With so much musical uncertainty in today’s world, it is nice when you see a festival moving ahead in a thoughtful way. So it looks like the Green River Music Festival will go ahead as planned this weekend (Aug 27-29) in Greenfield, MA. And though they had to change weekends and venues, the festival will still span its typical three days and boasts a full roster of top talent. However, the reason that this festival can happen at all is due in large part to the extensive planning that has gone into it to make it as Covid-safe as possible, including: proof of vaccination; socially distanced camping; a complete change of venue; multiple communications to ticketholders; and a significantly reduced, but completely sold-out number of festers.
The entire festival will take place within the Franklin County Fairgrounds (the site that was dedicated to campers in years past). And, although the crowds will be smaller and the layout is brand new, it seems that the festival planners figured out how to pull off a great festival in a responsible way. Since all of that will be covered in the subsequent review, let’s turn to a preview of the acts playing this weekend.
Friday kicks off at 4 pm and features eleven bands including local favorites Twisted Pine and Deer Tick (don’t miss either of these). Other notables are Antibalas, Shakey Graves and the Pine Leaf Boys. The evening ends with a “Campers Only” encore performance by Twisted Pine.
Saturday starts with a few family-friendly shows starting at 10:30 am. And the two main stages kick into gear at 12:10 pm with notables Cimafunk, JD McPherson, Valerie June, and the Rebirth Brass Band. The lineup is so great, festers will have to bop between the two main stages to try to catch as much great music as they can. Make sure you arrive on time for folky harmonies of The Ghost of Paul Revere. Jon Batiste will be closing out the main stage – who says the gig with Late Night with Stephen Colbert was a bad career move? Kris Delmhorst and Jeffery Foucault will be doing Saturday’s “Campers Only” late night show.
Sunday is a shorter day but they still manage to pack in fourteen bands plus three family friendly acts. Right now the lineup allows you to see the full sets of Ali McGuirk, Ani Difranco and Son Little, our recommendations, but there’s so much more. Make time for Bonnie Light Horseman, Sierra Ferrell and Watchouse (formerly Mandolin Orange). Drive-By Truckers should provide a strong finish playing Sunday’s last set from 6:30-8 pm and are definitely worth staying til the very end.
With so much that has gone wrong, it looks like the Green River Music Festival has a chance of getting it entirely right, even the weather seems promising, so for those of you fortunate enough to have tickets – enjoy!
