June 21-23, 2024 at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, live music was welcomed for the Green River Festival. In its 38th year, despite the bad weather, thousands and thousands of fans attended the festival. This is one of the most anticipated and popular summer events in Massachusetts.
The festival has changed over the years. beginning as a two-band event held at Greenfield Community College in 1986, to a three-day festival in 2015. IT has been named “One of 50 essential summer festivals” by the New York Times.
Some 40 bands performed on four stages. Headliners were CAKE, Fleet Foxes, and Gregory Alan Isakov. They were joined by a diverse lineup of international touring artists, ascending indie-rock bands, rising Americana stars and other promising artists from the Western MA music scene. Names like Naia Kete, Kalliope Jones, and Hannah Mohan.
THE FESTIVAL
More than music, the festival was creative in many ways. It offered children’s entertainment with the creation of Kidways, a dedicated area that offered fun activities for the entire family. It featured art projects, a juggler, a puppet show, and music from The Greempsy Time Club and Little Roots. Festival admission for children 12 and under was free.
Although it was a rainy weekend with a big thunderstorm, the ambiance at Green River Festival was phenomenal. During the three-day event, families and friends were relaxing and enjoying great food, music, arts & crafts sales, and more.
The festival featured an impressive lineup of artists, some of them from Massachusetts (Naia Kete, Kalliope Jones, and Hannah Mohan). Some highlights include the high energy soul-pop band Lawrence, Florida indie-rockers flipturn, singer/songwriter Joy Oladakun and country artist Josiah and the Bonnevilles. Grammy-nominated folk supergroup Bonny Light Horseman, Afro-Cuban rock star Cimafunk, Ukrainian quartet Dakhabrakha, and indie-pop sister trio Joseph also performed.
FRIDAY JUNE 21, 2024
Greenfield Savings Bank Main Stage: OH HE DEAD (5:00 – 6:00), LAWRENCE (7:00 – 8:15), CAKE (9:30 – 11:00)
Dean’s Beans Stage: Bermuda Search Party (4:00 – 5:00), Combo Chimbita (6:00 – 7:00), Cimafunk (8:15 – 9:30)
Back Porch Stage: Fantastic Cat (4:00 – 5:00), Twisted Pine (6:00 – 7:00), The Nude Party (8:15 – 9:30).
Round House Stage: Nepm Fabulous 413 (3:00 – 3:45), Julia Pratt (5:00 – 5:45), Fantastic Cat (7:00 – 7:15), Bermuda Search Party (9:30 – 10:15).
SATURDAY JUNE 22, 2024
Greenfield Savings Bank Main Stage: Willi Carlisle (1:00 – 1:45), Trousdale (2:45 – 3:45), Bonny Light Horseman (4:45 – 6:00), Joy Oladokum (7:00 – 8:45), Fleet Foxes (9:30 – 11:00).
Dean’s Beans Stage: Prewn (12:00 – 1:00), Snacktime (1:45 – 2:45), Pachyman (3:45 – 4:45), Hannah Mohan (6:00 – 7:00), Mdou Moctar (8:15 – 9:30).
Back Porch Stage: Love Crumbs (12:00 – 1:00), Tommy Prime (1:45 – 2:45), Kelly Willis, Brennen Leigh, Melissa Carper (3:45 – 4:45), Willi Carlisle (6:00 – 7:00), SG Goodman (8:15 – 9:30).
Round House Stage: Cactushead Puppets (11:15 – 12:00), Little Roots (1:00 – 1:45), John-Robert (2:45 – 3:45), TBD (5:00 – 6:00), Kalliope Jones (7:00 – 8:00), Dari Bay (9:30 – 10:30).
FINAL DAY OF GREEN RIVER FESTIVAL
Greenfield Savings Bank Main Stage: Margo Cilker (12:45 – 1:30) – Hosiah and the Bonnevilles (2:30 – 3:30), Flipturn (4:30 – 5:45), Gregory Alan Isakov (7:00 – 8:30)
Dean’s Beans Stage: Katy Kirby (12:00 – 12:45), Dobet GnaHoré (1:30 – 2:30), Son Rompe Pera (3:30 – 4:30), Dakhabrakha (5:45 – 7:00)
Back Porch Stage: Mon Rovîa (12:00 – 12:45), Izzy Heltai (1:30 – 2:30), Margo Cilker (3:30 – 4:30), Joseph (5:45 – 7:00)
Back Porch Stage: Carrie Ferguson (11:15 – 12:00), In the Nick of Time (12:45 – 1:30), Clover County (2:30 – 3:30), Naia Kete (4:30 – 5:30), Jobi Riccio (7:00 – 7:45), Cloudbelly (8:00 – 9:00)
Although the weather was bad with heavy rain and huge thunderstorms, the Green River Festival was perfectly great for thousands and thousands of visitors who attended the event. The three-day festival at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Greenfield was fantastic. Photographs and review provided by Joanna Gleason and Jean Senat Fleury.
KEEPING UP WITH GREEN RIVER FESTIVAL
Green River Festival has yet to announce any plans for 2025. Keep an eye out per the links below to keep up on any updates!
GREEN RIVER FESTIVAL – WEBSITE – FACEBOOK – INSTAGRAM – X – SPOTIFY
JOANNA GLEASON – INSTAGRAM
DANCE YOUR FACE OFF – WEBSITE – INSTAGRAM – FACEBOOK – X – YOUTUBE