Edens Edge Go Green

Edens Edge were thrilled to be in their hometown of Bentonville, Ark. this past weekend, even if they did have to work. It was the first time the group had returned home for a performance since their move to Nashville and their single, 'Amen,' started getting radio airplay.

The group's Hannah Blaylock, Cherrill Green and Dean Berner took part in the Walton Arts Center's First series, with the purpose of educating people on environmental issues. "We had a blast," Hannah tells The Boot. "It was so much fun and such an honor to be part of the festivities."

The group did two shows, one in Bentonville and another in Fayetteville, where the audience was filled with lots of family and friends. "It was really the first time our family and friends got to see our whole 45-minute set with our new songs in it," Cherrill adds. "It was also the first time we got to see an audience singing the words to our single along with us. That was great!"

"It felt really good to be home," Dean says. "Everyone from our hometown had supported us when we were a group playing around there, and then when we moved to Nashville four years ago they believed in what we were doing and encouraged us. We've worked hard since we got here. It was great to be able to show them what we've been doing in Nashville all this time."

The trio was happy to make an appearance that encourages people to be green. "We support it and try to do what we can in our personal lives to support green living," Hannah says. "We all grew up with a special connection to nature. It's one of the platforms for our band, and to be able to be a part of something that promoted green living was a perfect match for us.

Our environments shape our lives and if you're a musician, your music. "Some of my earliest memories are of hiking through the Ozark Mountains with my family, and I can't help but believe that my love of nature has influenced how I approach writing and music," Hannah continues. "I love to write outside, someplace where there is a scenic view or a quiet stream rolling by. Nature has its own rhythms and movements which are inherently musical."

Cherrill agrees, saying, "I grew up in the country, so I end up writing a lot about where I come from: the space, sounds, clean air and beautiful stars in the evening."

Hannah spent the first seven years of her life in Alaska, before moving to a 600-acre cattle farm in Arkansas. "Being in nature is where my soul truly belongs," she explains. "It's where I go to realign with my true self and it's where I can experience God the most. Everything washes away and my mind clears and life is simple and beautiful."

As a group, they all do little things such as turning off the lights when they leave a room, and they urge their fans to do the same. "It can be as simple as using LED lights or not run water the entire time when you brush teeth," Cherrill says. "We've heard that if you don't take receipt when you pump gas, you can save a big number of trees. Another thing is not using bottled water, but getting a water filter and a reusable bottle. If everyone does a little bit it all adds up."

Choosing the environmentally friendly products also helps. "One of the sponsors was Burt's Bees, and all of their stuff is recyclable and all natural," Hannah points out. "There is power in your money, so supporting green products is a powerful thing."

The band took time to visit with family and friends while they were in Arkansas, and may have even bragged about their next gig. They head out with Brad Paisley for his This is Country Music tour, beginning May 28 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa.

"We have heard about all the pranks that happen on Brad's tour so we're thinking of trying to form an alliance with one of the other acts and come up with something really good to play on him," Dean says. "I've been trying to come up with something that will be really good to do to him."

Get a full list of tour dates here.