This Saturday at 7 p.m. CST, Tennessee Riverkeeper will host Downstream, a virtual fundraiser concert. A star-studded lineup will entertain and educate viewers with an evening of performances created just for this event, including: Jackson Browne, Lyle Lovett, Michael Franti, Patterson Hood, Jason Isbell and many others.
Alicia Silverstone and David Whiteside are the fundraiser’s emcees. "Alicia and David have both dedicated more than 20 years of their lives to advocating for environmental issues," organizers said.
"This concert is produced by David Whiteside, who founded Tennessee Riverkeeper in 2009. Whiteside quickly assembled this squadron of supporters, mostly via text messages."
“These musicians and hosts are Republicans, Democrats, and Libertarians who understand that clean water is a nonpartisan issue. We can help unite our divided country by building a bridge over troubled waters,” said Mr. Whiteside, founder of Tennessee Riverkeeper.
Ms. Silverstone said, “Everyone needs clean water and healthy food. It’s exciting to co-host this fun concert for Tennessee Riverkeeper with David Whiteside. We hope you’ll join us and support this great cause.”
"Native Americans called the Tennessee River, 'The Singing River,' because of a legend of a woman who lived in the river and sang to them," organizers said. "For over a decade, many of our region’s most prominent musicians, from Muscle Shoals to Nashville, have honored this Native American mystique by fostering and supporting the growth of nonprofit Tennessee Riverkeeper and educating millions of fans about the importance of water. Now, an ensemble cast of Riverkeeper’s talented allies are coming together for a common purpose: their love of clean water."
“Since the 1930s, the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers have received a plethora of pollution from chemical factories, coal, plastics and a grim litany of other toxins. All life depends on clean water, especially humans as our bodies are comprised of more than 60 percent water. More than 6,300,000 citizens depend on the region we serve for their drinking water. Too often we take our water supply for granted,” said Mr. Whiteside.
In additional to the musicians, Downstream will feature appearances by other leaders in film, comedy and sports, including comedian Ms. Silverstone, Bill Burr, three-time Olympic Gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings, comedian Cheryl Hines and Phish drummer Jon Fishman.
Mr. Fishman, the drummer and namesake of the band Phish, helped Mr. Whiteside organize his first major fundraiser in 2004 which benefited Black Warrior Riverkeeper, a nonprofit that Mr. Whiteside founded as his senior thesis at the University of Vermont. Mr. Fishman said: “I met David Whiteside when he was in college at the University of Vermont, it’s been more than 15 years since then, and I’ve only known Whiteside to work harder and his dedication to trying to keep our water safe and clean has been unmatched as far as anyone else I know. David is just relentless.”
“Riverkeeper is immensely grateful to our inspirational co-host Alicia Silverstone who has worked so hard to produce this event, as well as Warner Music Nashville and CEO John Esposito for their continued partnership with our organization over the years, and their support of our work to protect the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers and the tributaries. We’re so excited that Warner artists, Chris Janson, Brett Eldredge and Morgan Evans – some of the biggest names in country music – are lending their talents to Downstream,” added Mr. Whiteside.
You can watch Downstream live on the Tennessee Riverkeeper YouTube and Facebook pages.
While Downstream is free to watch, they are asking for a suggested donation of $25 from each viewer. One hundred percent of all donations through their page will go directly to Tennessee Riverkeeper.