Eco Music Festival in Colorado Fourth of July weekend

This summer, EMU introduces the Eco Music Festival (www.emufestival.com). EMU takes over an entire ski resort Fourth of July weekend (June 30-July 3) to showcase some of the most vibrant musical acts and corporate eco-trendsetters of this generation. The innovative summer destination festival will feature popular and emerging musicians from folk to rock to electronica, combined with a range of events geared for fun and adventure. From mountainside concerts and guided hiking tours, to an Innovation Village and poolside cocktails, EMU is designed for positive impact for both festival goers and the planet. “EMU is a summer event that’s fueled by a whole different form of alternative energy,” said the founders of EMU Festival. “'EMU sets the stage for individuals and families to mingle in a natural setting where they can explore the environment, new music, and cutting-edge technology and ideas.” EMU is designed to be environmentally friendly from the ground up with 100 percent sustainable tents, biodegradable water bottles, plates and utensils. In addition, the festival’s ticket vendor will plant a tree through the nonprofit organization Trees, Water & People for each ticket sold. These efforts will help offset up to 220 pounds of carbon emissions for every tree planted, and once the concert is sold out, the festival would be offsetting 1.2 million pounds of carbon dioxide. Located one and half miles above the sea, EMU’s host community of Snowmass Village, CO has a long-term commitment to sustainability. The environmentally conscious community is the first of only two ski resorts in the country to receive the most respected environmental stamp of approval: third party ISO 14001 certified resort. Additionally, EMU Festival is teaming up with Neenan Company to create the first sustainable Expo/Festival Tent prototype. Replacing the traditional white Expo Tent design commonly used for expo booths, EMU’s Eco Tents will provide an eco-friendly aesthetic within a free-standing structure. EMU Festival is collaborating with a Colorado based firm, The Neenan Company of Fort Collins, to take the challenge. The Neenan Company, dedicated to providing options to balance budgets and the environment through Archistruction, launched an 80-person, company-wide competition to create the best Eco Tent prototype. For the past few weeks, Neenan employees have been hard at work and on March 31, EMU Festival announced the top three designs for the public to vote on (visit www.emufestival.com to vote). EMU will make it possible for festival goers to Party for Positive Impact. Sustainability is a key part of the DNA and a seamless and integral element for the EMU experience. Ease into the experience with a stay at the LEED Gold-Certified Viceroy Resort, dine at local eateries that have “greened” their menu, enjoy mountainside yoga or take the Eco Climb-It Challenge to raise funds for green initiatives in local schools. Among the musical acts scheduled to entertain at Snowmass, are Leftover Salmon (www.leftoversalmon.com), Perpetual Groove (www.pgroove.com), Tea Leaf Green (www.tealeafgreen.com), The New Mastersounds (www.newmastersounds.com), Stokeswood (www.myspace.com/stokeswood), and RJD2 (www.facebook.com/RJD2). The exciting “Headliner” act will be announced nationally on May 29. The fun does not stop there as music lovers can hear live music throughout the festival during the Welcome Concert, Sunset Social, After-Parties and an exclusive Sunday Pool Party. Tickets are available at http://www.emufestival.com/tickets. Local/early bird tickets are $59.50, General Admission are $70 and VIP tickets are $250. Kids 12 years old and younger are free, with the purchase of an adult ticket.