International entertainer Heather Nova is to star at Bermuda’s first “green” concert.

The singer/songwriter — a long-time campaigner on environmental issues — will headline next month’s free festival at the Arboretum in Devonshire, one of the most cherished public open spaces on the Island.

Sustainable development group Greenrock, which is organising the event, says it will be a chance to showcase products aiming to create a greener Bermuda, such as electric scooters, bio-diesel, home wind turbines and dehumidifying water coolers.

Ms Nova will be joined by recording artists Geoffrey Oryema, from Uganda; Fiona Pears, from New Zealand; ATB, from Germany; and Bermudians Joy Barnum and Olybhosh (the Chewstick band).

She said the show would help get across the message that people need to fight to protect Bermuda’s open spaces from growing numbers of development schemes.

“To have the opportunity to help promote this concert — something that’s very close to my heard — was fantastic,” she told a press conference yesterday.

“Bermuda’s natural environment is so important right now. We need to stop thinking only of ourselves and our pockets.

“We have to think about future generations and how we are going to preserve what makes Bermuda unique and special.

“We can build amazing hotels, but at the end of the day how are we going to attract tourists if we stop making Bermuda unique?”

Greenrock’s Andrew Vaucrosson said: “Sustainable development is such an important thing. Development should not exceed our capability. We only have limited space here.”

The concert takes place on Saturday, June 9, from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., with the following day pencilled in as a rain date.

Greenrock says that between performances it will conduct interviews with leading players in the sustainable development field, who will give advice about how people can “live more in harmony” with the environment.

Festival goers will be able to buy ethnic food, while Greenrock T-shirts, CDs and raffle tickets will also be available. Organisers say they will use eco-friendly techniques to minimise waste and reduce pollution.

Referring to the festival line-up, Mr. Vaucrosson said: “Heather has assisted us in bringing in some well accomplished artists from around the world.”

Geoffrey Oryema is a well-known artist who has collaborated among others with Peter Gabriel; Fiona Pears is described as a dynamic violinist and composer; ATB is said to be Germany’s biggest dance artist; Joy Barnum was a Bermuda Idol runner-up three years ago; and Olybhosh is a popular in-house band. “I think Bermuda is really in for a treat,” added Ms Nova.

Greenrock says its long-term goal is to encourage and empower individuals and companies to their bit in making Bermuda socially, economically and environmentally sustainable for future generations.

Ms Nova has previously performed at a Save the Gardens celebration which was arranged in protest at plans to build a hospital in the grounds of the Botanical Gardens. Those proposals were ditched following public opposition.

Two years ago, she was part of a successful campaign to stop the dredging of Sinky Bay, Southampton, to accommodate a new dolphin park.

For more information about Greenrock, log on to www.greenrock.org