For Great American Taxi and frontman Vince Herman, who grew up in West Virginia, fighting for social justice in Appalachia and calling for an end to mountaintop removal seems the natural thing to do.  According to a recent studypublished last week in the journal Environmental Research, a "significantly higher" rate of birth defects exists in babies born near mountaintop removal mining sites than those in non-mining areas. Mountaintop removal mining is a particularly environmentally destructive type of resource extraction that involves using explosives to blow the tops off of mountains to expose coal underneath the soil and rock.

So it’s no surprise that “Blair Mountain,” the aptly named title of the first single from the band’s forthcoming yet-to-be-titled new album (set for release this fall), premiered exclusively on the Sierra Club’s special public service call-to-action video, Battle for Blair Mountain. The song was recorded in May with Todd Snider producing. Master folk musician Tim O'Brien, a West Virginia native recently inducted into the WV Music Hall of Fame, plays banjo and fiddle on the track.

GAT is encouraging fans to download a free MP3 of “Blair Mountain” from the band’s website and get involved in restoring Blair Mountain to the National Register in support of the Sierra Club’s recently filed legal petition with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to make Blair Mountain off limits to mining.

“I wrote the song “Blair Mountain” to try and do my part to let people know about what we as working people stand to lose if Blair Mountain is destroyed,” said Herman. “As the grandson of a proud union miner, and former resident of the mountain state, this struggle connects deeply. The coal wars are not over in this country as whole communities are destroyed, water tables ruined and mountains bombed daily in what has become a national sacrifice zone to the interests of the coal companies. I hope that his song may help get us closer to ending the destruction of the most diverse forests in America.”

Great American Taxi continues its summer tour; June highlights included concerts with Barry Sless (Phil and Friends, David Nelson Band, Moonalice) at the Nelson Family Vineyards on 6/19, at the Hopmonk in Sebastopol on 6/22, and special guests New Monsoon in Santa Cruz on 6/23. More surprise guests will be announced for the Eldo in Crested Butte on 7/9 and GAT played with Todd Snider on 6/25 and 6/26.

Great American Taxi includes Vince Herman, Chad Staehly, guitarist Jim Lewin, bassist Brian Adams and drummer Chris Sheldon.

Held this July 14-17 at Marvin’s Mountaintop in Masontown, WV, the 15th Annual All Good Music Festival announces the addition of six new artists performing the event:

Warren Haynes Band
SOJA
Greensky Bluegrass
That 1 Guy
These United States
All Mighty Senators

--

The complete list of artists confirmed and already announced for this year’s All God Festival include:

FURTHUR featuring PHIL LESH & BOB WEIR
Primus
Pretty Lights
moe.
Umphrey’s McGee
STS9
John Butler Trio
Dark Star Orchestra
Yonder Mountain String Band
Keller Williams
Galactic
Toots and the Maytals
JJ Grey & Mofro
Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
The Bridge
Big Gigantic
Donna the Buffalo
The Infamous Stringdusters
Beats Antique
Papadosio
Toubab Krewe
Hot Buttered Rum
Marco Benevento
Zach Deputy
The Werks
Everyone Orchestra
J Roddy Ralston & The Business
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad
Dana Fuchs
Orgone
The Rex Jam Hosted by Matt Butler & Everyone Orchestra

--

With so many guaranteed unforgettable performances, attendees are spared from missing out on even a single song thanks to the All Good Festival’s unique model of no overlapping sets.  Two side-by-side stages host over 40 hours of music from a wide array of genres including the best of rock, bluegrass, electronic, jam, reggae, funk, and more.

With a record sold out crowd in 2010, patrons and media hailed the event. MTV noted the All Good Festival’s “perfect combination of great music, beautiful scenery, crisp mountain air and a friendly, laid back vibe” while the Pittsburgh City Paper called it “the best one yet.”

Taking place atop Marvin's Mountaintop, with over 650 acres of privately owned land, the All Good Festival offers picturesque rolling hills with a panoramic view of the surrounding Allegheny Mountains. Great camping is located throughout the mountaintop and on-site provisions include kids area, family camping, drum circles, food & craft vendors, quality microbrews, RV sections, ATMs, regularly serviced porta-johns, water stations, first aid medical unit, shower house and designated bonfire areas.

For the discerning festival-goer the All Good Festival offers the ‘Even Better VIP’ package. This elite festival option includes exclusive viewing and camping areas with premium site-lines, Thursday admission, private air-conditioned bathrooms, private showers, premium camping overlooking the Main Stage, Fest-taxi shuttles, exclusive All Good merchandise and much more.

A limited amount of Advance Tier 1 tickets are available now until they sell out at http://allgood.missiontix.com or charge by phone at 800-760-9008, at that time, ticket prices increase to Level 1 pricing. All Good Festival 2011 ticket prices are as follows:

Advance  Tier 1 3-Day Passes (Friday-Monday) available for $159, $40 off the gate price
Advance  Tier 1 4-Day Passes (Thursday-Monday) available for $189, $50 off the gate price
Advance  Tier 2 Even Better VIP Passes (Thursday-Monday) available for $480

The All Good Music Festival is pleased to announce its 15th annual event to be held July 14-17, 2011 on Marvin’s Mountaintop near Masontown, WV.  As the Mid-Atlantic’s longest running music & camping event, this summer’s annual musical oasis saw the festival attracting record crowds, bringing in fans from every state in the country and internationally.

Along with announcing next year’s dates, the All Good Festival is asking its fans who they’d like to see perform on Marvin’s Mountaintop in 2011.  Fans who share their wish list on the All Good Festival’s Facebook page will also be entered into a drawing to win a pair of festival tickets for next year’s event.  Interested fans can have their vote and voice be heard via this online form.

Veteran All Good attendees have witnessed an eclectic mix of some of the world’s finest live performers and 2011 promises to be no different.  Past performers have included Furthur (Phil Lesh & Bob Weir), Widespread Panic, Ben Harper and Relentless 7, The Flaming Lips, Trey Anastasio Band, Phil Lesh & Friends, moe., Les Claypool, Gov’t Mule, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Femi Kuti & the Positive Force, Umphrey’s McGee, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Dark Star Orchestra, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Keller Williams, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Old Crow Medicine Show, STS9, Bassnectar, Yonder Mountain String Band and many others.

--

“For many, traveling thousands of miles to take part in this experience is the highlight of their summer and a yearly tradition. It's a perfect combination of great music, beautiful scenery, crisp mountain air and a friendly, laid back vibe.” – MTV Newsroom, 2010

“…a weekend of great music and great friends that always seems to go out with a bang!" CNN, 2009

Highlighted in SPIN, 2008 as one of “Standout Summer Festivals”

“All Good is the best fest for jamheads...” ROLLING STONE, 2007 as one of the “Best Summer Fests”