Why we love Live on the Green so much
Now in its eighth year, Nashville's free downtown music festival seems to only be getting better.
Every year, when August rolls around and festival season seems like it’s shutting down for the year, Nashvillians look to their favorite local independent radio station to bring the top-notch downtown free music festival Live on the Green (catch the full 2016 lineup here: http://lineup.liveonthegreen.com/).
Here’s why we love it so damn much.
The price tag
Well, it's free. The caliber of talent that WRLT pulls in makes it feel like highway robbery every Thursday night. Every year gets bigger and better and we never worry about our wallets.
The VIP experience
Between the $75 Lightning Lounge and $150 Backstage VIP package, the festival’s VIP packages are simple, but lucrative. You’ll mingle with artists, eat incredible grub, enjoy late-night snacks and, of course, beverages. The view avoids the massive crowd and you feel like Nashville royalty. Maybe you’ll even find yourself grabbing a selfie with Mayor Megan Barry!
The afterparties at Tin Roof Broadway
We don’t want to stop partying, and we don’t have to. After the encore, you’re ready for one more beer and some more tunes. Take a quick walk down to Tin Roof Broadway with your friends and you’ve got just that. Maybe one of the artists will even show up for a surprise DJ set?
Public Square Park
The venue for Live on the Green is second to none. Sitting in a beautiful, clean park in the center of Music City feels too good to be true. Above all, it’s safe and well run, so as not to intrude on those who are not attending the festival.
615 Stage
This addition to the Live on the Green experience in 2015 was key. It opens up the festival to younger and up-and-coming bands while adding a true festival dynamic to closing weekend. Catch killer acts such as powerful R&B outfit Alanna Royale and guitar-lickin’ Los Colognes this year.
Kids Fest with Mr. Steve
Even if you don’t have children, Mr. Steve is one of the most entertaining folks in town. His kids-centric show always contains a star-studded local lineup of players that adults will recognize, and brings a nice, but not overwhelming family vibe to LOTG's Saturday afternoon.
Sustainability
From food waste to conserving energy, Live on the Green is well rounded when it comes to being environmentally friendly. Stop by on a Friday morning and it will look like there were definitely not 15,000 fans partying on the lawn.
Screen prints!
Need a souvenir? Local printers and designers Friendly Arctic design and print some of my favorite posters I’ve ever hung in my house. Make sure to grab one each week at Live on the Green and check out past prints here.
Diverse lineup
This year of Live on the Green features country music with Aubrie Sellers, slides over to soul-infused R&B with Alanna Royale, makes a stop with bluesy guitar rock with SIMO, garage-infused rock featuring Bully and even electro indie pop with repeatrepeat!
Grub
Eat anything your heart desires as you walk down the beautiful food truck aisle presented by Nashville Food Truck Association. Stand in line for an out-of-this-world grilled cheese at The Grilled Cheeserie or stop by Bacon Nation because, well, bacon.
Lt. Dan
Dan Buckley’s iconic voice gets Music City pretty hyped every week of Live on the Green, and also gets you through your lunch hour every workday. He’s a legend.
Lightning 100 (duh)
Nashville is lucky to have such an incredible, local and independent radio station like WRLT. The hours they put into Live on the Green show how much they care about making Nashville the best city for live music in the country!
Tom Melchior lives and works out of East Nashville. Catch him at a local show, drinking bourbon or at Martin’s BBQ eating his weight in chicken wings.