On December 2, Billy Wylder and Bow Thayer bring their worldly infused, American roots-rock and uplifting energy to ArtsRiot in Burlington, VT to benefit 350VT, the grassroots group dedicated to bold action on climate change. 350VT activists will bring stories and video directly from the Standing Rock resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota.

Here in the Green Mountain State, 350VT is unifying a mass movement for solutions that both lift up Vermonters and cut down carbon. “We believe that the only way we’ll see meaningful action on climate change is if we can counter the power of the fossil fuel industry with the power of people taking collective action,” said Maeve McBride, coordinator of 350VT. 350Vermont is a statewide, independent, and local group affiliated with 350.org.

From the beginning, 350VT’s Tar Sands Free campaign kept tar sands out of the Northeast Kingdom, and now works to resist all extreme energy projects to keep fossil fuels in the ground. 350VT pushes to get all investments out of fossil fuel companies, but especially divesting our state pension and other large investments. 350VT advocates to keep our State House the People’s House, to win carbon pricing, better renewable energy policy, and a just transition.

// The Bands //

From the archaic streets of Jerusalem to the small towns of America and all along the way, music has been the thread and source of strength for Billy Wylder. The band features Avi Salloway from Bombino/Hey Mama/Avi & Celia joined by an inspired cast of top-notch musicians who have performed in over twenty-five countries. Over the last three years, Salloway has toured the globe, performing with Bombino, the Tuareg guitar virtuoso from Niger, Africa and is now bringing new and old songs to life with the Wylder family. Billy Wylder, like their peers, the David Wax Museum and Rubblebucket, bring sounds from around the globe to meld with their American roots, taking the listener on a journey from bayou to borough, desert to dreamland. The band has toured extensively, performing and collaborating with renowned artists including Jack Johnson, Bombino, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Pete Seeger, The Low Anthem and supporting the legendary Taj Mahal.

“We are thrilled to team up with 350VT to support the effort to build a more environmentally sound and sustainable world. As we confront the grave threats of climate change, we must band together to transform our energy systems and the institutions that maintain our global dependence on fossil fuels. The good people at 350VT and 350 international are leading the way and we are honored to be a part of the fight,” exclaims Salloway. He is currently at Standing Rock with 350VT supporting the Standing Rock Souix in the fight to protect the water and sacred indigenous lands.

Bow Thayer is an accomplished and prolific songwriter who cultivates influences from the worlds of rock, blues, folk, prog, bluegrass and everything and anything in between to produce music that is heartfelt, soulful and uniquely his. He has lived up to his “reputation as a sublimely gifted artist” by pursuing a creative vision that seeks to lead Americana music into the future. Finally gaining national recognition, American Songwriter Magazine says "this one time Levon Helm compatriot is the best artist to come from New England in recent years." In October 2016, Bow released his most recent album, "The Source and the Servant.”

Tickets: www.artsriot.com/events/350vt

350VT: http://350vermont.org

Billy Wylder: http://billywylder.com

Bow Thayer: http://bowthayer.com