FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2015
WAVY GRAVY’S 80TH BIRTHDAY
Benefit event for Seva Foundation
On Sunday May 22nd, Seva Foundation will host an all day event featuring two stages of music & entertainment, food & craft vendors, art galleries and a silent auction. Performers include: YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND, STEVE EARLE, NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE, JOHN POPPER, THE T SISTERS, ACHILLES WHEEL, DEAD WINTER CARPENTERS, HOT BUTTERED RUM, GRATEFUL BLUEGRASS BOYS and SAMBADROP, plus special guests and host WAVY GRAVY.
The event will take place at the SOMO Village Event Center, Sonoma County’s newest solar powered outdoor venue, located at the base of Sonoma Mountain in Rohnert Park. All proceeds from the event will support Seva Foundation’s sight restoration programs around the world. Tickets are on sale now. For more information visit www.seva.org.
Wavy Gravy, originally known as Hugh Romney, became famous in the counter culture movement when he stood on the stage at Woodstock and announced….” What we have in mind is breakfast in bed for 400,000!” Over the past four decades, Wavy has done many things to help make the world a better place. His primary focus has been Camp Winnarainbow, a circus and performing arts camp for children that he co-directs with his wife Jahanara, and raising FUN’ds for Seva Foundation for which he is a founding board member. Wavy is also know as a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor. Through his good work on behalf of the planet and its least fortunate residents, Wavy Gravy has achieved his own brand of sainthood “Saint Misbehavin”, which is the title of the feature length documentary about his life, produced in 2009.
Seva Foundation is a Berkeley based organization founded in 1978 by a group of medical professionals, counterculture activists, musicians and compassionate individuals, all dedicated helping others through the prevention of blindness. Most notably among them are public health expert Dr. Larry Brilliant, spiritual leader Ram Dass, and humanitarian activist Wavy Gravy. In the past 38 years, Seva has restored eyesight for 4 million people with programs reaching many of the poorest places in the world including: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet, India, Africa and Native American communities in the U.S. Today, Seva’s sight restoration programs serve one million people annually.
Yonder Mountain String Band is a bluegrass jam band who for 17 years has expanded the traditional acoustic genre beyond its previously established boundaries by steadily pushing the envelope into the realms of rock n’ roll and improvisation. YMSB has always played music of their own design, in the process attracting a devout coterie of fans that often resembles a tight knit family on an epic musical journey. Yonder is a quintessential ensemble honing its craft night after night on the road, and the fans are there to experience it in real time. The result is music that doesn’t stand still, it’s always progressing and breaking unprecedented ground. Yonder Mountain String Band — Adam Aijala (guitar, vocals), Dave Johnston (banjo, vocals), Ben Kaufmann (bass, vocals), Allie Kral (violin, vocals), and Jacob Jolliff (mandolin, vocals). www.yondermountain.com
Steve Earle is one of the most recognized names in the American music industry. He popularized the genre of folk and country music and kick-started the neo-traditionalist movement in country music. A protégé of legendary songwriters Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, Earle never completely conformed to the rules of country or rock music and instead derived a music that broke through the mainstream of both the genres. Remarkably, he successfully derived a cult following from both country and rock music fans. Earle’s music career kick started in 1982, as a songwriter in Nashville. During this time, he released his first EP. His first debut album released was ‘Guitar Town’ in 1986. Though drugs and personal problems derailed his career for some time, he bounced back with a revived energy and enthusiasm. To date, he has fourteen studio albums to his credit, fourteen Grammy nominations and three Grammy awards. His songs have been recorded by the likes of Travis Tritt, Vince Gill, Shawn Colvin and Emmylou Harris. Other than music, he has appeared in films and television, written a novel, a play, and a book of short stories. www.steveearle.com
The New Riders of the Purple Sage, is an American country rock band that emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco in 1969. NRPS began as a part-time spin-off from the Grateful Dead when Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart teamed up with John Dawson and David Nelson, but the group quickly established themselves as an independent identity through the strength of Dawson’s original songs. By the early 70’s Dave Torbert had replaced Phil Lesh, and Spencer Dryden, formerly of Jefferson Airplane, had joined as the permanent drummer. Garcia remained in both bands until he found himself overcommitted, at which time Buddy Cage replaced him and the classic NRPS lineup was born. Original NRPS bass player Dave Torbert and drummer Spencer Dryden have passed away but the band lives on. Current NRPS band members include: David Nelson and Buddy Cage with Michael Falzarano, Ronnie Penque and Johnny Markowski. The new lineup vows to keep the NRPS spirit and tunes alive. The band recently teamed up with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter and released its first CD in twenty years to rave reviews, Where I Come From. www.nrpsmusic.com
John Popper is one of the greatest harmonica players in rock. John formed his band, Blues Traveler, along with his high school friends Bobby Sheehan (bass), Chan Kinchla (guitar) and Brendan Hill (drums), in the late 80s, in New York City. They released their eponymous debut album in 1990 and hit the charts with 1994’s “Four”. He is widely considered a harmonica virtuoso, and is listed by harmonica manufacturer Hohner as a “Featured Artist”, an accolade reserved for only the best and most successful harmonica players in the world. www.johnpopper.net and www.bluestraveler.com
Dead Winter Carpenters perform an ever-evolving style of music that transforms genre lines. The time spent, both in the studio and criss-crossing the American countryside, has provided Dead Winter Carpenters with a ground-breaking sound that blends Americana roots-rock with a tinge of straightforward ‘tell-it-like-it-is’ alternative country that has an edge that is as hard-hitting as it is whimsical. As the band continues to evolve its definitive sound, one can’t help but feel the change of the alchemy brewing within Dead Winter Carpenters. Foot-stomping original tunes blended with the band’s onstage presence highlighted by the vocal melodies and five part harmonies, ferocious fluidity of the fiddle, deep pounding thump and thud of the upright bass, country ramblings of the telecaster and acoustic guitars, and the driving drums all meld together to create an experience that is sure leave you wanting more. deadwintercarpenters.com
Hot Buttered Rum is an acoustic jam-grass band made up of five best friends. The group’s onstage chemistry fuels the lovefest that is a live HBR show. Hot Buttered Rum’s years of touring have given the band the chance to work and play with a wide cross- section of musicians, including Phil Lesh, Chris Thile, Brett Dennen, and Robert Earl Keen. Seasoned veteran Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), acoustic guru Mike Marshall, and left-coast rocker Tim Bluhm have all produced studio albums for the band. Each has guided HBR towards the next step in its evolution. It’s a sound that’s as tough to describe as it is easy to love, and it has found its way to the most prestigious pop, folk, and bluegrass stages in the country. www.hotbutteredrum.net
Achilles Wheel is a high energy acoustic rock & roll jam band from Northern California, featuring award winning songwriting played on numerous stringed instruments and more drums than you can shake a stick at. In the wake of their breakout performance at the 2012 Kate Wolf Music Festival, the band has been burning up stages all across California. With the release of their 2nd studio recording ‘Stones To Sand’, which is currently getting airplay nationwide as well as in Europe, Achilles Wheel further dispels the myth that jam oriented bands can’t write great songs. The quality of the band’s songwriting combined with stunning musicianship earned them spots at last year’s California Worldfest, The Strawberry Music festival, The Redwood Mountain Faire, The Redwood Ramble, Dead On The Creek, Railroad Earth’s Hangtown Halloween and a sold out show at Sierra Nevada Big Room in Chico, California. achilleswheel.com
The T Sisters embody harmony, it’s in their blood, bones, and history. Born and raised in California and now based in the creative hub of Oakland, Erika, Rachel and Chloe have been singing and writing music together since childhood. The three sisters’ inventive songwriting is supported by their own acoustic instrumentation as well as Steve Height on upright bass and Andrew Allen Fahlander on mandolin & guitar. Their sound represents a continuum of music, from traditional to pop influences, moments of breathtaking a cappella to swells of energetic indie Americana. In the last two years, they’ve been honored to support such acts as Amos Lee, Todd Rundgren, The Waybacks, Laurie Lewis, ALO, Elephant Revival and The California Honeydrops. www.cahoneydrops.com
Grateful Bluegrass Boys is a Sonoma County-based string band that plays traditional Bluegrass versions of Classic Rock favorites from bands such as the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, The Eagles, Rolling Stones and more. These songs, combined with classic Bluegrass and Country tunes, consistently have audiences singing and dancing along for the entire show. Bandmembers hail from other groups such as Hot Buttered Rum, Poor Man’s Whiskey, Vintage Grass, and Dusty Green Bones Band. gratefulbluegrassboys.com
SambaDrop are pioneers of their own genre, they have fused Brazilian Samba drumming and electronic bass music to create an unrivaled, organic-electro sound. SambaDrop provides an unsurpassed level of energy and unpredictability that keeps audiences on their feet. Inspired by the volume and complexity of marching band greats, The Loyd Family Players the group emerged from Grass Valley/Nevada City, CA in 2009 with seven members and has since expanded to twenty+. https://soundcloud.com/sambadrop
One week prior to the May 22nd day-long event, Wavy Gravy will commence his birthday celebration in honor of SEVA at the Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley. This May 15th SOLD OUT event features: Steve Kimock & Friends, Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO), the Doobie Decibal System and other special guests. All proceeds from both events will support Seva Foudations’s sight programs around the world!
For More information and to purchase tickets, visit: http://www.seva.org
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