Each April in the Village at Squaw Valley locals gather to celebrate the past year’s communal and individual attempts to curb the effects of global warming and to check out the latest ideas and inventions for going greener. Stages are built and booths are stocked to the top with biodegradable products, environmentally conscious information pamphlets, and delicious brews, while the bands get ready to rock at the 2008 Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival.
Nick Catanella III has been the Entertainment Director, and Earth Day Foundation Committee member of the Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival, for four years running. Catanella and his entourage of amazing volunteers work year-round to ensure the festival goes off without a hitch. From the booking, to the sound systems and stage set-up, ‘My main focus is to keep things rockin’ in the village all day long. I make sure each piece of that huge musical puzzle fits together,’ Catanella said.
‘I have watched the festival grow from a mere 600 attendees to over 6,000 last year,’ Catanella said. ‘I truly love seeing how happy everyone is at the festival. I bounce back and forth all day long from stage to stage, and everywhere I turn I see smiles and people dancing, which is pretty exciting.’
With the tram face towering above and amid cool booths and exhibits, great music is amplified from the West End by PlumpJackSport on down Main Street by Mamasake to First Street Fountain stage by Uncorked.
This year’s festival on April 26 is a must-attend event. The music selection is superb and will keep you dancing all day long. Even Catanella says you have to see it to believe it because ‘it gets better and better every year.’
Listed below is the musical line-up set to start jamming at 10:30 a.m. (schedule may change).
Verbal Kint: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Main Stage event opener. Keyser Soze’s side project will open up the Earth Day celebration. Influenced by artists Mos Def, Stevie Wonder, The Pharcyde, and Jimmy Hendrix, this Reno-based one-man band blends acoustic melodies with roots rock to create a unique sound. myspace.com/ verbalkint1
Drinking with Clowns: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on the Second Stage. Devoted to creating ecstasy through dance, Drinking with Clowns infuses Latin sound with funky rhythms to give audiences a transcendent energetic experience. drinkingwithclowns.com
Naomi & the Courteous Rudeboys: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. on the Main Stage. This vaudevillian quintet’s soulful serenades backed by funk-enriched melodies have allowed this band from Santa Cruz to acquire party-throwing reputation. RudeBoyRock.com
Ancient I’s: 1 – 2 p.m. on the First Street Stage. Original Roots Rock Reggae. Since their inception on New Years 2005, the I’s – as they call themselves – have been skating and playing Irie roots music. myspace.com/AncientTeknowlogy
SubjektoChange: 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. at the Second Stage. The quintessential jam band SubjektoChange is no stranger to the local music scene. With frequent jam-packed appearances at the Auld Dubliner and Bar of America, Erv Wolf, Nick Denoia, and Ray Erst keep their fans dancing with their funkified renditions of classic covers and soulful originals. stcmusic.com
Rainmaker: 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. on the Main Stage. Joining Rainmaker live are Dan Leibowitz from ALO, Jordan Feinstein from the Ritual, and Inkx from Hamsa Lila. They are known for their ‘strong song writing, infectious grooves and feel-good improv.’ Rainmaker has performed at a number of renowned venues including The Great American Music Hall, Sweetwater, Boom Boom Room, Café du Nord, and Moe’s Alley. rainmakertheband.com
MO2: 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. on the Second Stage. Born out of the San Francisco music scene, this up-and-coming electronica quartet brings a richly diverse and raw dynamic to the stage. MO2Music.com
The Mark Sexton Band: 3:45 – 5 p.m. on the First Street Stage. Their blend of acoustic rock, reggae, funk, pop, jazz and a hint of world beat distinguish The Mark Sexton Band from other groups. MarkSextonBand.com
Albino!: 4 – 6 p.m. on the Main Stage. Local favorite Albino! performs inspirational groovy afro-beat energetic original tunes. Albino! represents more than just music; they are a community whose goals thrive on one simple equation: love, respect and commonality. Albino! is the proud recipient of the San Francisco Music Award for ‘Best World Music’ and will surely get the crowds at Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival moving. AlbinoBand.com
