Live Shows: Green River Festival, Franklin County Fairgrounds, Greenfield, MA 6/19/26

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Charley Crockett
Photo by Ken Sears

I was a bit of a hypocrite this year for the Green River Festival. As much as I preached for getting there early, life and the day job got in the way on Friday, and I didn't get there as early as I wanted to. It was still a great day of music, even if I got a late start. Here were my favorites from day one!

Tre Burt, Backporch Stage

I first discovered Tre Burt opening up for Haley Heynderickx, and I've been dying to see him again ever since. His set at this year's Green River Festival will be talked by anyone who saw it for a while. Burt and his band played incredibly tightly, mixing rock and roots music in a way that has wide appeal but is completely unique to him. I had "Santiago" stuck in my head for a week from listening to the Green River Festival Spotify playlist so much, and now it's embedded there, possibly permanently. His version of folk and roots is so upbeat and catchy that it's practically made for festivals.

Kashus Culpepper, Sundial Audio Main Stage

One of the great things about a festival like Green River is discovering artists. I had heard a song or two from Kashus Culpepper, and it was good, but didn't quite click for me. I wandered over to his set on the main stage to fill some time, and ended up being blown away. The artist has only been playing guitar for six years, which is remarkable given his talent he's already showcasing. He plays a mix of soul, country, blues, and folk into something uniquely his. He also has an incredibly mainstream appeal considering that no one sounds quite like him. He also pulled off a cover of Grover Washington Jr.'s "Just the Two of Us," which was perfect for his sound.

Sunny War, Backporch Stage

I've been trying to see Sunny War for almost a decade now. The folk-punk/blues artist doesn't make it up to New England a lot, and any time she has, it didn't fit my schedule. Her live show was worth the wait. Her songs can be quite heavy and political at times, which was quite welcome. She did find some levity in her music and stage performance, including playing a section of songs that included the word "baby," since she said that sixty-three percent of all hit songs include the word baby. Playing with just a drummer, Sunny War put on an engaging performer just through sheer charisma and great songs.

Lila Ike, Dean's Beans Stage

Lila Ike is the exact kind of artist I never would have discovered if not for the Green River Festival. The Jamaican artist plays a style of reggae that blends in modern pop, and she puts on a great live show. It was a high energy show that blew away the crowd, and won over multiple fans. As far as fun goes, Ike's set was the most fun I had on Friday. I'm still not sure if her recorded music fits into my own personal taste, but I'll be keeping an eye on her upcoming tour dates, because her live show certainly does. 

Charley Crockett, Sundial Audio Main Stage

Charley Crockett might have the most unique sound in all of modern country today. He somehow mixes alt-country and mainstream country (minus the bro country element) into his own sound. And wow... this man can out on a show. He has that "it" quality that makes you unable to turn away from him when he's on stage. It wasn't quote a return to the days of outlaw country, but mainly because Crockett seems like he's too genuinely nice a guy for that kind of song. If you know someone who has bad taste in country, Crockett is the perfect artist to get them on the right track. He's the kind of artist that can take a festival slot and make it his own show, and he left the Friday crowd satisfied and ready for more music over the weekend.

On Repeat...

Glixen - "all tied up"

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Photo by Jocelyn Pacheco Phoenix's Glixen have quickly become our favorite heavy shoegaze band, and songs like "all tied up" will show you exactly why. This new single might be the most classically shoegaze song they've released to date. It sounds like it could be a lost song from the Loveless sessions. It's filled with a heavy wall of fuzz and lumbers along at a midtempo pace. As always, Aislinn Ritchie's vocals have a slight pop sheen to them, even if they tend to take a backseat to the music surrounding her. This mixed with the absolutely punishing drums throughout "all tied up" make it a heavy shoegaze instant masterpiece. Aislinn Ritchie says of her band's latest single: “‘all tied up’ is about feeling completely consumed by someone.  We definitely wanted the song to feel enveloping. There’s a subtle tension that builds throughout with a push and pull between the guitars and vocals. The song hits hard with its emotional depth, yet breathes w...
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Lydia Loveless - "Sex and Money"

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Photo by Jillian Clark There's a ton of buzz about the upcoming album from Lydia Loveless, and I may be a gushing fanboy at times, but her latest single may be her best in her career. "Sex and Money" is this perfect mix of all the phases of Loveless' career. It has the twang of her earlier alt-country classics, the noise and punk that has always been front and center during live shows, and the more pop side that has been on more recent albums. "Sex and Money" could be a trainwreck of a song, but Loveless has melded these genres into this perfectly structured song. Sometimes you just hear a song and know it's something truly special, and that's what this one is. It's the kind of song that you instantly fall in love with and want to share with as many people as possible. Lydia Loveless says of their new single: "This one was written at an Airbnb in Austin on some late tour night where there’s a bottle and a guitar and everyone’s giggly. I’ve t...
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Die Spitz - "Pop Punk Anthem (Sorry for the Delay)"

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Photo by Anatheme Austin's Die Spitz have a new single out, and despite it being called "Pop Punk Anthem (Sorry for the Delay)," don't expect this one to be pop punk at all. This new song starts out as a moody alt-rock song, maybe a little too heavy to be slowcore but along those lines. But then it kicks in, and Die Spitz's grunge and metal influences come rocketing to the front. This is a loud and noisy song reminiscent of bands like Mudhoney and PJ Harvey. Besides the driving and fuzzed out guitars is one of the greatest rock growls of this decade. "Pop Punk Anthem (Sorry for the Delay)" barrels straight outta your speakers with such a fury that you'll wonder if Die Spitz were truly in control of the song when it was recorded. Ava Schrobilgen says of the band's latest single: “It may sound like a love song at first, but when the beat kicks in it’s the obsession that takes over. The words ‘you’re a part of me’ sound loving but it can be an insan...
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