Walker Art Center and 89.3 The Current Present Sold-Out "Green" Rock the Garden Featuring Andrew Bird, The New Pornographers, Cloud Cult, and Bon Iver on June 21

Singer-songwriter Andrew Bird and band top a sold out Rock the Garden bill that also features Canadian indie rock supergroup The New Pornographers (featuring A.C. Newman, Blaine Thurier, Dan Bejar, John Collins, Kathryn Calder, Kurt Dahle, and Todd Fancey) and the eco-conscious Twin Cities favorite Cloud Cult on Saturday, June 21, 4–11 pm, at the Walker Art Center. Opening this all-ages, rain-or-shine street party, presented by the Walker and 89.3 The Current, is Bon Iver, the soulful lo-fi folk artist from northwest Wisconsin who was one of the major hits of the South by Southwest Festival in March. The Walker and the Current have partnered with Eureka Recycling to make this year’s Rock the Garden a zero-waste event for the first time! The music event of the season brings melody, swagger, and a backbeat to the Walker’s summerlong 20th-anniversary celebration of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden—Walker Inside Out.

Bird’s mix of rock, folk, small-combo swing, gypsy, and New Orleans jazz has put fire under his fans’ feet for more than a decade, and his most recent album, Armchair Apocrypha, has garnered critical and popular praise. The New Pornographers, anchored in Vancouver, have been darlings of Rolling Stone and Pitchfork magazines, establishing themselves as a major force in ethereal power pop. Many members of the band have put out acclaimed solo albums, including A.C. Newman (The Slow Wonder) and Dan Bejar, who performs as Destroyer (Trouble in Dreams, Destroyer’s Rubies). Cloud Cult has evolved into both a personal and global statement for Craig Minowa, whose songs can jump from distorted hip-hop to indie rock to chamber pop. Since 1995, Cloud Cult has crafted sprawling, cathartic albums that have won them the attention of the New York Times, MTV, Spin, Billboard, and a devoted following of fans. National and local critics have raved about Bon Iver (pronounced bohn eevair), the musical nom de plume of Justin Vernon, for his enigmatic and emotional debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago.

Through careful planning and the participation of everyone involved—from organizers to vendors to concert-goers—all waste generated at Rock the Garden will be either recycled or composted (if not prevented in the first place).

Eureka Recycling, a locally based nationally recognized nonprofit organization specializing in recycling and waste reduction, provides innovative ways for people to experience firsthand the possibility that waste can be prevented. Providing zero-waste event services for over seven years, Eureka Recycling demonstrates that waste at events can be completely eliminated through careful planning, recycling, and composting. “We’re excited to be working with the Walker to make Rock the Garden zero-waste,” comments Susan Hubbard, CEO of Eureka Recycling. “Their staff has made a real commitment to doing the hard work that is necessary to make their event authentically green.”

Rock the Garden will feature live broadcasts from DJs of 89.3 The Current, an array of outdoors summer food (including crepes from Vincent, fresh food from Chipotle, and beer from Summit Brewing Company).

The Current began in 2005 as a non-commercial, member-supported Minnesota Public Radio station. Since then, the award-wining station has grown into a far-reaching community, and its Web audience includes members from around the world. Wherever it’s heard—on the radio, on the Internet or through an iPod—The Current brings listeners the best authentic new music alongside music that explores its roots and influences.

89.3 The Current’s Special Programming Dedicated to Rock the Garden 2008

Inside Rock The Garden: Sunday, June 15, 7 pm; rebroadcast Saturday, June 21, 12 noon

Inside Rock The Garden is a one-hour preview of the concert, hosted by Steve Seel. The special features The Current’s archived interviews and performances from Bon Iver, Cloud Cult, The New Pornographers, and Andrew Bird.

Live Broadcast Preview: Saturday, June 21, 1–6 pm

89.3 The Current broadcasts live from outside the Walker Art Center before the concert starts. Bill DeVille is on the air from 1–4 pm, and Mary Lucia is on from 4–6 pm. Artists will drop by the booth for short interviews and chat with the hosts.

Rock The Garden Live: Sunday, June 29, 7 pm

Mark Wheat hosts this special one-hour show, featuring the best performances from the Rock the Garden concert.

Tune in: 89.3 The Current is heard on KCMP 89.3 FM in the Twin Cities, KMSE 88.7 FM in Rochester, and streamed live worldwide at thecurrent.org.