Ben Sollee, WUKY & Bluegrass Earth Celebrate Earth Day
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 16, 2015) — Cellist and singer-songwriter Ben Sollee returns to Lexington for a special Earth Day concert at the Kentucky Theater at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22. Sollee’s appearance is a Bluegrass Earth signature event and proceeds benefit University of Kentucky public radio station WUKY — Where NPR Rocks at 91.3FM. Tickets are $19 each and can be purchased online at wuky.org or at the door.
Since NPR's "Morning Edition" declared him to be one of the "Top Ten Unknown Artists of the Year" in 2007, Sollee has issued six full-length recordings and two EPs. His 2010 album, "Dear Companion," debuted at No. 6 in the nation. Sollee’s musical career quickly expanded into film and TV. Shows like ABC’s "Parenthood" and HBO’s "Weeds" have featured Sollee's songs.
The artist has also has written music for ballet, most recently performing with the North Carolina Dance Theater in the world premiere of "Dangerous Liaisons." The New York Times lauded Sollee’s recent Lincoln Center appearance, citing his “…meticulous, fluent arrangements (that) continually morphed from one thing to another. Appalachian mountain music gave way to the blues, and one song was appended with a fragment from a Bach cello suite, beautifully played.”
Sollee’s music celebrates the beauty of his home state of Kentucky while calling attention to the controversial practice of mountaintop removal coal mining and its impact on the people and heritage of central Appalachia. His collaborative album "Dear Companion" brought together fellow Kentucky artist Daniel Martin Moore with producer Jim James of My Morning Jacket to shed light on the issue. Meanwhile, Sollee practices what he preaches, often touring by bicycle with his faithful cello, Kay, in tow. Since 2009 he’s logged more than 4,000 miles on his bicycle.
He has been invited to perform and speak on sustainability at a number of festivals including South by Southwest Music (2011) and TEDx San Diego (2012). In teaming up with international organizations such as Patagonia Clothing and Oxfam America, Sollee has come to be known as a thoughtful activist who mobilizes his audiences to take environmental actions through the power of live music. He continues touring and recently returned from his first solo tour of Europe, which took him to three countries for 11 shows in two weeks. His April 22 appearance in Lexington celebrates the 45th anniversary of Earth Day.
Bluegrass Earth was initiated by WUKY General Manager Tom Godell to bring together environmental groups in Central Kentucky. “Having long been a strong advocate of sustainability issues, I saw a need for environmental groups to come together under one umbrella so that they could share resources and have a greater impact with their outreach, education and events,” Godell said.
Bluegrass Earth partners are dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and responsibility in Lexington and surrounding counties. The coalition’s mission is to improve the economic vitality and quality of life in Central Kentucky by uniting individuals and organizations dedicated to environmental sustainability.
To learn more about Bluegrass Earth, events and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.bluegrassearth.org or follow them on www.facebook.com/bluegrassearth. You can also keep track of Bluegrass Earth on social media through the hashtag “BGEarth2015.”