Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Green River Festival 6/20/26 Franklin County Fairgrounds MA

 Not to be confused with the Green Reflecting Pool Debacle, the GRF is a must on the summer circuit. For 20 years (at least) this low-key affair just north of Northampton puts together three days of well curated and organized fest. We opt for the Saturday, music starts noonish and runs till 10ish. Three stages invites strolling to catch some of each artist

Greg Freeman: Vermont based rocker starts off the main stage

Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars: New Orleans old timey music with a great singer. Lotta bodies on stage with washboard and slap happy standup bass

Alex Amen: California singer songwriter who dropped out of film school and shacked up in the historic Dittman Family Commune, a hotbed of  60s counterculture. Joined by another folkie on 12 string, I got a decided Jesse ColinYoung vibe

Tunde Adebimpe: Front man for the Brooklyn based TV On The Radio. Had some keyboards and samplers to flesh out this solo performance

Sonido Gallo Negro: Cumbia band from Mexico City inspired by the roots of psychedelic tropical music. Guitars, organs, percussion, analog synths, and theremin. Your heard right, theremin added a spooky backdrop. Excellent version of Devo’s Whip It

Fust: Durham NC country tinged folk band. Great drawl on the singer reminded me of Jay Farrar of Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt fame. Good backing band brought the full sound to the small back porch stage.

Kurt Vile and the Violaters: Philly lofi slacker and band rock the main stage. His deadpan vocal delivery reminds me of last years headliner Courtney Barnett. Plays his hits, trades his guitar for a trumpet at one point. Brings out local guitar legend and Dinosaur Jr. frontman J. Mascis for the signature tune Chance to Bleed

Los Mirlos: Created in Lima in 1973, Los Mirlos deal in “Amazonian cumbia”. Like Os Mutantes, these old guys tour the world spreading their brand of cumbia.

Folk BitchTrio: Three young women from Australia have great harmony vocals. Haunting tunes would have been better served in a small club.

The Beths: New Zealand indie rock outfit takes the main stage. They have many lamps on stage, seem to be popular with the kids.

We head out before headliner Spoon takes the stage but had a full day of music.

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