Jason Ringerberg is the latest musical artist to be featured on stage at the Pennsylvania Environmental Council website.

Farmer Jason is the "twin brother" of Jason & the Scorchers frontman Jason Ringenberg (wink-wink), a legend in alternative country. Hot out of Nashville, the Scorchers essentially invented alternative country in the early 1980s with a sound that fused country with punk.

They have been hailed as the best band ever from the modern American South, and in September 2008 will be honored with the Americana Music Association's lifetime achievement award.

Jason recently re-united the Scorchers, but this father of three also is a huge hit with kids when he performs as Farmer Jason, featuring songs about forests, wildlife (including a "Punk Rock Skunk"), a butterfly and catfish.

Listen to two of Jason's quite-different songs - the clever "Catfish Song" by Farmer Jason and "Harvest Moon" by the Scorchers - as part of PEC's on-going featured artist series. While PEC is known across the state for our work on watersheds, sustainable communities and energy and climate change, our music feature is offered just for fun!

Fans and the curious will get a rare treat Aug. 29-31 when Jason performs four shows at the AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest, which features 25 artists. Jason & the Scorchers will reunite for two shows, and Farmer Jason will play two at this free music festival.

A father of three, his Farmer Jason character was originally invented to entertain his young daughters. His Farmer Jason albums are witty, entertaining, and feature musicianship that's as good or better than anything Ringenberg's ever done. Many of his songs, especially those on "Farmer Jason Rocks The Forest," express environmental themes to kids without ever talking down to them. Wrote No Depression, "Sounding as excited as a Captain Crunched 6-year old on Saturday morning, Farmer Jason dares you not to sing along. Resistance is utterly futile whether you're 7 or 70."

Ringenberg, who was once memorably described as "a hayseed Iggy Pop," also has had a notable solo career, and in fact just released a solo retrospective, "Best Tracks and Side Tracks: 1979-2007."

Other artists featured on the PEC website include Last Train Home, The Rescues, The NewLanders and Guster.

8/8/2008