Our Features and Attractions for 2013 included:

Live Music

LA MOÑA LOCA! (5:30pm, stage 1)

Austin’s LA MO√ëA LOCA! is an 11-piece salsa orchestra performing an entirely new repertoire including original arrangements and material from groups such as Ray Barretto, Maraca, The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, The Fania All-Stars, Calle Real, El Gran Combo, and more.

Dust off your dancing shoes, and get ready for a full night of “salsa dura” from Austin’s newest salsa orchestra. LA MO√ëA LOCA! will be a part of the rhythmic rally and finale with Hightower and company at 5:00pm.

 

Mingo Fishtrap (2:00pm, Stage 1)

With a sound dancing between gutbucket soul, N’awlins grit-down funk and horn- fueled Motown pop, Mingo Fishtrap brings the flavor of 1967 to 2012. Mingo’s inspired, high-energy live show encourages audience participation. The band captures a musical conversation, which speaks with reverence about the past and with hope about the future.

 

Barbara K (12:30pm, Stage 1) was one half of the successful recording act, Timbuk3, whose hit song, “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades” reached #19 in the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in the U.S. and #21 in the U.K. Singles Chart.

Their hit song has been hotly pursued as a commercial jingle, a usage for which both of the song’s creators have steadfastly turned down lucrative offers. The song is often perceived as a light-hearted slice of optimism, though it was written as an ironic forecast of nuclear destruction after social complacency. They appeared once on Saturday Night Live and were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1987.

As an independent recording artist, Kooyman (Barbara K) saw a need in the music industry for strengthening alliances between artists and media outlets. She and co-founders Wolfgang Pracht and Ben Bright conceived and created Artists For Media Diversity, or A4MD. The 501(c)(3) charitable organization was formed to protect freedom of speech through the funding of services for alternative non-commercial media sources, to foster independent media voices, and to promote musical and cultural diversity (www.a4md.org).

 

Also join us on Stage 1 for our Featured Speakers between 3:00pm and 5:00pm, followed by an inspiring rhythmic rally at 5:00pm.

 

X8 Interactive Drumming (12:00pm, 1:30pm, South Circle Area — plus part of the rally finale at 5:00pm)

X8 Interactive Drumming Community Jams are interactive rhythm events that bring people together like nothing else. The exhilaration of percussive music making with the power of common unity, offers community members of all ages and abilities the opportunity to come together and make connections through the age-old practice of a rhythm circle. Guaranteed to bring laughter, joy, and satisfaction, community drum jams are purpose driven and expertly facilitated to allow the creative spirit to move – and keep everyone in the groove!
Kenya Masala (pictured above) led the mammoth drum jam at AEDF 2012.  Drum circles will start up at various times (tba) throughout the day!

 

More Live Music! 

Singer/Songwriter Showcase (Stage 2 will feature local artists between 3pm & 5pm)

William Kelley¬†(4:30pm, Stage 2)¬†is a veteran sideman/guitar dude who has called Austin home from 1976-2013 (only recently residing in San Antonio). Over the years, Will’s focus has evolved from being about howling screeching amps to being “about the song”. Will’s 35 years experience performing with luminaries such as Percy Sledge, Scott Reynolds, ‚ÄúViolinifer‚Äù Jennifer Bryan and many others are identifyable in his solo songwriter sets, with occasional guests on lead guitar or violin.

 

Ethan Azarian¬†(4:00pm, Stage 2)¬†has been simultaneously doing his art and music in Austin over the last 15 years.¬† He plays a folksy style with pop and punk elements.¬† He often plays solo or is joined by other Austin musicians, most frequently by Jeff Johnston on the “saw and telephone”.¬† Ethan and Jeff played together in Austin band Orange Mothers in the 1990’s and early 2000’s.

 

 

CK Bailey (3:30pm, Stage 2)
CK is a veteran of the Austin music scene for over 30 years, playing in a variety of bands & genres from hard rock to reggae to funk, punk & pop including bands: The Bodysnatchers, The Shades, The Skyscrapers, The Bats, The Design, Pressure, Razortalk, Skank and Glamourpuss.
He is primarily a songwriter for the last five years and plays from a huge repertoire solo-acoustic music.

 

William Graham (3:00pm, Stage 2)
Thirteen year old William Graham is the lead singer/writer/guitarist for the The Seaside Swifts (a young Austin Indie Youngbloods band) and is also a solo performer. Graham officially showcased both as a solo artist and with his band during SXSW Music Festival 2013. The Seaside Swifts placed in the category of best under 18 band for the Austin Music Awards 2013. Graham’s lyrics whistle through your head for days. Graham, a young writer for the Austin Chronicle, started the Proper Nang Music Night for teens and their families to build community.
“Saving the planet is my life’s goal.” says Graham (environmental activist, architect enthusiast and national Davidson Young Scholar, Thiel Fellow Candidate 2013), who has been influenced by his father, three time Austin Hall of Famer, of punk legend the Skunks and the True Believers, Americana artist, Jon Dee Graham.

 

KLBJ 590AM broadcasted live from Austin Earth Day Festival 2013

 

(Click Here to See Features and Attractions from Austin Earth Day Festival 2012)