Green River Festival returns with music from across the globe

3-day event begins tomorrow at Franklin County Fairgrounds

By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican

DESCRIBED AS A cross between the world’s greatest street fair and a major music festival, the 36th Green River Festival returns to the Franklin County Fairgrounds for three days beginning Friday with world class music, tasty local food, juried craft fair with handmade creations, and plenty for the kids to do.

“This year we have one of best musical lineups ever. We are an eclectic festival offering music lovers everything from bluegrass to Afropop and everything in-between including indie rock, alt-country, folk, singer-songwriters and indie bands from all over the map including Argentina, Venezuela, United Kingdom, and the Congo,” said Jim Olsen, festival director.

“Over the years our festival has become a travel destination for people who come here from 44 states and six foreign countries. We are a family-friendly festival unlike a lot of pop festivals designed for a post-college age crowd where you are shoulder-to-shoulder with the next person, which is not a pleasant experience. We have always gone out of our way to attract families with kids, so there is something for everyone,” he added about the festival’s expansive fairgrounds and welcoming atmosphere.

It all begins on Friday with Alisa Amador at 4 p.m. Winner of the 2022 NPR Tiny Desk Contest, her music is a synthesis of the many styles she has absorbed over her lifetime - rock, jazz, funk and alternative folk - infused with the spirit of the Latin music she grew up with. The event ends on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. with a performance by Little

Feat. Formed in 1970, the group continues its musical journey today with three of its original members. The band’s blues rock sound was the invention of founder Lowell George and bass guitarist Roy Estrada, who were veterans of the Frank Zappa band Mothers of Invention.

Sandwiched in-between on four stages will be an electric lineup of some 30 artists such as Cory Wong, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Moxie, Bridget Kearney, The Wood Brothers, Rubblebucket, Eilen Jewell, The Heavy Heavy, Winterpils, Rachel Baiman, Viv and Riley, Kimaya Diggs, Mark Erelli, Miko Marks, High Tea, The Greys, Joe Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, and many others.

Over the years as the festival has grown, so has its emphasis on food, making it a melting pot for cuisines of the world.

“When you hold a daylong festival, people need to be nourished and we have over 25 food vendors cooking up all kinds of ethnic speciates, as well as everyday popular treats such as hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries and more. And there is something for all tastes with vegan and gluten-free options and choices for vegetarians as well,” Olsen said.

A sampling of the many food trucks rolling onto the fairgrounds includes Anon’s Thai Cuisine, All Things Maple, Binge BBG, Bart’s Handcrafted Ice Cream, Cocina Lupita, Dean’s Beans, Ginger