An Essential Summer Music Event: Green River Festival

Now more than three decades old, this festival evolved from a one-shot, fifth-anniversary party in 1986 to celebrate a progressive music station, now called “The River.” The music of 10,000 Maniacs and NRBQ drew about 2,000 people to that first event. Since then, thousands have come for such headliners as Dr. John, Taj Mahal, Beausoliel, Norah Jones, Arlo Guthrie, Mavis Staples, Lucinda Williams, and the Avett Brothers.

This music festival is becoming legendary in its own right, combining a line-up of 35-40 acts on four stages, local foods, beer and wine, handmade crafts a dance tent and plenty of activities for children.

It was included as one of 50 essential summer festivals in the New York Times and was also mentioned in Rolling Stone Magazine as a “must-see” music festival in 2015. Your seat is your picnic blanket or a lawn chair on the sprawling fields of the college campus.

Couples have met, fallen in love and even gotten married here. And their children have grown up with this summer attraction. For many people, coming to the Green River Festival is as natural as seeing fireworks on the Fourth of July.

People come from all over the country and beyond to this event, according to festival director, Jim Olsen of Signature Sounds, which presents the event. Besides ticket-holders the festival goers may include some of the 400 too 450 festival volunteers, vendors and guests, says Olsen.  

Franklin County sports several hotels and bed-and-breakfasts for those seeking lodging. Additionally, festival goers can purchase “camping tickets” online for traditional camping or for RV's to stay overnight at the Fairgrounds.

The festival now has four to five stages of music and other performances. You could come just for the headliner musicians, but you might also leave with new bands to love.

“You cannot go to the Green River Festival and not fall deeply and madly in love with a band that you have never heard of,” festival committee member Becky George, once remarked.

Among the “future favorite” performers who were on stage early in their careers were the Avett Brothers, Brandi Carlile, Natalie Merchant and Alison Krause, according to Olsen. He characterizes most the variety of music offered as “based in any kind of American roots music” – a broad net that includes rock, country, folk, blues, Cajun. In recent years, however, world music has been added to the lineup.

“We try to stay contemporary,” says Olsen, who starts planning for each festival almost a year in advance. “Our goal is to make sure, when you get there, you have a great time and you love the music you hear.”