About Me
OUR PRODUCT:
The Giving Tree Band is a socially and environmentally conscious group of Chicago folk musicians with a sound described as "all natural progressive acoustic earth music." Using songwriting and performing as a vehicle for community service, the band’s mission is to spread education on natural, healthy, and simple living and inspire a culture of sustainability and peace through music. The economically and ecologically sound decisions of the band include performing unplugged (some of the instruments were built from naturally fallen trees and recycled woods), duplicating their CD's with recycled materials at the wind-powered facility of Earthology Records, and selling T-shirts made only from organic cotton. Their concerts have supported a variety of non-profit organizations including Hand In Hand USA, World Vision, One: The Campaign To Make Poverty History, Action Without Borders, Literacy Works, Illinois Renewable Energy Association, Illinois Environmental Council, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, and Growing Home Farm, which provides training and employment opportunities in organic agriculture for homeless and low-income people in Chicago.
VISION STATEMENT:
The Giving Tree Band members consider it their duty, as musical artists, to serve. They view songwriting as an opportunity to explore ways to increase understanding and to improve the overall well-being of people and the environment. They believe that performing is simply a chance to connect with others, share these insights and perspectives, and point the way to a brighter future.
In music and life, The Giving Tree Band members continue to embrace simplicity and sustainability. In other words, the group does its best to make choices that are economically and ecologically sound- respecting all human, animal, and plant life. Unwilling to compromise these values, they hope to inspire people to build a more sustainable culture and open new avenues for artists to express themselves in a healthier way.
MUSICAL EXPERIENCE:
The Giving Tree Band musicians have backgrounds in jazz, folk, rock & roll, bluegrass, and classical music. They have all studied at the university level at schools such as College of Dupage, Berklee College of Music, and Georgetown University and are music instructors themselves.
They are also no strangers to the stage. They have performed in many of the major cities in the United States and have been featured at many of Chicago's most esteemed venues including McCormick Placke, The House of Blues, The Hard Rock Cafe, and Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple. They have been on the play bill with some of the very best local, regional, and national talent including Willy Porter, Pine Leaf Boys, Andreas Kapsalis Trio, Cornmeal, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Head of Femur, Old School Freight Train, and Jim Donovan (of Rusted Root).
