Press Release: Quality Forward’s Earth Day Asheville Concert presented by Earth Fare on April 22, 2008

(Asheville, NC) The votes are in for the 6 winning bands to play at Quality Forward’s Earth Day Asheville presented by Earth Fare at the Orange Peel. Each will receive a $1000 prize. Over 100 bands submitted and more than 5400 people have cast their votes. The concert, which raises funds for earth-friendly projects, is scheduled for Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22 from 8:00 p.m. to midnight.

The winning bands include:

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Jazz the Ripper – Jazz/Blues/R&B

Brushfire Stankgrass – Bluegrass/Oldtime

Aaron LaFalce – Americana/Country/Acoustic

Chris Cates and the Master Plan – Rock/Funk/Dance

Snake Oil Medicine Show – Latin/World/Reggae

Ruby Slippers/ Mingle – Electronica

You can preview their music by visiting www.earthdayasheville.org.

Ned Doyle, from the S.E.E. Expo, will play the role of the Master of Ceremonies and will kick off the evening introducing the global launch of the Earth Pledge of Allegiance. To find out more about Earth Pledge project, founded by Breah Parker, and its related curriculum, visit www.PeaceAndLoveForAll.com. [See attached information sheet, website up by April 20th]

There will also be an Asheville’s-own Fashion Show featuring recycled, organic and sustainably made designs. Featured will be designs by Elliott Elephant, Sew Moe, Spiritex, Poetic Justice, Dave Russell’s solar powered dress, Red Moon Rising, River T-C, Frox, Little Eagle and Rags Reborn/Eco-Chic.

Earth Day Asheville is not only a community wide celebration; it is also a green event. Quality Forward will utilize eco-friendly alternatives for food and beverage containers. Event greening sponsor, Seven Star Events, will set up educational resource recovery stations to divert waste away from landfills as well as display an educational slideshow about the green movement throughout the evening.

Tickets are on sale now. General admission tickets cost $10 and the doors open at 7:30pm. Tickets can be purchased directly from the Earth Day Asheville website (one can add a $35 membership to support Quality Forward all year long), at both Earth Fare locations (and receive a free shopping bag), at the Orange Peel or through the Orange Peel’s website www.theorangepeel.net.

VIP tickets are also available for early admission at 6:30pm and include a reception featuring wine, local beer and locally grown foods prepared by popular Asheville restaurants Mayfels, Modesto and the Laughing Seed Cafe, as well as reserved seating for the night’s entertainment. The VIP tickets cost $75 and are available by calling Quality Forward at 828-254-1776 or visiting the Earth Day Asheville website at www.earthdayasheville.org

Band Sponsors are Hands of Sean Perry, Inc, EcoBuilders/EcoHouse Realty, Pepsi Cola, McGill Associates, Jimmy White Builders and Charlotte Street Computers.

Major Media Sponsors are Kiss Country 99.9, the Mountain105.9, ESPN Radio 1310AM, Classic Hits 96.5, The Revolution 880AM and Star 104.3 and Mountain Xpress. For a list of other sponsors, please visit the Earth Day Asheville website.

Quality Forward, a Keep America Beautiful affiliate, has been instrumental in enhancing Asheville’s natural beauty and quality of life for 35 years by planting thousands of trees, beautifying city gateways and neighborhoods, picking up tons of litter from our streets and waterways as well as promoting recycling and waste management.

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Press Release: Build It Naturally Earth Day Celebration A Prelude to Earth Day Asheville at the Orange Peel

Celebrate Earth Day in downtown Asheville at the Build It Naturally Earth Day Celebration: a Prelude to Earth Day Asheville concert at the Orange Peel. This celebration, sponsored by the French Broad Food Coop and Blue Moon Water, takes place at Build It Naturally, the new natural building supply center in downtown Asheville, located at 76 Biltmore Ave. Event hours are 3-8pm on Tuesday, April 22, 2008.  Build It Naturally’s grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony with the city will be at 4:30pm.

Start your afternoon off right this Earth Day by discovering fantastic ways to contribute to a sustainable way of life. Representatives of Build It Naturally, along with other exhibitors including Blue Moon Water, Riverlink, FLS Energy, the Western North Carolina Green Building Council, the Warren-Wilson Green Building Network, the Canary Coalition and many more, will be hosting workshops and giving interactive demonstrations. The French Broad Food Coop will be giving out free samples, information on buying in bulk, herbalist demonstrations, recipes, organic wine tasting and other earth friendly activities. With the help of Seven Star Events, this will also be a green event in which the majority of waste generated will be diverted away from the landfill.

President and co-owner Jennifer Woodruff, playing the role of the Earth Day “Green Queen”, will speak on how to utilize more sustainable solutions and practices in the building industry. She is knowledgeable of products and principles of sustainability in the local community and will discuss the positive effects of the concept of triple bottom-line businesses, which places a balanced value on people, planet and profit.

Entertainment will include Circle of Song featuring Jenny Greer, Pierce Edens, David Earl Tomlinson, Oso Rey, Moses Atwood and Brian McGee.  Ensemble Djembeso, a local African drum and dance group, will also be performing.  There will be activities for the entire family including circus acts, juggling, balloon-making and unicycle riding by Kenny the Clown. Earth Day inspired sidewalk chalk drawings, the Earth Pledge of Allegiance and face painting will round out the fun activities for all.

Bring your extra vegetable plants you’ve started or overflow garden seeds the event and exchange for other varieties. This spring seed and seedling plant exchange is hosted on site by Slow Food Asheville.  Open pollinated heirloom varieties are encouraged, but anything is fine as long as seeds are not older than one year. Please come by even if you do not have any seedlings to exchange; there will be plenty to share.

Evergreen Charter School will be the recipient of monies raised from an on-site raffle of green building supplies. One may also purchase raffle tickets to win a solar hot water system donated by FLS energy to Evergreen valued at $8000; which will be drawn at a later date.

After your first dose of great local entertainment under the big tent at Build it Naturally, head over to the Orange Peel for Quality Forward’s Earth Day Asheville. The evening concert will be a showcase of local talent chosen in an online contest representing bands in six different categories of music as well as a recycled clothing fashion show.

Build It Naturally, Inc. is a natural building supply center based in Asheville, NC co-owned by Jennifer Woodruff and Markus Van Lokeren. The company recently opened its doors to this newly renovated retail showroom in downtown Asheville. They specialize in creating homes and businesses with environmental integrity by utilizing natural, non-toxic and recycled building materials. Build It Naturally offers a full compliment of flooring, paints/finishes/plasters, countertops, and numerous architectural accents. They have also partnered with two local companies offering a full array of insulation products as well as solar applications. Store hours are M-F (9-6pm) and Saturday (9-2pm).

Please feel free to contact the store by tel-828.254.2668/fax-828.254.3778 or by email: info@builditnaturally.com or checkout the website at http://www.builditnaturally.com.

Details at a glance:

Tuesday, April 22, 2008; 3-8pm

Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 4:30pm

Location: Build It Naturally; 76 Biltmore Ave, across from the Orange Peel

http://www.builditnaturally.com

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