This Land Is Your Land - A Tribute to John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie

For Immediate Release:



Initial Artist Lineup Announced



This Land Is Your Land

A Tribute to John Steinbeck, Woody Guthrie and the American Spirit

Saturday, September 20th at 3pm

Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord



Featuring performances by:



Sheryl Crow

Cat Power

Henry Rollins

Mike Ness

Son Volt

Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion

more to be announced



Tickets are on sale Sunday, August 24th at 10am



San Francisco, CA (August 19, 2008) - Live Nation is proud to announce the initial artist lineup for This Land Is Your Land, the first major event celebrating the legacies of both John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie. This Land Is Your Land will feature performances by Sheryl Crow, Cat Power, Henry Rollins (in a special spoken word set), Mike Ness, Son Volt and Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, in addition to an exhibit showcasing historical artifacts and rare video footage from the Woody Guthrie and John Steinbeck archives. A portion of the ticket proceeds from This Land Is Your Land will benefit the John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie family foundations, organizations intent on preserving the manuscripts and materials of, and educating the public about, John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie. Tickets for this special event on September 20th at the Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord will go on sale to the public on Sunday, August 24th at 10am at Livenation.com.



John Steinbeck has been called "the Woody Guthrie of American authors," and Woody Guthrie has been called "the soundtrack to Steinbeck." These icons of 20th century American art are bound by their writings (Grapes of Wrath, Dust Bowl Ballads), their concerns (plight of the common people, fate of the natural environment) and, now, through their families (Sarah Lee Guthrie, granddaughter of Woody Guthrie, is married to Johnny Irion, great nephew of John Steinbeck). Themes depicted by John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie more than half a century ago still resonate with Americans concerned about climate change, income disparity, and home foreclosures. This Land Is Your Land aims to bridge the decades and the generations, and, through a festival of music, art, and spoken word, celebrate John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie and the American spirit, one of resilience and resolve.



Items on display from the John Steinbeck archives include signed first editions of Steinbeck's novels, copies of private correspondence between Steinbeck and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as other historical and literary figures, and original one sheets from movies of Steinbeck including The Grapes of Wrath, Viva Zapata, The Wayward Bus and more.



Historical artifacts on display from the Woody Guthrie Archives include original lyrics, artwork and photographs, including his Dust Bowl Ballads and other materials which express Woody’s ever-present possibility of social justice, the power of activism and his love for the great spirit in each of us.



Each of the artists performing at This Land Is Your Land were handpicked for their dedication to social activism, environmental causes and human rights.



“We’re honored that these great artists are lending their voices to this celebration of two American icons. John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie were the voices of a generation, and the issues that resonated with them over 50 years ago still remain issues that we face today” said Lee Smith, Chairman of Live Nation San Francisco.



Tickets for This Land Is Your Land are on sale Sunday, August 24h at 10am at Livenation.com. Tickets can be purchased with no service charge at the venue box office on Sundays between 10am and 2pm. Reserved tickets are $86.50, $81.50 and $52.00 and general admission lawn tickets are $31.00 plus applicable charges. Four packs of lawn tickets are available for $75.00 plus applicable charges.



John Steinbeck Biography - http://www.steinbeck.org/Bio.html

Woody Guthrie Biography - http://www.woodyguthrie.org/biography.htm