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 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.