The Green River Festival is on everybody’s mind, so let’s discuss how to prepare for the big weekend again. I’ve put together some tips to ensure you have the best festival experience, whether at the Green River Festival or any festival you might attend this summer.

Tickets

Have your tickets with you. This sounds like a no-brainer, but showing up without tickets has happened to the best of us. Nowadays, tickets are emailed, and you can print them or not. Many people prefer to keep them on their phones, which is more environmentally friendly. However, do have them pulled up and ready to show once you are at the gate. Standing behind someone who has to quickly scroll through hundreds of emails to find their tickets becomes a major concert annoyance.

Phone

To elaborate on the above, be sure to have your phone with you and, more importantly, make sure it’s charged. Concert promoters are using text and or social media to alert them of any weather concerns that may require evacuation. At the Green River Festival, they will notify concertgoers of pop-up concerts that are taking place on the Green House stage. Of course, having your phone with you doesn’t mean you have to stand in front of the stage, blocking everyone’s view as you hold your phone high in the air, recording the entire show.

Bike

Biking to festivals is becoming common as people become more concerned about their carbon footprint. The Green River Festival encourages this and will have a free bike valet service near the entrance. Wisdom Way is now open, with a bike path leading to it.

Sunscreen

It could be a hot one this weekend, be sure to bring sunscreen and make sure you have the proper SPF. Also, check the expiration date, sunscreen lasts a long while but not forever, and it loses its effectiveness past the date.

Rain gear

This is a big one; there could be some rain this weekend, so come prepared. Having endured rain during the recent One Roof concert, I speak from fresh experience. Bring rain gear such as a poncho and a small umbrella if allowed. Also, and this is my best advice – keep your feet dry. Consider bringing some waterproof footwear or at least an extra pair of socks. Wet feet can ruin your experience. Also, have some small plastic bags to keep your phone and other essentials dry.

Patience

Make sure to keep patience and a good attitude in check. Anytime you are in a crowd, and it doesn’t even have to be a big crowd, your patience will be tested by someone or something that annoys you. Remember to stay calm and be kind.

Debit/Credit card

You want to bring some cash with you, but many vendors will be contactless, so have your plastic card with you. There will be a lot of good food at the Green River Festival. Do check out the Broccoli Bar.

Water bottle

Do stay hydrated! It’s become a standard feature at most concerts to have water stations to refill your water bottle. The Green River Festival will have multiple stations, and they have asked that people refrain from bringing single-use plastic.

It isn’t the only festival on tap; coming up is the Deja Brew Meltdown, hosted by the band The Humans Being, on Saturday, July 1, at 2 p.m, at The Deja Brew Cafe and Pub in Wendell. That is also where The Wendell Reggae Festival will happen on Saturday, July 15, at 2 p.m. And The RPM Fest will take place at the Montague Rod and Gun Club on Labor Day weekend, September 1 through 3.

Green River Festival kickoff Party with Glen David Andrews at Hawks & Reed

Why wait for the weekend? The party will start tonight (June 22) when Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield host a Green River Festival kickoff party at 8 p.m. The music will be provided by New Orleans own, trombonist and singer Glen David Andrews and his band.

Andrews, a native of the Big Easy, grew up in the historic Treme neighborhood of the city. As a boy, he learned about music by hanging around church choirs and second-line parades. Many of his family members played in brass bands like the Rebirth Brass Band, Dirty Dozen, and more, and his exposure to this music was a big influence. At the urging of his younger cousin, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, he picked up the trombone, which proved life-changing.

Andrews ultimately joined Troy’s older brother’s band. He played in various brass bands before starting his own band, debuting at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2008. He’s released a series of well-received albums that feature his unique blend of funk, R&B, jazz, gospel and zydeco. Club residencies in New Orleans have further helped him develop his dynamic live show.

Andrews recently released the Roots Americana album, “Le TremeCarnaval,” an album on which singer-songwriter Amos Lee was a guest. Andrews is currently touring in support of the album and is joined by his five-piece band, which includes River “Peanut” Andrews, who was a member of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band for 20 years.

This show promises to bring the spirit of New Orleans to Greenfield. And even if you have no plans to attend the festival, you can still enjoy a night of electrifying hip-shaking music.

If you can’t make it to this show, you can catch Andrews at the Green River Festival on Friday night, performing early on the Dean’s Beans stage.

Tickets are $25 day of the show and will be available at the door. For more information, visit Hawksandreed.com

More shows at Tree House Summer Stage

Last week we talked about the Tree House Summer Stage concert series. Tree House informed us that they will have the stage up through the fall. They have already announced one show for September. Indie rocker Kurt Vile and the Violators plus Joanna Sternberg will play at the venue on September 20 at 7 p.m. They also announced a show with guitarist Julian Lage that will take place in the house theater on September 13.

The Old Crow Medicine Show concert on August 23 is now sold out.

Tickets for both show are available at treehousebrew.com/live-music-and-events.

Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at Soundslocal@yahoo.com.

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