History
Green River Festival History
The Green River Festival originated as two separate events that were held just a week apart in 1986 at Greenfield Community College. The Franklin County Chamber Of Commerce sponsored their first Upcountry Balloon Fair on one weekend and then local radio station WRSI held their 5th anniversary party the following weekend and featured the bands NRBQ and 10,000 Maniacs. In the following years, the two events merged and eventually became the Green River Festival.
In the early years of the festival, the focus was on ballooning but that began to change in 1990 when the festival featured New Orleans music legend Dr. John and a full slate of nationally renown talent. In the 1990’s the festival presented many legends in the making in the roots music world, including Alison Krauss & Union Station, Taj Mahal, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings and many others.
In 2001, the festival changed its name to The Green River Festival and expanded the musical menu to include more artists and multiple music stages. Over the years, the festival has hosted dozens of music giants including established legends like Emmylou Harris, Buddy Guy, Lucinda Williams, Mavis Staples, Arlo Guthrie, Steve Earle, and more recent stars like The Avett Brothers, Deer Tick, Neko Case, Calexico, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, CAKE, Molly Tuttle, Fountains Of Wayne, Old Crow Medicine Show, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and many others.
Past Performers
2024
2023
Sierra Ferrell // Sammy Rae & The Friends // Cory Wong // Thee Sacred Souls // The Wood Brothers // Little Feat // Eilen Jewell // The Heavy Heavy // Jupiter & Okwess // GA 20 // Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen // Donna The Buffalo // Alisa Amador // Miko Marks // Glen David Andrews // Sarah Shook & The Disarmers // AJ Lee & Blue Summit // Bridgit Kearney // Mark Erelli // Moxie // LPT // Cachitas Now! // Winterpills // Rachel Baiman // Kimaya Diggs // Soggy Po Boys // Viv & Riley // King Manzi // Sandy Bailey // Whiskey Treaty Roadshow // Lisa Bastoni & Sean Staples // Larry & Joe // The Greys // High Tea
2022
Lake Street Dive // Father John Misty // Guster // Ripe // Waxahatchee // Galactic // The Dip // Allison Russell // Rayland Baxter // Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway // Las Cafeteras // Katie Pruitt // Asleep at the Wheel // Cha Wa // Ryan Montbleau Band // Dustbowl Revival // Kaleta & Super Yamba Band // Brennen Leigh // Young @ Heart Chorus // Parsonsfield // Natu Camara // Steve Poltz // Sarah Borges // Mister G The Global Citizen Ensemble // Oshima Brothers // Mali Banda // Matthew Fowler // The Wildmans // Rose & The Bros // Golden Shoals // Gaslight Tinkers // Love Crumbs // StompBoxTrio // Jake Manzi // The Green Sisters // Poor Monroe
2021
Jon Batiste // Valerie June // Deer Tick // Shakey Graves // Bonny Light Horseman // Ani Difranco // Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange) // Drive-By Truckers // Sierra Ferrell // Bella White // Ghost of Paul Revere // Cimafunk // JD McPherson // Rachel Baiman // Combo Lulo // The Big Takeover // Antibalas // Kimaya Diggs // Appalachian Still // Underground System // Whiskey Treaty Roadshow // Rebirth Brass Band // Vapors of Morphine // // Misty Blues // Soggy Po’ Boys // Pine Leaf Boys // Sammy Rae & The Friends // Twisted Pine // Liam Hurley // In The Nick Of Time // Kris Delmhorst // Zara Bode’s Little Big Band // Taylor Ashton // Jeffrey Foucault // Charlie Parr // Rise Up Singing // Little Roots // Tom Knight Puppets // Peter More // Cloudbelly // Ranky Tanky // Goodle Days – Rachel Baiman and Friends – John Hartford Tribure // Soul Magnets // Ali McGuirk // Beau Sasser Trio //Son Little
2019
Lucinda Williams // Rhiannon Giddens // Tyler Childers // Angelique Kidjo: Remain In Light // The Record Company // The Wood Brothers // The Devil Makes Three // The Suffers // Mipso//Eilen Jewell // Fantastic Negrito //Philip B. Price (of Winterpills) // Cedric Burnside // Mapache //The Gaslight Tinkers //The East Pointers // Parsonsfield // Heather Maloney // Lakou Mizik // Upstate // LADAMA // Mtali Shaka Banda Oneness Project //Low Cut Connie //The Suitcase Junket //Samantha Fish //Red Baraat //Charlie Hunter & Lucy Woodward //Spanglish Fly //The Stone Coyotes //Home Body //Session Americana //Ali McGurik //Lowdown Brass Band //Pamela Means //Sean McConnell //Mamma’s Marmalade
2018
Michael Franti & Spearhead // Old Crow Medicine Show // Dr. Dog // Josh Ritter // I’m With Her // Deer Tick // Robert Earl Keen // Femi Kuti & The Positive Force // Lucy Dacus // Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express // Birds of Chicago // Chris Smither // Amy Helm // Ana Tijoux // The Ballroom Thieves // James Hunter Six // Marco Benevento // Molly Tuttle // The Mammals // Las Cafeteras // Magna Carda // Bella’s Bartok // Yes Darling // The Revelers // The Brother Brothers // Twisted Pine //Big Mean Sound Machine // Trailer Park w/ Samirah Evans // Jack Broadbent // Orquesta El Macabeo // Orquesta Akokan // Old Flame // Kate Lorenz & The Constellations // Threesies // Khalif Neville
2017
Lake Street Dive // Joe Russo’s Almost Dead // The Mavericks // Houndmouth // Funky Meters // The Infamous Stringdusters // Rachael Price & Vilray // The Suitcase Junket // Amadou & Mariam // The Dustbowl Revival // Pokey LaFarge // Bridget Kearney // Darlingside // San Fermin // Big Sam’s Funky Nation // Mandolin Orange // Robbie Fulks // Dan Bern // Chicano Batman // Big Al Anderson // John Brown’s Body // River Whyless // Parsonsfield // Kat Wright // Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams // Sun Parade // Western Centuries // Tank & The Bangas // Madam Uncle // Twisted Pine // The Deslondes // Workman Song // Hammydown // Dietrich Strause & The Blue Ribbons // Sweet Crude // Lyle Brewer
2016
Tedeschi Trucks Band // Dawes // Peter Wolf // Los Lobos // Shakey Graves // NRBQ // Shovels & Rope // North Mississippi All-Stars // Dustbowl Revival // Charles Neville // The Suffers // Birds of Chicago // The Felice Brothers // Big Sam’s Funky Nation // Margo Price // Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds // And The Kids // Winterpills // Sonya Kitchell // Ola Fresca // Xixa // Mariachi Flor De La Toloache // Campos // The Soul Rebels // Amy Helm & The Handsome Strangers // Bridget Kearney & Benjamin Lazar Davis // Greyhounds // The Railsplitters // Anthony D’Amato // Upstate Rubdown // Leland Sundries // Mikey Sweet // Sumner & Moss // Mal Devisa // Oh Pep! //Mister G // Peter Mulvey & The Crumbling Beauties Present Raindogs // The Alchemystics // Lux Deluxe // Hannah & Maggies // Colorway // Lula Wiles
2015
Steve Earle & The Dukes // Punch Brothers // TuNe-YaRdS // Preservation Hall Jazz Band // J Mascis // Rubblebucket // Polaris // Milk Carton Kids // Eilen Jewell // Booker T. Jones // Pine Hill Project // Valerie June // The Wood Brothers // Langhorne Slim & The Law // Elephant Revival // Parker Millsap // Red Barat // Bella’s Bartok // Lydia Loveless // The Stray Birds // Joe Pug // The Revelers // Sean Rowe // Antibalas // M.A.K.U. Sound System // Arc Iris // Chuchito Valdes // The Suitcase Junket // Charlie Parr // Marco Benevento // Jose Gonzalez and Banda Criollo // Twisted Pine // The Lonesome Brothers // Hayley Reardon // Ryan Hommels’ Optical Shop
2014
Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band // Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue // Puss’n’Boots ft. Norah Jones, Sasha Dobson & Catherine Popper // Dirty Dozen Brass Band // Trampled By Turtles // Lucius // Hurray For The Riff Raff // Ana Tijoux // Dave & Phil Alvin & The Guilty Ones // The Lone Bellow // James Hunter Six // The Iguanas // Lady // Parsonsfield // The Debo Band // Heather Maloney + Darlingside // The Shinolas Revue: featuring Chris Collingwood (Fountains of Wayne), Freedy Johnston, Syd Straw // Lady Lamb the Beekeeper // And The Kids // Gaslight Tinkers // Grant-Lee Phillips // Barnstar! // Paul Burch & The WPA Ballclub // The Deadly Gentlemen // Dirty Bourbon River Show // Girls Guns & Glory // Bright Lines // The Snaz
2013
Gogol Bordello // Brandi Carlile // Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale // Devil Makes Three // Todd Snider // JD McPherson // Lake Street Dive // Bombino // Sally Ford & The Sound Outside // The Bernie Worrell Orchestra // The Skatalites // Spirit Family Reunion // Ryan Montbleau Band // Slaid Cleaves // Spanish For Hitchhiking // Heather Maloney // Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole // The Duhks // Caravan of Thieves // Jeffrey Foucault & Cold Satellite // Poor Old Shine (Parsonsfield) //Rusty Belle
2012
Woody Guthrie’s 100th Birthday Celebration with Arlo Guthrie & The Guthrie Family Reunion // Los Lobos // Ozomatli // Richard Thompson // Rubblebucket // Rebirth Brass Band // David Wax Museum // Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires // Chris Smither & The Motivators // JD McPherson // CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band // Winterpills // Lost Bayou Ramblers with Gordan Gano // Elizabeth Cook // Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express // Pimps of Joytime // Pokey LaFarge & The South City Three // Brown Bird // Sweetback Sisters // Casey Driessen // Lake Street Dive // Peter Mulvey & The Crumbling Beauties // Martin Simpson // Session Americana & Friends // Sun Parade // Alchemystics // Samirah Evans & Her Handsome Devils // Lee Fields & The Expressions
2011
Emmylou Harris // Toots & The Metals // Wanda Jackson // Carolina Chocolate Drops // Terry Adams & The new NRBQ // Kermit Ruffins & The Barbecue Swingers // JJ Grey & Mofro // Old 97’s // Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears // Patty Larkin // Eilen Jewell // Grupo Fantasia // Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited // Rubblebucket
2010
CAKE // Calexico // The Felice Brothers // The Low Anthem // Anais Mitchell // Lake Street Dive // Rusty Belle // David Wax Museum // Old Crow Medicine Show // Allen Toussaint // Donna The Buffalo // Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars // Red Stick Ramblers // Sweetback Sisters // Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams // Joy Kills Sorrow
2009
Michael Franti & Spearhead // Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings // Kathleen Edwards // CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band // Justin Townes Earle // Dave Alvin & The Guilty Women // Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave // Sweetback Sisters // Swing Caravan // Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem // Chris Smither // Crooked Still // Eilen Jewell // Winterpills // Richard Shindell // Kris Delmhorst
2008
Lucinda Williams // Mavis Staples // Jimmie Vaughn // Eilen Jewell // Crooked Still // Red Stick Ramblers // Richard Shindell // Los Straightjackets // Gokh-Bi System // Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys
2007
Buddy Guy // Neko Case // Subdudes // James Hunter // Southern Culture on the Skids // Erin McKeown // Crooked Still // The Kennedys // Ray Mason Band // Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience //Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem
2006
Fountains of Wayne // John Hiatt // Alejandro Escovedo // Winterpills // Avett Brothers // Hunger Mountain Boys // Amity Front // Chris Eureka // Eilen Jewell Band // Iguanas // Sonny Landreth // Marcia Ball // Hot Tamale Brass Band // Kris Delmhorst // Mark Erelli // Jeffrey Foucault // Lori McKenna // Peter Mulvey
2005
Steve Earle // Buddy Miller // Donna The Buffalo // The Duhks // Paul Cebar & Milwaukee’s // Allison Moorer // The Mammals // Tracy Grammar // Redbird // Zydeco’s // Inner Visions // Anais Mitchell
2004
Campbell Brothers // Donna the Buffalo // Drunk Stuntmen // Gillian Welch // Hot Tuna // Jeffrey Foucault // Lori McKenna // Mosquitos // Old Crow Medicine Show // Planet Zydeco // Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem // Resophonics // Rosie Ledet & Zydeco // Sweethearts // We’re About Nine
2003
They Might Be Giants // Patty Griffin // Asylum Street Spankers // Balfa Toujour // Brave Combo // Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez // Inner Orchestra // Josh Ritter // Kris Delmhorst // Paul Rishell & Annie Raines // Slaid Cleaves // Stone Coyotes // Terrence Simien
2002
Alan Marcus Band // Avalon Blues // Chris Adroin and Double Clutching’ // Dave Alvin and The Guilty Men
Dave Carter and Tracy Grammar (Carter died – was replaced by Mark Erelli) // Fred Eaglesmiith and Band // Little Feat // Mary Gauthier // Steve Riley and The Mamou Playboys // Tim O’Brien and The Crossing
2001
Amy Rigby // Ben Demerath // Corey Harris & 5X5 // Cottonwood // Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks // Dan Olney // Erin McKeown // Leo Kottke // Solas // Sonny Landreth // The Iguanas // The Lonesome Brothers // The Tarbox Ramblers // Michael DiMartino & World Beat // Wright Brothers
2000
Beausoleil // Kelly Joe Phelps // Louise Taylor // Peter Mulvey // Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem // Robbie Fulks // Stacey Earle // Taj Mahal // The Sevens // Travis LeDoyt //Gypsy Wranglers
1999
Dave Alvin & the Guilty Men // Great Big Sea // Hot Club of Cowtown // Kelly Willis // Mark Erelli Band // Martin Sexton // Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers // Sankai // Stash // Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
1998
Koko Taylor & Her Blues Machine // Gillian Welch & David Rawlings // Don Walser // Bap Kennedy & Six String Drag // Cheri Knight // Brooks Williams // Maria Sangiolo // Viva Quetzal // Trailer Park
1997
Marcia Ball // Big Sandy & The Fly-Right Boys // The Nields // Chris Smither // Geno Delafose // Erica Wheeler
1996
Fred Eaglesmith // Guy Clark // Louise Taylor // Nathan & The Zydeco Cha-Chas // Quetzal // Roomful of Blues // Salamander Crossing // Tish Hinojosa // Tom McClung & Valley Jazz Allstars
1995
Pioneer Valley Symphony // Maura O’Connell // Loudon Wainwright // Junior Brown // CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band
1994
Allsion Krauss & Union Station // Subdudes // Ted Hawkins // Sleepy Labeef // John Gorka // Susan Werner
1993
Robert Earl Keen // Cheryl Wheeler // Jonathon Edwards // Cox Family // John Sheldon
1992
Northern Lights // The Barnstormers // Pearly Gates and Craig Eastman // Russ Thomas
1991
Bill Morrisey // Dr. John // Hot Peppers Dixieland Band // Outer Space Band // The Holmes Brothers // The Rude Girls
1990
Bobby Darling Show // CB Express // Country Squires // Sun Dogs
1989
No Regrets // Paradise City Jazz Band
1988
Country Showdown – Regional country bands
1987
Judy Polan & Lorrie Wyatt // Aztec-Two-Step // Hot Peppers Dixieland Band
WRSI BIRTHDAY PARTY (THE BEGINNING) – 1986
10,000 Maniacs // NRBQ // Ed Vadas
