Touring in support of his new album Bar 17 (Rubber Jungle), Trey Anastasio has announced the formation the Seven Below Arts Initiative, a philanthropic organization that will foster artistic development and support of arts education in Vermont. The initiative, which was launched on the back of Anastasio’s fall tour, unites the musician with music magazine Relix by taking part in its “Wear Your Music” campaign. Trey will donate a set of strings from each performance on the tour, which kicked off on October 9th, to be made into bracelets and auctioned off to fans. All profits made from the bracelets will be donated to the Seven Below Arts Initiative. The link to the auction can be accessed at http://www.relixband.com.

“Since the initial creation of this campaign we’ve hoped to get Trey involved,” says Relix President/Publisher Steve Bernstein. “He’s such an admired musician and his involvement means a lot to everyone on the campaign. This is an especially unique opportunity because fans will be able to purchase the bracelet knowing the exact location and time the strings were played.”

Anastasio decided to establish the Seven Below Arts Initiative in light of the recent reductions in public funding for the arts, which has dramatically minimized opportunities to advance and explore the richness of artistic endeavors at all levels. In addition to the “Wear Your Music” campaign, Anastasio’s Seven Below Arts Initiative will offer a variety of ways to help develop opportunities for the arts and people of all ages through his musical endeavors, partnerships with artists and other nonprofits. Upcoming fundraising and outreach components include activities at Aniston’s upcoming tour dates during the summer 2007, as well as auctions and tickets giveaways via his website (www.trey.com). Seven Below will also offer residency programs, educational opportunities and community events for students of all ages at The Barn, a renovated, 200-year-old property that served as the recording studio for Anastasio’s former band Phish that is nestled in the Vermont hills.

Additional participating artists currently include John Mayer, Keith Richards, The Shins, Tenacious D, guitar legends Carlos Santana and Les Paul, blues legend Buddy Guy, Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, Ben Harper, Counting Crows, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Peter Frampton, Dickey Betts, Mike Gordon, Warren Hayes, Les Claypool, Goo Goo Dolls, Spearhead front man Michael Franti, Hot Tuna, Ziggy Marley, David Grisman, Keller Williams, moe., Béla Fleck, Umphrey’s McGee, Slightly Stoopid, Little Feat and Baaba Maal. Additional artists will be announced in the near future, with all profits go to charities personally selected by the donating artists, or to the following music-related charities: voter-registration organization Headcount; Carlos Santana’s Milagro Foundation; Grateful Dead charity The Rex Foundation; SEVA, which works to reduce avoidable blindness; and Rock ‘n’ Wrap It Up, which delivers leftover backstage catering to people in need.