Live on the Green Music Festival

Live On The Green (LOTG) is a free outdoor music festival in Nashville, Tennessee produced and presented by local radio station WRLT Lightning 100 that showcases the city's emerging musical talent and highlights well-known national acts. Since its first year in 2009, it has been held at Public Square Park in downtown Nashville adjacent to the historic Metropolitan Courthouse and attracts over 600,000 fans from all 50 states and 15 countries.[1] It has been held every year except 2020 and 2021 when it was cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, in which the radio station instead hosted live performances and interviews with the artists.[2] The festival hosts two stages showcasing the city's emerging musical talent and highlights well-known national acts, and also includes food trucks, vendors, and a VIP experience.

Live On The Green Music Festival
GenreVariety
Dates2–6 September 2021
Location(s)Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Years active2009 – present
FoundersWRLT
Attendance111,000 (2016)
Websitehttp://www.liveonthegreen.com

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Live on the Green is back! On June 15, 2022, Lightning 100 announced the festival will return Sept. 1- 5 at Public Square Park.[3]

The festival has been ranked by local magazine the Nashville Scene as Best Event/Festival, Best Concert Series, Best Free Fun, Best Radio Station, and Best Cheap Date.[1]

History

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Live On The Green was founded in 2009 by local radio station WRLT Lighting 100 as a celebration of music and community and has always been free to the public.[4] Before LOTG, Nashville hosted free concert series such as Dancin in the District, Uptown Mix, and Summer Lights that didn't quite succeed.[5] The event was initially intended as an opportunity for up-and-coming local Nashville artists to build a fanbase, but the concert series didn't receive much attention or profits in its early years.[5] The radio station then began overlapping their programming with bands they booked for the festival, drawing in more crowds.[5]

In 2012, Alabama Shakes took to the Main Stage and marked a turning point for the festival, doubling the average attendance in one night.[5] Spoon then set the overall attendance record with what was estimated to be 20,000 fans in 2017.[5] Now, Live On The Green draws in 100,000 fans each year and has expanded its footprint past Public Square Park and up Deaderick Street and 3rd Avenue, adding a second stage in 2015 called the "615 Stage" that hosts several local artists from in and around the Nashville area. The festival also features a local artist each year through an annual battle of the bands called Music City Mayhem. Since its inception, Live On The Green has grown into a music industry force that draws thousands of fans, brings in millions of dollars into the downtown economy, and even influences album release strategies for many artists and labels.[5]

Community

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Lightning 100 has donated profits from the Live On The Green music festival to donorschoose.org which fully funded 35 projects, directly impacting nearly 5,000 students from high poverty Nashville schools.[1] LOTG also raises awareness on important issues and invites select organizations to share messages and engage fans in positive ways at the festival.[1] Live On The Green itself is also pet and children friendly.[6]

Sustainability

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Live On The Green focuses heavily on eco-friendly solutions regarding the site and community.[7] 54% of all waste generated at the festival is recycled each year, totaling to 79,680 lbs of material recycled since the concert series began in 2009.[1] The Lightning 100 studio itself is a leading non-restaurant composter with Compost Nashville and the festival strives to be completely waste free in all upcoming seasons.[8] In addition, all LOTG merchandise is made locally at the Friendly Arctic printmaking studio with high-quality eco-friendly materials and inks, and all t-shirts are 100% cotton.[8]

LOTG also promotes biking, walking, taking public transportation, or carpooling to the festival. Partners at Walk/Bike Nashville offer a complimentary bike valet check at the festival, checking over 1,000 bikes for fans. There are also designated Lyft rideshare pick-up and drop-off locations on Deaderick Street and 4th Avenue and on James Robertson Pikeway.[1]

Notable performances

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Live On The Green Music Festival, September 13, 2012

The festival has hosted more than 200 performing artists, including Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Alabama Shakes, Spoon, Gary Clark Jr., Cage the Elephant, Sheryl Crow, Passion Pit, Portugal. The Man, Ben Folds, The Head and the Heart, Lord Huron, BØRNS, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Band of Horses, Cold War Kids, City and Colour, Young the Giant, Matt and Kim, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Matt Nathanson, Ingrid Michaelson, The Wallflowers, Citizen Cope and many more.[9]

2020 Line-up

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In 2020 Live On The Green shifted to an on-air format due to COVID-19. The Live On My Green FM Music Festival ran from September 3, 2020 to September 7, 2020 on 100.1 FM in Nashville.[10] The event consisted of over 100 acts over five days and included pre-taped festival performances and exclusive content.[2] The 2020 lineup included Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, My Morning Jacket, Jason Isbell, Beck, Sheryl Crow, and Moon Taxi, among many others.[9]

Past dates and artists

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2022

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The 2022 festival was the first in-person festival since 2019 and took place over Labor Day weekend, September 1-5, 2022.[11]

Date Artists
September 1, 2022 [12] Sheryl Crow
Jenny Lewis
Nikki Lane
Danielle Ponder
Bre Kennedy
The Watson Twins
Cecilia Castleman
September 2, 2022 [13] Moon Taxi
Colony House
The Wild Feathers
Seratones
The Foxies
The Shindellas
Sweet Lizzy Project
September 3, 2022 [14] Santigold
Cautious Clay
Ruby Amanfu
The 502's
*repeat repeat
Amber Woodhouse
Los Colognes
Phillip-Michael Scales
September 4, 2022 [15] Coin
Devon Gilfillian
Stephen Day

Strung Like A Horse
The Criticals
Nordista Freeze
Tayls
Taylor Bickett

September 5, 2022 [16] Yola
Arrested Development
Patrick Droney

Susto
The Brummies
Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country
LadyCouch
Fulton Lee

2020

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The 2020 season shifted to an on-air radio format, the "Live On My Green FM Music Festival", from September 3–6, 2020.[17]

- Date - Artists
September 3, 2020
Lindsay Ell
Katie Pruitt
Caitlyn Smith
The Heavy Hours
John Craigie
Jade Bird
Noah Cyrus
beabadoobee
Zack Heckendorf
Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard
Lianne La Havas
Humming House
The Mavericks
Matthew Logan Vasquez of Delta Spirit
Larkin Poe
Colony House
NEEDTOBREATHE
Hamilton Leithauser
Fruition
Trigger Hippy
Black Pumas
Jason Isbell
Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats
Amy Shark
The Foxies
Sylvan Esso
Milky Chance
Two Door Cinema Club
Overcoats
September 4, 2020
Joshua Speers
Lennon Stella
Frank Turner
Cold War Kids
Jill Andrews
Liza Anne
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Carolina Story
The Teskey Brothers
Molly Tuttle
Cordovas
Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors
Caamp
Hiss Golden Messenger
The Revivalists
Dr. Dog
Dawes
Mumford & Sons
Bruce Springsteen
Spoon
The Weeks
LP
G. Love
Cautious Clay
Tedeschi Trucks Band
The War and Treaty
September 5, 2020
Low Cut Connie
Will Hoge
Rhett Miller of Old 97's
Ghost of Paul Revere
Kathleen Edwards
Courtney Marie Andrews
Nicole Atkins
Pete Yorn
Scott Mulvahill
Songhoy Blues
Amos Lee
Norah Jones
The Avett Brothers
Lilly Hiatt
Belle Mt.
ZZ Ward
Jack Johnson & Friends
The Head & The Heart
Michael Kiwanuka
Beck
Cage The Elephant
Rainbow Kitten Surprise
My Morning Jacket
Metallica
Muse
September 6, 2020 Chuck Prophet
Brandy Clark
Bruce Hornsby
Smooth Hound Smith
Langhorne Slim
Sarah Jarosz
Aaron Lee Tasjan
Waxahatchee
Savannah Conley
U.S. Girls
Band of Horses
Phoebe Bridgers
Ruston Kelly
The Lone Bellow
Bailen
Okey Dokey
Ron Gallo
Briston Maroney
The Black Keys
Moon Taxi
The Aquaducks
Anderson East
St. Paul & The Broken Bones
The Marcus King Band
Bully
Margo Price
Josh Ritter
Eric Hutchinson
September 7, 2020 John-Robert
Stacey Randol
Charley Crockett
Jaime Wyatt
Band of Heathens
Ladycouch
Adia Victoria
Perfume Genius
Mondo Cozmo
Luthi
Devon Gilfillian
The Wood Brothers
Lake Street Dive
Sheryl Crow
Mt Joy
Molly Martin
Drumming Bird
James Ethan Clark & The Renegades
Catalina
Oddnote
Taylor Noelle
Fulton Lee
Foals
The National
Future Islands
Judah and the Lion
Michael Franti
Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
Half Moon Run

2019

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The 2019 season started with two consecutive Thursdays from August 15–22, 2019 and ended with a weekend finale on August 29 - September 1, 2019.[9]

- Date - Artists
August 15, 2019
Lucie Silvas
Yola
The Strumbellas
Gary Clark Jr.
August 22. 2019
Will Hoge
Amanda Shires
Mat Kearney
Johnnyswim
August 29, 2019
Briston Maroney
The Daybreaks
Maggie Rose & Them Vibes
Morgxn
American Authors
Yacht Rock Revue
O.A.R
August 30, 2019
Los Colognes
The Brummies
Illiterate Lite
Robert Randolph and the Family Band
Guster
St. Paul and The Broken Bones
August 31, 2019
Kid's Fest
Wild Love
Laura Reed
Scott Mulvahill
Creature Comfort
Aaron Lee Tasjan
Bailen
Los Coast
Grizfolk
Jukebox The Ghost
Devon Gilfillian
Grace Potter
September 1, 2019
Trella
Forest Fire Gospel Choir
Airpark
Smooth Hound Smith
Stephen Day
Liz Cooper & The Stampede
Lindsay Ell
The Marcus King Band
Boy Named Banjo
Steve Earle
Wilder Woods
Lake Street Dive

2018

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The 2018 season started with three consecutive Thursdays from August 9–23, 2018 and ended with a weekend finale on August 30 - September 1, 2018.[9]

- Date - Artists
August 9, 2018 Roscoe & Etta
Mt. Joy
The Wood Brothers
DISPATCH
August 16, 2018 *repeat repeat
Colony House
Car Seat Headrest
Cold War Kids
August 23, 2018 Alanna Royale
Parquet Courts
Rainbow Kitten Surprise
Trampled by Turtles
August 30, 2018 The New Respects
Savannah Conley
Roots of a Rebellion
Rival Sons
The Wild Feathers
Dr. Dog
August 31, 2018 Waker
The Foxies
Republican Hair
Mikky Ekko
Theo Katzman
Elliot Root
X Ambassadors
September 1, 2018 Live On The Green's Kid's Fest with Mr. Steve
Jackson Bruck & The Dukes of Hume
Arlie
Paul McDonald
Luthi
Natalie Prass
Larkin Poe
Rayland Baxter
Lissie
ZZ Ward
Matt and Kim
Jimmy Eat World

2017

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The 2017 season started with three consecutive Thursdays from August 10–24, 2017 and ended with a weekend finale on August 31 - September 2, 2017.[9]

- Date - Artists
August 10, 2017 Arkells
Michael Franti and Spearhead
St. Paul and the Broken Bones
August 17, 2017 Minus The Bear
Real Estate
Local Natives
August 24, 2017 The Weeks
Portugal. The Man
Spoon
August 31, 2017
Cancelled due to weather
Jonny P
Carl Broemel
Roots of a Rebellion
Iron & Wine
DISPATCH
John Butler Trio
September 1, 2017
Cancelled due to weather,
rescheduled to September 3, 2017
September 2, 2017 Mr. Steve, the Music Man
Guthrie Brown
Cordovas
Paper Route
The Voodoo Fix
Elliot Root
Bahamas
The Delta Saints
The Record Company
LP
The Lone Bellow
Future Islands
September 3, 2017 The Whistles & The Bells
Ron Gallo
Goodbye June
SHEL
Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors
Sheryl Crow

2016

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The 2016 season started with three consecutive Thursdays from August 11–25, 2016 and ended with a weekend finale from September 1–3, 2016.[9]

- Date - Artists
August 11, 2016 White Denim
Allen Stone
Andra Day
August 18, 2016 JR JR
Passenger
Jenny Lewis
August 25, 2016 The Record Company
Kurt Vile & the Violators
Dawes
September 1, 2016 *repeat repeat
SIMO
COIN
The Revivalists
BØRNS
Young The Giant
September 2, 2016 Josh Farrow
Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes
Nikki Lane
the Sheepdogs
Rayland Baxter
The Wild Feathers
Band of Horses
September 3, 2016 Kid's Fest with Mr. Steve, the Music Man
Mountains Like Wax
Bassh
Alanna Royale
Los Colognes
Gabe Dixon
Aubrie Sellers
Elizabeth Cook
Bully
The Weeks
Judah & the Lion
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals

2015

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The 2015 season started with three consecutive Thursdays from August 20 - September 3, 2015 and ended with a weekend finale from September 10–12, 2015.[9]

- Date - Artists
August 20, 2015 Elliot Root
Shakey Graves
Lord Huron
August 27, 2015 Houndmouth
J Roddy Walston and the Business
Cold War Kids
September 3, 2015 Greg Holden
The Delta Saints
Moon Taxi
September 10, 2015 Civil Twilight
Kopecky
Delta Rae
Humming House
JD McPherson
Rodrigo y Gabriela
September 11, 2015 Turbo Fruits
The Vespers
Colony House
Smooth Hound Smith
Zella Day
Big Data
Passion Pit
September 12, 2015 Mr Steve, The Music Man
Daphne and the Mystery Machines
Steelism
Future Thieves
Kaleo
All Them Witches
The Districts
Lennon & Maisy
Anderson East
Elle King
Family of the Year
Ben Folds

2014

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The 2014 season started with three consecutive Thursdays from August 14–28, 2014 and ended with a weekend finale from September 4–6, 2014.[9]

- Date - Artists
August 14, 2014 Spanish Gold
The Weeks
City and Colour
August 21, 2014 Goodbye June
Wild Cub
The Head and the Heart
August 28, 2014 All Them Witches
The Features
Capital Cities
September 4, 2014 Johnnyswim
Delta Spirit
Cage the Elephant
September 5, 2014 Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes
Augustana
G. Love & the Special Sauce
The Wild Feathers
September 6, 2014 Phin
Sugar and the Hi-Lows
Ingrid Michaelson
LP
The Lone Bellow
Jake Bugg

2013

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The 2013 season consisted of six consecutive Thursdays from August 8 - September 12, 2013.[9]

Date Artists
August 8, 2013 Gin Wigmore
ZZ Ward
Matt & Kim
August 15, 2013 Erin McCarley
The Mowglis
Matt Nathanson
August 22, 2013 Luella & the Sun
The Delta Saints
Michael Franti & Spearhead
August 29, 2013 Joe Robinson
St. Paul & The Broken Bones
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
September 5, 2013 Lulu Mae
Leagues
Local Natives
September 12, 2013 The Wild Feathers
The Weeks
Moon Taxi

2012

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The 2012 season consisted of six consecutive Thursdays from September 6 - October 11, 2012.[9]

Date Artists
September 6, 2012 Jon Cleary
Moon Taxi
Dr. John
September 13, 2012 The Dunwells
Delta Spirit
The Wallflowers
September 20, 2012 Roots of a Rebellion
Missing Cats featuring John "JoJo" Hermann & Sherman Ewing
North Mississippi Allstars
September 27, 2012 Fly Golden Eagle
The Apache Relay
Alabama Shakes
October 4, 2012 HoneyHoney
The Kingston Springs
Trampled by Turtles
October 11, 2012 The Delta Saints
Yacht Rock Revue
Here Come the Mummies

2011

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The 2011 season consisted of six consecutive Thursdays from September 8 - October 13, 2011.[9]

Date Artists
September 8, 2011 Chris Bailey
Will Hoge
Nashville Symphony with K.S. Rhoads
September 15, 2011 The Kicks
Rumba
Los Lonely Boys
September 22, 2011 Moon Taxi
The Dirty Guv'nahs
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
September 29, 2011 The Spinderellas
Carey Ott
Edwin McCain
Ten Out of Tenn
October 6, 2011 Marie Hines
Rayland Baxter
Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
Brett Dennen
October 13, 2011 Eastern Block
H-BEAM
Here Come the Mummies

2010

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Date Artists
September 9, 2010 Hightide Blues
Five for Fighting
Tonic
September 16, 2010 The Apache Relay
Glossary
Dr. Dog
September 23, 2010 Joe Robinson
Moon Taxi
The Wailers
September 30, 2010 Garrison Starr
Sixpence None the Richer
Jars of Clay
October 7, 2010 Bryan Cates
Ghostfinger
Band of Horses
October 14, 2010 Johnathon Tyler & The Northern Lights
Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
JJ Grey & Mofro

2009

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Date Artists
September 3, 2009 Ten Out of Tenn
American Bang
The Toadies
September 10, 2009 H-BEAM
Space Capone
Here Come the Mummies
September 17, 2009 Homemade Water
Jack Pearson
Derek Trucks Band
September 24, 2009 Thadd Cockrell
Matthew Perryman Jones
Dave Barnes
October 1, 2009 Maureen Murphy
The Dynamites
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
October 8, 2009 Next Big Nashville
Ricky Young
Citizen Cope

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "2020 LOTG Event Overview" (PDF). Live On The Green. 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Live on the Green Festival to take place over FM radio". WTVF. 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  3. ^ "Live on the Green returns for first time since 2019 in Nashville". WTVF. 2022-09-06. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  4. ^ "Live on the Green | Festival Info". Archived from the original on 2018-08-14. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Rau, Nate. "How Live on the Green grew from a passing idea to a premiere free, live music festival". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  6. ^ "Live on the Green 2021". Nashvilleguru.com. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Live on the Green | LINEUP". Archived from the original on 2015-04-15. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
  8. ^ a b "Sustainability". Live On The Green. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Past Artists". Live On The Green. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  10. ^ "Lightning 100's Live on the Green Music Festival Pivots to FM Music Festival for 2020". Musicrow.com. 6 August 2020.
  11. ^ Paulson, Dave. "Live On The Green 2022 Lineup: Sheryl Crow, Coin and more headline free, five-day festival". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  12. ^ Fanning, Delaney (2022-09-02). "We're back, baby! Live on the Green 2022 kicks off with a killer all-female lineup". Lightning 100. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  13. ^ Fanning, Delaney (2022-09-03). "Friday Night Lights at Live on the Green 2022". Lightning 100. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  14. ^ Schuster, Ethan (2022-09-04). "Saturday Night fever with Santigold at Live on the Green 2022!". Lightning 100. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  15. ^ Schuster, Ethan (2022-09-05). "Sunday Fun Day at Live on the Green 2022!". Lightning 100. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  16. ^ Schuster, Ethan (2022-09-06). "That's a wrap on Live on the Green 2022!". Lightning 100. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  17. ^ Willson, Delaney (2020-08-06). "Official Press Release: Lightning 100's Live On My Green FM Music Festival". Lightning 100. Retrieved 2022-04-15.