This music festival had its beginnings in the 1960s, when folk singer/activist/Beacon resident Pete Seeger decided to raise awareness of pollution in the Hudson by holding small concerts on the riverfront and passing the hat (or, in his case, the banjo). Now, the Revival is the largest annual environmental fest in the U.S.
When Steve Lurie assumed the role of festival director last year, he wanted to make the event as inclusive as possible, and to concentrate on the music without detracting from the environmental mission. With that mission — to educate and inspire the next generation of environmental leaders — in mind, “Clearwater Generations” was born. In addition to performances by big names like Drive-By Truckers, Indigo Girls, Martin Sexton, and of course Pete Seeger, each day features a “generation set,” with some of Clearwater’s classic artists performing with their younger kin — Seeger and his grandson Tao, Arlo Guthrie and granddaughter Sarah Lee, John Sebastian and son Ben, and others. The Family Stage includes kid favorites like Dan Zane and Valley local Elizabeth Mitchell; there’s also an audience Jam Tent, an artisanal market featuring local food and wares — and sails on the sloop Clearwater. $60-$150. 845-679-8217; www.clearwater.org/festival
Photograph by Augusto Menezes
