Homegrown Sound

Chats with bands about the birds and the bees. A musical nature adventure by Brian Banks. Presented in partnership with the David Suzuki Foundation, promoting nature through music. "Unless we encourage our children to reconnect with and appreciate the natural world, we can't expect them to help protect or care for it." - David Suzuki

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Really excited to announce that Hands & Teeth will be playing the first ever live Homegrown Sound session this Friday July 25 in Toronto!! 7pm Christie Pits park, during the Homegrown Pizza night.

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Homegrown Sound is at Toronto Urban Roots Festival!

Come say hey at the David Suzuki Foundation tent to learn more about Homegrown National Park and Homegrown Sound. I chatted about nature with TURF bands The Waco Brothers and Shovels & Rope yesterday. Alan and Cary Ann both had great perspectives - and accents!

Some very stylish Homegrown Sound t-shirts - designed by Wolfmask of London - are on sale for $20 at our tent. Pick up a tee to support the cause! 

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Yoko Ono says frack off and stand up for your planet.

Glastonbury 2014. HomegrownSound.org / Brian Banks.

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Yoko Ono. A truly inspiring soul.

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I can't believe it's Sunday already! I've been camped out at Glastonbury since Wednesday, and the time has whizzed by in a blur of mud and music.

I spent a good time hanging out on Friday with Jess and Bern Goyder, sibling musicians and a couple of Glasto vets, who showed me some of the highlights of the green fields.

Yesterday I chatted to Polly Money, the most smiley musician ever, who got a great reception on the BBC Introducing Stage. Afterwards I met The Tuts, an all-girl band from 'aaaayes in London, for a chat around the Leftfield campfire. The Tuts are a totally raucous trio, with big attitudes, bigger minds and the hooks to go with it. They had plenty to say about conservation, Coca-Cola and Ace Ventura - all hot topics!

To most people it must sound absolutely mental to jump on a plane to go to a music festival to chat to a few bands about nature, but it's been such a trip. So appreciative of all the awesome artists who have been cool enough to be involved with this. The journey will continue when I bring Homegrown Sound to TURF fest in Toronto, as soon as I land back in Canada.  I'm excited to start sharing these videos once all the mud and dust settles. Gotta dash right now to chat to another band backstage at John Peel. It's going to be so tough leaving here tomorrow. Viva Glasto! Much love. - Brian

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Glastonbury! Yesterday I arrived at the biggest music festival on earth. It's a paradise of music and nature.

Everywhere you look at Glastonbury you are surrounded by nature: the rolling green Somerset fields, gardens and installations throughout the grounds, and so many great green people, including a massive Green Peace presence.

I'm looking forward to chatting to some bands from Friday when they start arriving, but until then I am enjoying the experience. I have never seen a music festival like this. I'm feeling very inspired by the awesome people that I have met already, and all the incredible green initiatives that Glastonbury have in place.

- Brian

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The journey has began! The first Homegrown Sound interviews were recorded yesterday. I chatted with Conner from Half Moon Run and Maylee Todd at Field Trip music festival in Toronto. Conner and Maylee were both excited to chat about their love for nature. They spoke passionately about their first formative experiences, and the vital role that getting outdoors plays in their lives. Maylee and Conner had different perspectives, but both spoke with love and shared some deep thoughts.

These were two of the most fun chats with bands I've ever had. It was inspiring to hear Maylee and Conner speak with such awareness, love and passion about something so vital.

- Brian

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Why this matters.

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Testing, 3, 2, 1