This year's EarthFest preparation committee hopes that attendees will be singing the melody of environmental preservation.
EarthFest week is designed to promote an environmental agenda, and in the past has included panel discussions, information sessions, and area cleanups.
But tonight, ECO and Water Watch have collaborated to offer a different approach and atmosphere to the typical forum. An EarthFest concert is scheduled to run from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. tonight in Brown and Brew, offering audience members a more relaxed form of environmental education and entertainment.
Sophomore Samuel Ronfard, an EarthFest event organizer, highlighted the use of music as a tool to communicate with a diverse audience. Ronfard described music as a "universal language," and emphasized its broad appeal, especially to a college audience.
The concert will feature performances by artists juniors Annette Farrington and John Burlock and sophomores Geoff Brown, Adam Arrigo, Meghan Saunders and Chloe Green.
As a whole, organizers want the performers to provide a small-band feel, with a relaxing, acoustic sound. Planners felt a laid back atmosphere was important for the success of event.
While Ronfard and the rest of the EarthFest planning group hope for an entertaining evening, he said the conveyance of the environmental message is the top priority.
Instead of a barrage of numbing facts, terrible images, and other drastic techniques, the event has been structured to bring people to a forum that will promote a positive, progressive attitude.
EarthFest planners hope that the concert will facilitate a necessary level of awareness by helping audience members to come together around music while also prompting them to take action and do their part in environmental preservation.
"Understanding the importance of preserving natural resources and our local environment will make people realize that we are all connected and that we all depend on each other," Ronfard said.
The EarthFest planning group chose a specific composition of musicians for their concert in order to best achieve their goals. It received twelve submissions for the event, and after listening to the submissions, the group decided on the five scheduled acts due to their relaxed musical style.
Organizers hope that the EarthFest 2004 concert will provide a forum for discussion, music, and free food, while giving students an opportunity to increase their knowledge about environmental issues.
