The Duhks: Green Music You Can Dance To

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The Duhks (pronounced “ducks”) have a style that’s hard to classify: They describe it as a blend of “Gospel, Celtic, Old time, Zydeco, Country, Latin, French-Canadian and sheer Rock & Roll.” Sure, the band was nominated for a Grammy in a country music category, but as anyone who has heard them knows, they’re hardly boot-in-your-ass CMT stars.

Country or not, one label that applies is “green.” As claw-hammer banjo adept Leonard Podolak explained to me after one recent show, even musicians need to pull their environmental weight if we’re going to solve our society’s sustainability problems.

To that end, the band—which spends 75 percent of their time on the road—has invested in a biodiesel van to reduce their environmental footprint. (Podolak acknowledges that biofuels are not a perfect solution, just the best they can do for now.) The band is also spreading their message through Green Duhks, their sustainability project. Environmentally-minded fans can join the “Flock” and support The Duhks Sustainability Project by purchasing a “very limited edition original art poster” printed with recovered ink on 100% recycled paper.

“We’ve forgotten what is sacred in this fast paced world,” sings Sarah Dugas. “We take, and keep taking, without thinking of what we’re given.” It’s true, and it’s not just her sirenic voice that’s got me convinced. Here’s “Fast Paced World,” the title track of The Duhks’ latest album: