For the 11th year in a row, Rock the Earth played a major role in providing programming at Bonnaroo. This year’s festival hosted performances by LCD Sound System, Dead & Company, Pearl Jam, Ween, Leon Bridges, Brett Dennen and many more.
Rock the Earth facilitated music performances, interviews, environmentally focused film screenings, as well as hosted our annual mobile device recycling drive. Moderated by Rock the Earth Board Member Marc Ross, the theme of this year’s performances and discussions on the Planet Roo Solar Stage was once again “Social Change Through Music.” Attendees learned about what inspires musicians to be activists, and how music impacts the most pressing environmental, political and social challenges facing today’s world. This year’s interviews and performance participants included: Zach Heckendorf, Leilani Münter (Racing Extinction), Tim DeChristopher (Bidder 70), Macy Nix (Headcount), Jacob Cravey (We Are Neutral) and Chris Coffman (Love Hope Strength).
In addition, Rock the Earth hosted its annual “Green Screens Presented by Rock the Earth” series, highlighting award-winning environmental films in the Cinema Tent. Green Screens, always a highlight of our work at Bonnaroo, kicked things off with a screening of How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can’t Change. This new film by environmental documentary filmmaker Josh Fox (Gasland) was introduced by the film’s producer Deia Schlosberg. A lively discussion with Schlosberg and film subject/activist Tim DeChristopher (of Bidder 70 fame) followed the film screening. The film will debut on HBO on June 27.
Sunday’s Green Screens film was the award-winning documentary Racing Extinction. Created by the Rock the Earth Planet Defender Louis Psihoyos (Oceanic Preservation Society) and the Oscar award-winning team that created the film The Cove. Using state-of-the-art technology and filming, Racing Extinction assembles a team of artists and activists intent on showing the world never-before-seen images that expose issues of endangered species and mass extinction. The film was introduced by noted racecar driver, environmental activist and film participant Leilani Münter, who also participated in a post-film discussion with Rock the Earth Founder Marc Ross.
Thousands of people visited the Rock the Earth booth over the course of the festival to learn more about our issues, explore how to contribute to the effort, and to say hello. We want to thank our volunteer team who helped make Bonnaroo 2016 such a success: Hans Hess, Victoria Accardi, Matt Khela and Capri Figueroa.
We also sincerely thank Laura Sohn, Anthony Cassella, James Keane, Chris Crowell, Cameron Rivers, Rich Goodstone, Kerry Black, David Owen, Mike Marzen, Sami Nowlin, Erinn Anne Scheibel, JC Barber, Ken Weinstein, and everyone else at Superfly Presents and AC Entertainment. These fine folks generously contributed resources and infrastructure in support of Rock the Earth’s effort to “sow the seeds of thought,” hopefully educating and engaging Bonnaroo festival-goers in Rock the Earth’s mission and inspiring them to Defend the Planet One Beat at a Time.