by Jedd Ferris

In 1985 the international Live Aid concerts raised millions of dollars for those suffering from famine. Just last month the Live 8 concerts united millions of people in an attempt to convince the G8 Summit leaders to increase the aid provided to combat poverty in Africa. Can we rock for the cause here in the Blue Ridge? Avram Friedman of the Canary Coalition, a non-profit clean air advocacy group, thinks we can-hence his creation of Air Aid.

The concert headlined by stalwart folk activist Steve Earle will take place on Friday, August 26 at The Orange Peel-Asheville’s popular smoke-free 1,000-seat music hall.

The concert will also be the finishing line of the second annual Relay for Clean Air, which will change course this year and travel 100 miles along the Blue Ridge Parkway from Newfound Gap in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the venue door in downtown Asheville. The relay will be divided into 40 segments, which will be individually separated for biking, running, and walking.

The purpose of the conjoining two events is to focus national attention on air quality issues in the Appalachian region. Friedman’s initial vision was to model Air Aid after Willie Nelson and Neil Young’s Farm Aid concert, which annually fills amphitheatres to benefit private working farmers. With that goal still in mind, he calls this concert a great starting point.

“Most people are still unaware of the poor air quality that surrounds this area,” says Friedman. “When they find out the truth, they are angry and stunned. If they use that emotion to get involved in change, it’s amazing what can get done.”

In 2002 the state of North Carolina passed the Clean Smokestacks Act, which mandated a clean up of the state’s 14 utility-owned coal burning power plants. Coal-fired power plants are the largest sources of air pollution in the country.

“Even state representatives that were friendly to us said we would never get it passed, because the energy companies are too powerful,” he explains. “But when we got a lot of public support involved, it passed almost unanimously. When people get together in a cohesive manner, it is very powerful, and that is what we are trying to do with this event.”

North Carolina is still affected heavily from the power plants of surrounding states. Virtually all of the power plants in Southeast are exempt from the Clean Air Act by a loophole that allows older plants to meet lower emissions standards.

Earle, still touring in support of his anti-Bush driven album “The Revolution Starts…Now,” was happy to oblige an appearance at Air Aid after being contacted by Peggy Seeger (half-sister of famous folk singer Pete Seeger), who was on the original board of the Canary Coalition. The coalition-focused exclusively on air quality-formed in October 2000 and now has 700 members in 22 states.

The event will also be offering education on wind energy and alternative transportation. Supporting acts on the Air Aid bill include Appalachian bluegrass favorites Larry Keel and Natural Bridge and David Via and Corn Tornado.

For more information about joining the relay or grabbing tickets to the show visit www.canarycoalition.org.