I intended to write this a while ago, but I’ve been ludicrously busy lately – and well, sometimes things just don’t get done as intended. Mea culpa aside, I wanted to make sure our blog-reading supporters know that back in October, GRN was the official non-profit partner of the Voodoo Music Experience, one of the biggest, coolest music festivals, located right here in NOLA.We did a few things with that opportunity: we launched a text messaging campaign (text the word ‘coast’ to the number 77007 to add your name to a petition to support restoring Louisiana’s coast and communities – go ahead, do it); we organized a wetlands tour with the Lousiana Bayoukeeper to show Voodoo artists what was up with the coast; we tabled relentlessly and signed up well over 300 new GRN members (who could join at the special Voodoo rate of $20 and get a way cool, “Defend New Orleans: Defend the Coast” t-shirt for free); we got text campaign shout outs from artist announcers on the mainstage; we held a press conference announcing the Voodoo/GRN partnership with festival producers Rehage entertainment, cajun fiddler Amanda Shaw, filmmaker Walter Williams, and Jac Currie, principle of Defend New Orleans and our t-shirt collaborator. Of course, one of the coolest components of the three day event was meeting musicians who were down with the cause. Stanton Moore from Galactic, Big Sam from Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Mark Mullins from Bonerama, Theresa Andersson, Amanda Shaw, Clint Maedegan from New Orleans Bingo Show (& Liquidrone), Marc Broussard (responsible for the single most effective text message shout out of the event), Ghost, Plain White Tees, Trombone Shorty, John Cleary, Groove sect, Amy Cook, Morning 40 Federation, Todd Voltz & Hands of Nero, Boots Riley, Dax Riggs, and my personal highlight, a couple of the guys from Wilco, who closed out the festival with an amazing performance which touched on about every album they’ve released.Clint Maedgen’s Complicated Life video: Featured prominently in the New Orleans Bingo Show at Voodoo – this is an amazing glimpse of life in NOLA – great, accessible song and vibe – watch it, you’ll love it.Head over to our flickr page to see all the great photos.In addition to the artists I mentioned above, I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank some key folks who made this successful event possible: Lisa Mirman from WTUL, Marc Ross from Rock the Earth, Walter Williams, Jez from Alternative, Jac from Defend New Orleans, Criss from Southern Screenprinting & Graphics, Emily Rosenblum from Tony Margherita Management, Jennifer Sacca from Rounder Records, Marcee from the Mitch Schneider Organization, Mike and Tracy from Bayoukeeper, Dave Roos, Gino, Marisa Morton, Casey, Casey, Anat, Alyssa, Amy and all the other great members of the GRN crew, Jeff & Karen from New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund, Alexis Giannopoulos from Highsteppin’ Productions, Alex Smith from Smudge Ink Management,Charles Shaw from team shaw, Jen Pippitone & Emilio, Stephen Rehage and Mike Ciardi from Rehage Entertainment, Vydra from 106.7 FM, David, Scott, and Dimitri from WWOZ, and most importantly SIG!Aaron Viles is the GRN’s Campaign Directo
