If It's Too Loud...

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...

It's just starting to get uncomfortably cold here in New England, so we're already starting to look forward to warm temperatures. Plus, warm temperatures means festival season, and Green River Festival has given us something to look forward to in June! Their 2026 edition will take place June 19-21 at Franklin County Fairgrounds with another fantastic line up. The headliners will get the most attention, with the neotraditional country of Charley Crockett, indie rock veterans Spoon, and experimental rockers Geese. We're thrilled for the undercard of this one, with many favorites playing like The Beths, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Wednesday, Lucius, The War and Treaty, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Folk Bitch Trio, Ratboys, Sunny War, Lily Seabird, and Tre Burt! Plus, there's plenty for us to discover in the next eight months as we get ready for the festival! Three day passes for the 2026 Green River Festival are on sale now. For tickets and more information, check out the ...

Photo by Ray Di Pietro The Tennessee Freedom Singers Project was started by Allison Russell out of "resistance from the rise of extremist forces" and "an unwillingness to accept the rollback of protections for historically marginalized groups." The project features a huge number of musicians:  Allison Russell, Amanda Shires, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Brittney Spencer, Brooke Eden, Denitia, Devon Gilfillian, Elizabeth Cook, Emmylou Harris, Erin Rae, Fancy Hagood, Jaimee Harris, Julie Williams, Kam Franklin, Katie Pruitt, Kyshona Armstrong, Langhorne Slim, Lilly Winwood, Lucie Silvas, Maren Morris, Mary Gauthier, Meghan Linsey, Meghan McCormick, Mya Byrne, MORGXN, Paul McDonald, Phillip-Michael Scales, Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, Sara Van Buskirk, Shelly Colvin, Tre Burt , and Wade Sapp.  The project was brought together to support Gloria Johnson and her campaign for US Senate. The artists involved have pledged to donate any proceeds they ...

Photo by Mary Ellen Matthews For his latest single, Tré Burt takes traditional folk and expands on the sound. "Kids in the Yard" infuses folk with vintage soul and blues. That might be nothing new in and of itself, but Burt just mixes it all together in a unique way. It could be that "Kids in tha Hall" has more than a little of an indie rock/DIY feel to it. There's just something a little rugged and intimate to the single. It's as if Burt captured the vibe of a bedroom recording within a full, lushly produced track that includes back-up singers. Tré   Burt says of his new single: "Dunno about you but looking at this world of excess and ever expanding consumption don’t look too good. How did we end up a culture of gimme gimme more more big and bigger fast and faster? Those clammy nerds up high sold us long ago an identity that of factory pigs feeding on trendy garbage and shiny plastics just to throw it into the ocean, just to drink it to us later. All t...

Photo by Mary Ellen Matthews I first discovered Tre Burt opening for Haley Heynderickx in Providence, and I've been a fan ever since. On his latest single, "Santiago," Burt has released a rollicking folk rocker. It's a fun and upbeat song that is surprisingly keyboard heavy. It's reminding me of early Wilco. It's fitting since the song is about Burt's relationship with his grandfather, Santiago, who passed away earlier this year. It's a beautiful tribute to a beloved family member that focuses more on the joy the two shared instead of mourning. "Santiago" is the kind of song that will make you instantly want to hear more. Tre Burt says of his new song: “ The song actually started out as a writing prompt that my friend gave me over the phone during my solo writing retreats at the cabin. She said ‘write about Santiago’ and it ended up being a good stage to talk about some heartache I was going through. But it wasn’t just heartache, there was al...