Clif Bar Strikes Harmonious Chord with Emerging Musicians
Eager to Spread Environmental Awareness and Action Clif GreenNotes Program Partners with Rising Artists Martin Sexton, John Butler Trio and Xavier Rudd
For decades, musicians and their fans have driven social awareness and change. Today, some of the world’s most popular artists are active in supporting the environment through song lyrics, messages to fans and by practicing what they preach. This summer, the Clif GreenNotes program from Clif Bar & Co. is making it possible for emerging artists Martin Sexton, the John Butler Trio and Xavier Rudd to “green” their tours and inspire fans as well.
“Clif GreenNotes supports emerging musicians who are passionate about the environment but may not have the people, expertise or funds to adopt environmentally-friendly touring practices,” said Grady O’Shaughnessy, marketing manager for Clif Bar, a leading maker of organic energy foods and drinks, and a company focused on sustaining the environment. “When artists partner with Clif GreenNotes, they can reduce their carbon footprint substantially while educating fans about how they can do the same.”
Artists who partner with Clif GreenNotes receive grants, plans and technical assistance to help them adopt a number of measures to reduce their eco-impact. These include fueling their buses with biodiesel, printing collateral on recycled paper with soy-based ink, selling organic cotton t-shirts at concerts and buying renewable energy credits to offset their remaining carbon dioxide emissions with wind power. Carbon dioxide (CO2)—a greenhouse gas—is the major cause of global warming.
Clif GreenNotes artists also strive in each city to serve locally-grown, organic food backstage. In addition, Clif Bar is now working with each GreenNotes artist to develop programs that inspire music fans to take individual efforts to protect the planet. “We’re humbled by the opportunity to share our music and our commitment to give as much back to the Earth and take as little as possible,” participating Clif GreenNotes’ artist John Butler said. “We’re excited about the positive changes Clif Bar is helping us make, but realize the potential for collective change lies with all of us individually. We invite others to join us in this effort to unite us all in the preservation of the planet.” “Hopefully, through programs like Clif GreenNotes, limiting carbon emissions will become a main priority in the music industry and with festival presenters,” said Clif GreenNotes participating artist, Xavier Rudd.
Since 2005, Clif Bar has supported musicians and music festivals with a variety of tools and resources to help “green” tours, venues and the lifestyles of music fans. Over the past 18 months, seven touring bands and eight festivals have benefited from these Clif Bar partnerships. In the fall of 2006, Clif Bar named its music industry environmental efforts Clif GreenNotes and officially launched the program.
In less than a year since the launch, Clif GreenNotes artists and venues have already had a marked impact on the environment. Some of that impact includes:
Removing or offsetting more than 18 million pounds of CO2 from the environment. Eliminating the use of nearly 635 pounds of pesticides (applied to conventionally-grown cotton) through the sale of organic cotton t-shirts. Using cleaner burning biodiesel to reduce by about 25 percent the carbon dioxide emissions from the artists’ tour buses. Eliminating the use of nearly 460 pounds of virgin timber by printing tour postcards on post-consumer recycled paper. Lodging artists at eco-friendly “green hotels” that have implemented environmental initiatives, including water and energy savings, and waste reduction measures. Encouraging fans to pledge (at www.clifgreennotes.com) to reduce their own CO2 emissions. Pledges total nearly 15 million pounds—the equivalent of removing some 1,300 cars from our roads for a year.
Participating Clif GreenNotes Bands and Festivals: Guster Telluride Bluegrass Festival Gomez South by Southwest O.A.R. Green Apple Music and Arts Festival Hot Buttered Rum Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival Garrett Brennan High Sierra Music Festival Martin Sexton Harmony Festival John Butler Trio 10,000 Lakes Music Festival Xavier Rudd Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival/ US National Headlining Tour
About the New GreenNotes Artists John Butler Trio: Recently released Grand National, which quickly proved to be a worldwide sensation. The album debuted at #1 on the SoundScan New Artist Chart in the U.S., where the first single, "Better Than," is currently #1 at AAA Radio. The album also debuted at #1 in the trio's home country of Australia, and struck a top 20 debut in France, and a top 30 debut in Japan. Co-produced by Mario Caldato Jr. (Beastie Boys, Beck, Jack Johnson) and John Butler, Grand National draws upon a remarkable variety of musical genres, spanning folk, blues, funk, classic rock 'n' roll, and beyond. www.JohnButlerTrio.com
Xavier Rudd: “White Moth”, the Australian roots music star’s fourth album (and third to be released in the U.S.), charts the spiritual journey multi-instrumentalist Rudd has been on over the past few years, during which he’s traveled the globe and built a devoted following drawn to his amalgamation of folk, reggae, rock and world music. Featuring guest vocals from Aboriginal singers, it finds him paying respect to Australia’s indigenous people, from whom the Yidaki (didgeridoo) virtuoso has drawn bottomless inspiration. www.XavierRudd.com
Martin Sexton: Renowned as an American soul singer, Martin Sexton has traveled the globe with his guitar slung on his back and a heart full of soul. His songs are intricate and spirited. His fans range from teenage students to jocks to musicians, from the East Village to Wall Street, tradesmen to doctors, black, white, young and old, all singing together in three-part harmony. To see the crowd at a Martin Sexton concert is to witness a cross-section of America. Sexton is currently touring in support of his seventh record “SEEDS”. www.MartinSexton.com
About Clif Bar and Music When Clif Bar & Co. started in 1992, the founder and employees wanted to make healthy, all-natural food, play outside and celebrate the good things in life, including a passion for music. Not much has changed over the years. Company founder Gary Erickson is a jazz enthusiast and avid trumpet player. A group of Clif Bar employees has formed a band and can be heard practicing and performing in the Clif Bar theater, and playing publicly in the San Francisco Bay Area. Clif Bar has a long-standing commitment to protecting the places people play from global warming—arguably the greatest environmental threat to the planet. The company has learned a lot about how to reduce its environmental impact and the importance of sharing that knowledge with others—including musicians and music lovers. For more information about Clif Bar, visit www.clifbar.com. For more information about Clif GreenNotes, visit www.clifgreennotes.com. For more information on Clif GreenNotes contact: Hilary Martin Hilary Martin Public Relations 303-907-4411 hmartinpr@onebox.com