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Westport will be a stop on Ms. Teng’s national Green Caravan Tour, which includes both environmental initiatives and an ambitious program with Habitat for Humanity. The headlining tour will see Teng and her four-piece band volunteering at local Habitat for Humanity affiliates in several markets, fueling their van with biodiesel, and raising money to combat poverty and global warming. Inspired by environmentalist musicians like Bonnie Raitt and Guster, Teng is bringing “green” touring to the club level. “You see eco-villages at amphitheaters, you see big buses running biodiesel—but I couldn’t find anyone trying this with vans and smaller venues,” she explains. Her tour van will run B20 biodiesel whenever available, and all flights will be offset with donations to Native Energy, an alternative energy company. Band members will ride bicycles locally and use reusable containers for food and drink. Additionally, the tour will feature eco-friendly merchandise, including organic fiber t-shirts and recycled-paper note cards, with a portion of the proceeds to be donated to an environmental group selected by her fans. Not content to tackle just environmental issues, Teng and her band will volunteer with Habitat for Humanity on their days off, and donate part of CD sales to the local affiliate in each city. “We want to make a contribution to the places we visit,” she says, “not just play the show for a few hundred people and then take off. Habitat is an ideal organization to partner with, because each affiliate is independent and attuned to the needs of the community.” Teng is encouraging her fans to volunteer as well. By visiting the Green Caravan Tour page on her website, www.viennateng.com/greencaravan, fans can download a “proof of participation” form which grants backstage access and other V.I.P. treatment at shows. Vienna Teng is a Zoë/Rounder recording artist whom Variety has called “singular among her peers.” She has been featured on numerous NPR and XM Radio shows, and has appeared on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” Teng took her stage name “Vienna” from the Austrian city famous for its musical history. She began studying classical piano at the age of 5. She continued to study music while she was working toward her degree in computer science at Stanford University, which she completed in 2000. The Westport Arts Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating arts experiences that contribute to individual growth and enrich the community. Events are made possible in part by sponsorship from the support from the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, Artur & Heida Hermanns Holde Foundation, BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Fairfield County Bank, Gault, Inc., Lillian August, Mitchells Westport, National Endowment for the Arts, Patagonia, The Riverside Club, Tiffany & Co., Venture New Generation Portraits, Westport Magazine, Westport Resources, WSHU Public Radio Group and Xerox Foundation. For more information, contact Westport Arts Center at 203-222-7070, www.westportartscenter.org, or visit the gallery, M-F 10–4 and Sat–Sun 12-4, at 51 Riverside Avenue, Westport. © Copyright by NorwalkPlus.com. Some articles and pictures posted on our website, as indicated by their bylines, were submitted as press releases and do not necessarily reflect the position and opinion of NorwalkPlus.com, Norwalk Plus magazine, Canaiden LLC or any of its associated entities. Articles may have been edited for brevity and grammar. Related Articles: Broadway, film and TV actors join Marisa Tomei in Joanne Woodward-directed reading of “Golden Boy” - Aug 20, 2008 - 12:08:31 PM Exposure Gallery moves to new location - Aug 20, 2008 - 12:06:48 PM Free screenings for skin cancer offered at Norwalk Hospital - Aug 20, 2008 - 12:06:29 PM Westport Arts Center presents soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples - Aug 20, 2008 - 7:40:05 AM Joan Osborne returns with her music - Aug 20, 2008 - 12:10:23 AM CURRENT HEADLINES: Top of Page
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