With the 30th edition of the Green River Festival coming up July 8-10
in Greenfield, MA with Dawes, Tedeschi-Trucks Band, Shovels & Rope,
Shakey Graves, and many more, the concert’s producer and Signature
Sounds Recordings head Jim Olsen was inspired to look back at the fest’s
origins. The first festival took place in 1986 as a free one day event
at Greenfield Community College to celebrate the 5th anniversary of
local radio station WRSI (now known as The River). The free show was
headlined by NRBQ, who are returning this year. The then-unknown band
10,000 Maniacs performed (featuring a very young Natalie Merchant).
The following weekend the Franklin County Chamber Of Commerce held the
first Upcountry Hot Air Balloon Festival. The following year the two
events merged and eventually became the Green River Festival, which is
now known nationally for its merging of bands, hot air balloons,
childrens’ activities, and more.
In its now-thirty year history, the fest has earned acclaim from USA
Today, Rolling Stone, and NY Times and has hosted Dr. John, Alison
Krauss & Union Station, Steve Earle, The Punch Brothers, tUnE-yArDs,
Buddy Guy, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Avett Brothers, Norah
Jones, and many more. Last year’s fest set a new attendance record with
14,000 tickets sold in 2015. The Green River Festival will take another
leap forward in 2016 with the addition of camping at the Franklin County
Fairgrounds.
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