To commemorate the remarkable mission and milestone of the “1000 Wells Project” and its successful completion of the organization’s first 1000 wells now providing safe water on the African continent, Jars Of Clay are hosting the, “Well: Done Celebration” a benefit concert at the historic Ryman on the evening of Tuesday, May 10th.

With the band that night will be a group of creative friends and fellow artists including HANSON, Eric Wainaina, Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken, and the evening’s host Charlie Peacock. Leaders from the various communities in Africa will also be in attendance.

Jars of Clay (L-R): Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell. Stephen Mason, and Matt Odmark. Photo Credit: Kharen Hill.

Throughout the evening video-a portion of it captured by Jars’ lead vocalist Dan Haseltine on a January trip to Zambia-- and personal stories from those on the ground with the ongoing work in Africa will invite those in attendance at the Ryman to partner in the further vision of Blood:Water Mission. Tickets for the 7:30 P.M. concert are priced at $30.00 and $50.00 and will benefit the continued work of Blood: Water Mission. Tickets are currently on sale through Ticketmaster, and the Ryman box office (online at www.ryman.com)

Messaged around the equation that “$1 can provide a person in Africa clean water for an entire year,” the Jars band members began sharing the call to action from their concert stages. From bake sales to 5Ks to lemonade stands, to college students who began on campus crusades, fans, families, and communities alike picked up the cause of the Blood:Water story. With no huge corporate sponsorships nor major donor underwriting, what began as the heart-felt humanitarian passion of a band of four musicians became a labor of love that touched hearts and inspired the generosity of countless thousands as it went global--$1 at a time.

A limited number of premium ticket packages that include premier seating, a pre-event reception and artist meet-and-greet can be purchased for $250.00 by contacting the Nashville headquarters of Blood:Water Mission at bloodwater @ bloodwatermission.com

It will be a full-on night of celebration at the Ryman. The first 1000 wells are only the beginning.

About Blood:Water Mission & The ‘1000 Wells Project.’
Blood:Water Mission is a non-profit organization based in Nashville, Tennessee established to address the HIV/AIDS and water crises in sub-Saharan, Africa through grassroots efforts. Founded by multi-platinum GRAMMY® Award winning band, Jars of Clay, the Mission began in 2005 as a call to personalize the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. After discovering the vital link between those living with HIV/AIDS and how their health is compromised with the lack of clean water, Blood:Water Mission launched the ‘1000 Wells Project’ as a nation-wide effort to provide funds for clean water, hygiene and sanitation to 1000 communities in sub Saharan Africa.

Notes Jars of Clay lead vocalist and Blood:Water Mission founder, Dan Haseltine in talking about the ‘1000 Wells Project’: “As I look back and see how far Blood:Water Mission has come—and how many lives have been impacted—I’m overwhelmed. “We celebrate this milestone but do not consider it a place to pause. Knowing this goal was attainable, compels us even more to tell the stories of our friends in Africa: of their villages being turned around due to the present of a functioning water well; of children who can now read and women who have learned a trade and are able to grow their village’s economy, all because they no longer have to walk miles to draw water—what that isn’t even safe to drink. We’re thankful to all who have joined us in this effort and ask you continued support as we continue to look and march ahead for our brothers and sisters in Africa.” ( www.bloodwatermission.com)

About Jars of Clay:
Jars of Clay, made up of members Dan Haseltine (vocals), Charlie Lowell (keyboards), Steve Mason (guitars), and Matt Odmark (guitars), launched its breakout career with the multi-format hit “Flood” in 1995. Since then, it has amassed more than 6 million in career sales (5 Gold, 2 Platinum and 1 Double Platinum certification), three GRAMMY Awards (from 8 nominations), an American Music Award nod, six GMA Dove Award nominations, 17 No. 1 radio hits, and numerous film credits and BMI honors for songwriting and performing. The band’s GRAMMY-nominated 10th album, The Long Fall Back to Earth, was followed by the recent release of the compelling and community-minded project, Jars of Clay Presents The Shelter. Jars of Clay have headlined thousands of sold-out shows and festivals, and is currently taking the “Shelter Tour” around the country with Matt Maher, Derek Webb and Audrey Assad.

While celebrated for its music and writing, Jars of Clay is most concerned with the needs in Africa. Compelled to make a difference, the group successfully launched the Blood:Water Mission, a non-profit organization promoting clean blood and water in Africa. Since the band’s debut, Jars of Clay has built an extraordinary career based on the uncompromising integrity of its music, worldview, and humanitarianism. For more information, please go to www.jarsofclay.com.

About HANSON:
The Hanson Brothers—Zac, Taylor, and Isaac—emote a fresh energy in their music that belies their track record of impacting the charts for more than a decade. Thirteen years ago their out-of the blue, soul-inspired brand of American pop-rock influenced a new generation of music to turn their hearts towards the R&B and soul idols that the brothers grew up loving—from Otis Redding to Chuck Berry. Multiple Grammy nominations (drummer Zac is the youngest nominated songwriter in the history of the award), years of headline shows from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl has given the band a worldwide fan base. Their 2010 album release Shout It Out received critical acclaim. In addition to their music, HANSON has championed a call for action on humanitarian efforts—galvanizing tens of thousands of supporters around the world to participate in barefoot one mile walks to fight HIV/AIDS and extreme poverty in sub Saharan Africa. ( www.hanson.net)

About Eric Wainaina:
His blend of Kenyan Benga rhythm and East African guitars with modern Western harmony has made Eric Wainaina one of the most recognized and respected talents to emerge from the African culture and to achieve international success. One of his earliest compositions, Kenya Only—later renamed Daima—became an unofficial anthem and a critical call to unity during several eras of political unrest in Kenya. His creative influences have spanned globally to touch festivals and international performance stages, musical theater, film, and television. His peace and social initiatives have included the formation of Umoja Pamoja, a campaign effort to encourage Kenyan youth to vote and do so peacefully and responsibly. He has held a number social ambassadorships and as a UN Messenger of Non Violence, received ‘The Escopetarra’: Instrument of Peace. A machine gun converted into a guitar. His much anticipated third album release, Love & Protest is slated to release in 2011. ( www.ericwainainamusic.com)

About Derek Webb:
Singer/songwriter Derek Webb continues to make iconoclastic, irresistible, radio ready pop records about love, war and social injustice. In 2006, Webb convinced his record label to give away over 80,000 free downloads of this critically acclaimed album, Mockingbird. The widely publicized promotion more than doubled Webb’s concert audiences, paving the way for him to launch a revolutionary new online distribution system, NoiseTrade—an entity that in less than a year put a small army of indie artists in direct contact with their fan base. More than 1,280,000 downloads later the site has made industry history. His latest album release, Stockholm Syndrome continues the eclectic journey as a sonically radical departure for Derek Webb. His genius for indelible hooks, soaring choruses and lyrics as politically incisive as they are emotionally revealing remain—this time wrapped in a folk/rock roots package he describes as “intentionally organic.” ( www.derekwebb.com)

About Sandra McCracken:
Describing herself as a “songwriter and caregiver,” her celebrated project In Feast Or Fallow emerges as a seed of inspiration that blossomed into a richly creative harvest of new hymns—hymns inspired by holding Jesus up in the 21st century as both beautiful and believable. Behind and beneath her inspiration are ponderings on modern day slavery and the work of the International Justice Mission. Working with her husband and frequent creative collaborator, Derek Webb, In Feast Or Fallow captures a sonic landscape that combines organic instruments and modern sampled elements to achieve an amazingly relevant collection of freshly inspired music that provides a transcending mix of old and new. ( www.sandramccracken.com)

About Charlie Peacock:
The eclectic creative genius of Charlie Peacock has had diverse expression in his roles as artist, songwriter, musician, producer, record label executive, author, thinker and activist for humanitarian world issues. Writing the template of living a successful life as an alternative influencer in both Christian music and American culture, his scope of creativity in music has swept across diverse genres from classic American soul to dance and jazz to alternative rock. He has played a significant role in creating hit music over three decades--including Amy Grant's Every Heartbeat (1991), and Switchfoot's Dare You To Move (2003), to his recent hand in the launch of The Civil Wars' debut album breakout of 2011 Barton Hollow.

For more info on Jars of Clay, visit the JFH Artists Database.