, Guster, and more to everyone that uses the Headcount tool to write their Senator, local newspaper, or the President.

Image via Earth Day Network

Earth Day is getting quite the party for it’s 40th birthday.

And what’s a party without a little entertainment?

Passion Pit, the Roots, Mavis Staples, Honor Society, John Legend, Sting, Booker T, Joss Stone, and more will rock the National Mall on Sunday, April 25 to wrap up a week of Earth Day events held ’round the globe.

But it’s not all play and no work. We’ve come a long way since the first Earth Day in 1970, but there’s still important work to do.

The Climate Rally calls for Congress to adopt comprehensive climate legislation to create clean energy jobs, curb global warming, and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Politicians and activists like Reverend Jesse Jackson, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, author Margaret Atwood, and NFL player Dhani Jones will also lend their support to the event.

If you can’t make it to DC, the festivities will be streamed live on Earth Day Network’s website.

via Earth Day Network

Photo via MySpace

Repower America, a project of the Alliance for Climate Protection, is producing a music video for Earth Day starring Biz Markie and…you!

Biz Markie is remixing his classic hit “Just A Friend,” changing up the lyrics to advocate for clean energy legislation and jobs.

All you have to do is watch the video below, record yourself rapping along with Biz Markie, post the video to YouTube (be sure to include a link to “http://www.repoweramerica.org/remix“), and send Repower America the link to your video using their online form.

If you need a little inspiration and encouragement, check out these great early submissions. On April 22, Repower America will unveil a mash-up video of the best renditions.

Camera shy? That’s okay, there are other ways to help the cause. You can sign Repower America’s online petition, call your Senator, take simple actions to reduce your own energy use, attend a Repower America event, or all of the above.

The lyrics are pretty fantastic. I admit I’ve watched to the video about a dozen times already, picturing Biz Markie and his entourage of supporters performing this in front of the Senate. The next step in the campaign, perhaps? I just hope it’s televised…

Image via Green Music Group

Green Music Group (GMG) – a new initiative introduced by Reverb earlier this year – is on a mission. By building and mobilizing a coalition of musicians, industry leaders, and fans, GMG aims to green the music business and beyond. As you may recall, Reverb is a nonprofit organization, founded by Guster guitarist Adam Gardner and his wife Lauren Sullivan, that’s been helping to green concert tours since 2004.

They’re already off to a great start with a noteworthy list of founding members and partners. Now they need us! They’ve launched an online community, and as an incentive to sign up and take some green actions, they’re giving away some fabulous prizes. (As if we need a reason to socialize with like-minded green music folks? Okay…the lure of prizes is pretty enticing, especially since rumor has it that VIP tickets and a coveted Apple iPad may be amongst the offerings.)

Every two weeks, a GMG artist like Willie Nelson, the Roots, or Sheryl Crow will kick off a new challenge to make an eco-friendly change in your life. All you have to do is upload a picture to the GMG website as proof you’ve done the deed and you’ll be entered to win that challenge’s prizes as well as the grand prize – a 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid LX! They’ll be nine challenges total.

Challenge number one comes from the Dave Matthews Band’s Stefan Lessard. We’re tasked with getting involved in our community by volunteering. If you need some ideas, head over to GMG’s partner, Do Something, to search for volunteer opportunities in your area. The prize for this challenge is a Specialized Bike and a Rossignol Dave Matthews Band Limited Edition Stefan Lessard Signature Snowboard. You have until noon EDT on Friday, April 23 to complete the first challenge, so get going!

And this is just the beginning. GMG also plans on facilitating large-scale changes in the music industry by creating standards for tours, venues, and labels; offering a Green Grants program for emerging artists; and creating a green music guild to support artists in green efforts.

Sign me up.

Photo via Cloud Cult

It’s hard to believe that it’s been two years since Cloud Cult’s last album. Come April 20, the wait will at least be partially over when the band releases a four song EP – Running With the Wolves – to celebrate Earth Day.

Or if you’re an impatient fan like me, you can get it digitally right now on Cloud Cult’s website.

The EP features a new spin on Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” as well as a track from their upcoming full-length album, Light Chasers, due out in August. A national tour will follow this summer.

For those of you unfamiliar with Cloud Cult, don’t let the name throw you off. I promise it’s not a reference to some hippie alterna-religion. In fact, the music itself has nothing to do with the environment. Cloud Cult is, however, truly a pioneer when it comes to green music.

Cloud Cult’s own record label Earthology has been packaging CDs in reused jewel cases and printing inserts on 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper with soy inks since 1997. Its recording studio is built with recycled materials like plastic lumber and newspaper soundboards. To top it off, Earthology is a nonprofit label – all its profits go towards supporting environmental causes.

Cloud Cult has also been greening their tours by planting trees, purchasing wind energy credits, outfitting their tour van with solar panels, and fueling up with veggie oil way before it was the cool thing to do.

As compelling as the band’s environmental commitment is its backstory: In 2002, Cloud Cult’s frontman Craig Minowa and his wife lost their two-year-old son Kaidin, who passed away in his sleep. The couple, overcome by the tragedy, split up. Craig poured this devastation into his music. And although the lyrics explore heavy topics like the meaning of life, death, and loss, the music somehow manages to inspire hope.

You’ll be happy to know that Craig and his wife Connie have since reunited and welcomed a son – Nova – into their family this past October. I am looking forward to hearing how the Minowas’ new star influences Cloud Cult’s music. If “Running With the Wolves” is any indication of what’s to come, the new album may be the brightest yet.