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Jars of Clay Joins Live 8 Lineup In Philadelphia, July 2

Acclaimed pop alternative band Jars of Clay have been added to the list of chart-topping superstars including Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews Band, Destiny’s Child, Linkin Park, Maroon 5, Sarah McLachlan, Rob Thomas, Stevie Wonder, Toby Keith, Alicia Keys, Black Eyed Peas and Will Smith who will play the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia on July 2. Celebrity presenters also participating include Salma Hayek, Chris Tucker and Natalie Portman.

“I watched Live AID as a teenager, and it was inspiring,” recalls Dan Haseltine, Jars of Clay’s lead singer.

“There is never a moment in this age when we can rest on what we have done to serve the poor and the suffering,” he continues. “As long as there are people without access to water, and people who do not even have the basics for survival, we who have so much, should never rest. I believe we can make poverty history.”

The Live 8 event will be broadcast entirely online at aolmusic.com, with special programming set to air on MTV, and on radio at XM Satellite Radio and on Premiere Radio Networks.

Live 8 will feature concerts in Philadelphia, London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Cornwall, Toronto, South Africa and Tokyo to raise awareness about poverty in Africa and encourage the leaders of the G8 nations to eliminate Third World debt, increase aid to Africa and adopt fair trade practices.

While celebrated for its music and writing, Jars of Clay is most concerned with the needs in Africa. Compelled to make a difference, members Dan Haseltine, Stephen Mason, Matt Odmark and Charlie Lowell founded the Blood:Water Mission in early 2002. The first effort of this non-profit was the “1000 Wells Project” with a goal of raising funds to build, rebuild and repair 1000 wells in urban and rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. To date, 42 wells have been constructed bringing clean water to more than 34,000 people.

Multi-Platinum and three time GRAMMY Award winning band Jars of Clay launched its career with its hit, “Flood,” in 1995. Since then, it’s amassed more than five million in career sales, 4 Gold, 2 Platinum and 1 double-platinum certifications, three GRAMMY Awards, an American Music Award nod, 17 No.1 radio hits, and numerous film credits and BMI honors for songwriting and performing.