Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: A. Jay Popoff, Art Alexakis, Billy Corgan, Bon Jovi, Bushwalla, Cheating Daylight, Chris Wrightsman, Everclear, Greek Theater, Havoc TV, Jesse Billauer, Jim Lindberg, Kevin Baldes, Liberty Bottles, Life Rolls On, Lit, Livin’ on a Prayer, Michele Clark, MusiCares, organic, organically grown, Pennywise, Peter Bunetta, Playing for Change, Richie Sambora, Ryan Clark, Shireen Janti-Reid, Smashing Pumpkins, Sunset Sessions, Sunset Sessions Rock, The Parlotones, Wanted Dead or Alive
The Organically Grown team just returned from Michele Clark’s second annual Sunset Sessions Rock!, where we were a proud co-sponsor of the event.
There was a lot of great music from both emerging artists and rock legends such as Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, who dazzled the women of Organically Grown. Richie played some of his new songs on his solo album set to be released on September 4, as well as some of the classic Bon Jovi hits that he co-wrote, such as “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “Wanted Dead or Alive.”
Also performing at the event were Lit and Everclear, who are co-headlining the Summerland tour, which stops in LA tommorow at the legendary Greek Theater. In addition, the Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan was the keynote speaker.
I was proud to be on the “Creating Change” panel, along with Shireen Janti-Reid from MusiCares, Jesse Billauer from Life Rolls On, lead singer of Pennywise Jim Lindberg from Havoc TV, Bushwalla, Ryan Clark from Liberty Bottles, and legendary record producer Peter Bunetta from Playing for Change.
During the panel, moderator Chris Wrightsman challenged me to see if I could still rap, and I put the doubters to rest. A YouTube video of the panel will be released soon.
I interviewed over 30 bands, with the mission of educating them about the hundreds of millions of pounds of pesticides used in conventional cotton, and how at Organically Grown, we take those toxins out of our products and out of the environment.
We will post these interviews on our YouTube channel in the next few weeks, so stay tuned! The biggest star of them all is Michele Clark…for pulling off an amazing event once again!
By Bob Stein, co-founder of Organically Grown
PS – Be sure to check out our Facebook page for our full album of Sunset Sessions Rock photos!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Agape International, Billboard, Brandon and Leah, Brothers of Brazil, Bushwalla, Cafe Gratitude, Chipotle, Conor Gaffney, Drug the Kids, Erica Krusen, Everest, Fun, Get Naked or Go Organic, Glenn Alexander, Incan Abraham, James Morris, Jason Mraz, Jim Lindberg, Jimmy Cliff, Kevin Lyman, LP, Makepeace Brothers, Marc Scibilia, Marit Larsen, May I Be Frank, Michael Beckwith, Michele Clark, Moon Taxi, MusiCares, organic, organic cotton, organically grown, Pennywise, Pras, Rancho Bernardo Inn, Rumer, San Diego, Sara Milonovich, Shawn Pereira, Slatr, Stephen Powers, Sunset Sessions, The Chamilions, The Dirt Drifters, The Parlotones, The Pierces, The Villains, Tyrone Wells, Vans Warped Tour, Yuna, ZZ Ward
The 15th annual Sunset Sessions is now a beautiful memory. Held this year at San Diego’s luxurious Rancho Bernardo Inn, Michele Clark’s Sunset Sessions is a music industry event that gives recording artists a chance to be heard by music supervisors and radio programmers. I would like to thank all of the great recording artists who stopped by the Organically Grown booth. We asked all of the musicians to “Get Naked or Go Organic,” choosing to take off their non-organic tees and replace it with one of Organically Grown’s organic t-shirts. Cotton covers 2.5% of the world’s farmable land, and is the world’s second most heavily sprayed crop; conventional cotton requires 1/3 pound of toxic chemicals to make just one t-shirt, adding up to hundreds of millions of pounds each year. I was surprised that the concept of organic cotton and organic clothing was new to so many artists, but then again, that’s why we were there…to let the creative community know about the destruction caused by conventional cotton production, because they are the ones with the voice who will get the message out!
The "Creating Change" panelists
I don’t know how Michele Clark manages to do all the amazing things she does, in putting together this event each year. We met with so many amazing new and emerging artists, and it was especially satisfying to meet and interview reggae legend Jimmy Cliff. It was also great to be on the “Creating Change” panel with Conor Gaffney from Café Gratitude & co-producer of May I Be Frank, Stephen Powers from Agape International, Bushwalla, Erica Krusen from MusiCares and Jim Lindberg, the former lead singer from the band Pennywise. Also on the panel was my dear friend Kevin Lyman, who made the 60-plus tour buses on the Vans Warped Tour change to biodiesel fuel when, at the time, it was not the most economical thing to do.
Jason Mraz perfroming "I'm Yours"
Jason Mraz lit up the stage with an intimate concert catered by Chipotle, who use fresh avocados grown on Jason’s orchard to make their guacamole, and use about 25% organic beans in their food. Jason got his big break at Sunset Sessions with “I’m Yours,” which would eventually be nominated for a Grammy Award, and would spend 76 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100, breaking the record for the most weeks spent on the chart. As a major star, it was great to have Jason back as an alumni. From everything I know about him, from spiritually supporting the musical efforts of his friends like the Makepeace Brothers and Bushwalla, as well as Michele’s efforts, more important than being a star, he is a gentleman.
Lucinda Williams performing
Thanks again to Michele for allowing Organically Grown to be a sponsor of this amazing event, and to all the artists who performed, and whom we interviewed. Not only did we get to interview many amazing artists, it turns out we have made friends. We will be posting the videos of these interviews in the next few weeks.
By Bob Stein, co-founder of Organically Grown
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