I Can See Clearwaterly Now

Some exciting news has just come off the teletype here at JJHQ.
Friend of the blog Dindas has been tapped to be the festival director for this year's Great Hudson River Revival in Beacon, NY.
This means you can expect plenty of coverage of the festival here at JJ, including exclusive interviews, photos and much much more.
Congratulations to Dindas from JJHQ. The press release follows.

Clearwater Taps Jon Dindas as Festival Director for This Year's
Hudson River Revival

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, America's flagship environmental organization, announced today that Jon Dindas of All Phases Events Group will take the helm as festival director for this year's Great Hudson River Revival. An annual two-day music and environmental festival that attracts audience members from around the country, the Revival will take place this year on June 20 and 21, Father's Day weekend, at Croton
Point Park in Croton-on-Hudson, NY.

A genuine "Clearwater kid," Dindas grew up in the New York metropolitan area and recalls attending his first Clearwater festival in the early 1970s; his earliest concert memory was when his parents, both New York City school teachers, brought him to Carnegie Hall for a performance by the Weavers, a folk music group that included Pete Seeger, a Clearwater founder.

Dindas, who has spent much of the last two decades in the music and entertainment industry interspersed with frequent stints of political and advocacy work, presently oversees the New York office of All Phases Event Group, a national events company that has presented or managed aspects of over 1,000 events, including the Rothbury Music Festival, Democratic
National Convention, Green Apple Festival, Special Olympics, All Good Festival and X Games.

Jeff Rumpf, executive director of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, said, "Jon Dindas comes from our grassroots and represents the next generation of environmental leaders here at Clearwater. His wide professional experience in festival planning and deep understanding of our mission will ensure that the year's Revival will be the most inspiring, entertaining and fun-filled one yet."

The roots of the Great Hudson River Revival go back to the informal "Hudson Valley Folk Picnic" started by Pete Seeger, his wife Toshi and others in the mid-1960s to raise funds for the building of the Sloop Clearwater, the floating classroom that has become a symbol of the fight against pollution. This year's festival holds special significance, as it will mark the 40th anniversary of the boat's launch as well as Seeger's 90th birthday.

"I am really looking forward to coming 'full circle' and helping to maintain the Clearwater tradition while finding new ways to improve the festival, expand its message and reach a new generation of music fans and activists," said Dindas.

Rick Brodsky, chairperson of the Revival Planning Committee, said, "Hundreds of dedicated volunteers work on numerous committees to put the Revival together each year, and we're all excited to collaborate with Jon. The 2009 Revival will certainly be a success and continue on this wonderful tradition started by Pete and Toshi Seeger long ago."