May 1 brought a festival with a difference to Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD, as a diverse roster of bands — including the Strokes, Girl Talk, Cold War Kids, Lupe Fiasco, and Crystal Castles — came together to celebrate music in an eco-conscious fashion.

Organized by the DC-based Sweetgreen group, the Sweetlife Festival put the spotlight on organic and locally sourced foods, healthy living, and environmental awareness. The carbon-neutral event drew a huge crowd that remained ecstatic despite intermittent rain, aware, most likely, that the precipitation was as good for the earth as the forward-thinking practices the festival endorsed. Or perhaps everyone was just blissed out on the consistently solid performances from everyone on the bill. [Photos by Gabriela Filasky]

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We dig the video and the single, Louder Than Ever, by those perennial indie pop upstarts, Cold War Kids.

On our sister site, My Secret Playlist, we invite our favorite musicians, DJs and producers to write about eight songs that are inspiring them right now. You can hear some of the tunes that the artists select and discover a whole heap of cool music along the way. Some of the musicians to compile a Secret Playlist so far include The Dandy Warhols, The B52s, Donna Summer (disco, baby), Girl Talk, Cold War Kids, Moby, The Presets and The Vines.