Rufus Wainwright Promotes Blackoutsabbath

Earth Hour, where people around the world are asked to turn out their lights and not use any electrical appliances or products for 60 minutes, takes place at 8:30 p.m. on March 28.

But singer, songwriter, musician, Judy Garland worshipper and dog-human marriage supporter Rufus Wainwright is spearheading another grassroots energy conservation initiative called Blackoutsabbath.

He suggests on his website that everyone should "turn off all electricity and refrain from all energy expending activities that could harm the environment for twelve hours on June 21, 2009 (noon to midnight)."

Why should you listen to Wainwright? Because he professes to be "one of the most important voices of the last decade" in his message about Blackoutsabbath. Kanye West might have something to say about that.

A concert staged and performed without electricity will be held at New York City's City Winery on March 4 to promote Blackoutsabbath. Wainwright will be joined on stage by Teddy Thompson, Jenni Muldaur, his half-sister Lucy Wainwright Roche and aunt Sloan Wainwright, with others to be announced.

You can find more information about Blackoutsabbath here and see Wainwright sucking up power at these shows:

Feb. 12 Red Bank, NJ @ Count Basie Theatre w/Lucy Wainwright Roche
Feb. 13 Montclair, NJ @ Wellmont Theatre w/Lucy Wainwright Roche
Feb. 14 Philadelphia, PA @ Kimmel Center w/Martha Wainwright
Feb. 21 Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater
April 25 Harrisburg, PA @ Sunoco Performance Theater