Davina Henry and Jerome Reynolds, STAR Writers

Lead singer of reggae band Rootz Underground, Stephen Newland, says the Earth Hour audience is in for a good time at Saturday's concert.

According to Newland, the synergy between reggae music and environmental protection is a great one.

"We expect to play good music for the people and we are also expecting the audience to have an open heart when we play.

"Reggae music is all about the people, and Rootz Underground believes that the music can be used to change the mindset of people to care about the environment. Once you get people to care, you can get everyone to play their part," Newland said.

With their tour of Europe less than a week away, the band is going all-out for this performance, noting that fans are in for a special treat.

Newland, who also doubles as an environmentalist, a farmer and a naturalist, says the earth has given so much to Jamaicans and, as such, citizens have a duty to preserve the environment.

Bearing this in mind, he launched his Re-Leaf Environmental Awareness Program (REAP) three years ago and has now partnered with LASCO to undertake an awareness campaign and competition in high schools.

This year's competition involves 250 schools vying for several prizes, including tablets, desktop computers, iPods and televisions. Winners are judged by how best they protect and care for the environment.

"Since launching this programme, we have seen the planting of more than 4000 trees, collection of over 300,000 plastic bottles and the establishing of 97 gardens in schools," Newland told THE WEEKEND STAR.

The third annual acoustic concert is being held at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre tomorrow and will feature artistes such as BLACK as COLE, Keznamdi, Runkus and The Old Skl Band, Kelissa and Kabaka Pyramid as well as their first international performer Ras Muhamad from Indonesia.

Inspired by the beyond-the-hour activity, Earth Hour will this year ask participants to share how they are taking action via Instagram, Twitter and Facebook platforms promoting the #EarthHour, #EarthHourJA and #ChangeClimateChange.