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. 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. 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.
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.
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.
History 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. Before LOTG, Nashville hosted free concert series such as Dancin in the District, Uptown Mix, and Summer Lights that didn't quite succeed. 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. The radio station then began overlapping their programming with bands they booked for the festival, drawing in more crowds.
In 2012, Alabama Shakes took to the Main Stage and marked a turning point for the festival, doubling the average attendance in one night. Spoon then set the overall attendance record with what was estimated to be 20,000 fans in 2017. 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.
Community 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. LOTG also raises awareness on important issues and invites select organizations to share messages and engage fans in positive ways at the festival. Live On The Green itself is also pet and children friendly.
Sustainability Live On The Green focuses heavily on eco-friendly solutions regarding the site and community. 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. 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. 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.
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.
Notable performances
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.
2020 Line-up 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. The event consisted of over 100 acts over five days and included pre-taped festival performances and exclusive content. The 2020 lineup included Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, My Morning Jacket, Jason Isbell, Beck, Sheryl Crow, and Moon Taxi, among many others.
Past dates and artists
2022 The 2022 festival was the first in-person festival since 2019 and took place over Labor Day weekend, September 1-5, 2022. DateArtistsSeptember 1, 2022 Sheryl Crow Jenny Lewis Nikki Lane Danielle Ponder Bre Kennedy The Watson Twins Cecilia Castleman September 2, 2022 Moon TaxiColony HouseThe Wild FeathersSeratonesThe FoxiesThe ShindellasSweet Lizzy Project September 3, 2022 SantigoldCautious ClayRuby AmanfuThe 502's *repeat repeat Amber WoodhouseLos ColognesPhillip-Michael ScalesSeptember 4, 2022 CoinDevon GilfillianStephen Day Strung Like A Horse The Criticals Nordista Freeze Tayls Taylor BickettSeptember 5, 2022 YolaArrested DevelopmentPatrick Droney Susto The Brummies Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country LadyCouch Fulton Lee
2020 The 2020 season shifted to an on-air radio format, the "Live On My Green FM Music Festival", from September 3–6, 2020. - Date- Artists September 3, 2020 Lindsay EllKatie PruittCaitlyn SmithThe Heavy HoursJohn CraigieJade BirdNoah CyrusbeabadoobeeZack HeckendorfBuzzard Buzzard BuzzardLianne La HavasHumming HouseThe MavericksMatthew Logan Vasquez of Delta SpiritLarkin PoeColony HouseNEEDTOBREATHEHamilton LeithauserFruitionTrigger HippyBlack PumasJason Isbell Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night SweatsAmy SharkThe FoxiesSylvan EssoMilky ChanceTwo Door Cinema ClubOvercoats September 4, 2020 Joshua SpeersLennon StellaFrank TurnerCold War KidsJill AndrewsLiza AnneJoan Jett & The BlackheartsCarolina StoryThe Teskey BrothersMolly TuttleCordovasDrew Holcomb and The NeighborsCaampHiss Golden MessengerThe RevivalistsDr. DogDawesMumford & SonsBruce SpringsteenSpoonThe WeeksLPG. LoveCautious ClayTedeschi Trucks BandThe War and Treaty September 5, 2020 Low Cut ConnieWill HogeRhett Miller of Old 97'sGhost of Paul RevereKathleen EdwardsCourtney Marie AndrewsNicole AtkinsPete YornScott MulvahillSonghoy BluesAmos LeeNorah JonesThe Avett BrothersLilly HiattBelle Mt.ZZ WardJack Johnson & FriendsThe Head & The HeartMichael KiwanukaBeckCage The ElephantRainbow Kitten SurpriseMy Morning JacketMetallicaMuse September 6, 2020 Chuck ProphetBrandy ClarkBruce HornsbySmooth Hound SmithLanghorne SlimSarah JaroszAaron Lee TasjanWaxahatcheeSavannah ConleyU.S. GirlsBand of HorsesPhoebe BridgersRuston KellyThe Lone BellowBailenOkey DokeyRon GalloBriston MaroneyThe Black KeysMoon TaxiThe AquaducksAnderson EastSt. Paul & The Broken BonesThe Marcus King BandBullyMargo PriceJosh RitterEric Hutchinson September 7, 2020 John-RobertStacey RandolCharley CrockettJaime WyattBand of HeathensLadycouchAdia VictoriaPerfume GeniusMondo CozmoLuthiDevon GilfillianThe Wood BrothersLake Street DiveSheryl CrowMt JoyMolly MartinDrumming BirdJames Ethan Clark & The RenegadesCatalinaOddnoteTaylor NoelleFulton LeeFoalsThe NationalFuture IslandsJudah and the LionMichael FrantiChristone "Kingfish" IngramHalf Moon Run
2019 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. - Date- Artists August 15, 2019 Lucie SilvasYolaThe StrumbellasGary Clark Jr. August 22. 2019 Will HogeAmanda ShiresMat KearneyJohnnyswim August 29, 2019 Briston MaroneyThe DaybreaksMaggie Rose & Them VibesMorgxnAmerican AuthorsYacht Rock RevueO.A.R August 30, 2019 Los ColognesThe BrummiesIlliterate LiteRobert Randolph and the Family BandGusterSt. Paul and The Broken Bones August 31, 2019 Kid's FestWild LoveLaura ReedScott MulvahillCreature ComfortAaron Lee TasjanBailenLos CoastGrizfolkJukebox The GhostDevon GilfillianGrace Potter September 1, 2019 TrellaForest Fire Gospel ChoirAirparkSmooth Hound SmithStephen DayLiz Cooper & The StampedeLindsay EllThe Marcus King BandBoy Named BanjoSteve EarleWilder WoodsLake Street Dive
2018 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. - Date- Artists August 9, 2018 Roscoe & EttaMt. JoyThe Wood BrothersDISPATCH August 16, 2018 *repeat repeatColony HouseCar Seat HeadrestCold War Kids August 23, 2018 Alanna RoyaleParquet CourtsRainbow Kitten SurpriseTrampled by Turtles August 30, 2018 The New RespectsSavannah ConleyRoots of a RebellionRival SonsThe Wild FeathersDr. Dog August 31, 2018 WakerThe FoxiesRepublican HairMikky EkkoTheo KatzmanElliot RootX Ambassadors September 1, 2018 Live On The Green's Kid's Fest with Mr. SteveJackson Bruck & The Dukes of HumeArliePaul McDonaldLuthiNatalie PrassLarkin PoeRayland BaxterLissieZZ WardMatt and KimJimmy Eat World
2017 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. - Date- Artists August 10, 2017 ArkellsMichael Franti and SpearheadSt. Paul and the Broken Bones August 17, 2017 Minus The BearReal EstateLocal Natives August 24, 2017 The WeeksPortugal. The ManSpoon August 31, 2017 Cancelled due to weather Jonny PCarl BroemelRoots of a RebellionIron & WineDISPATCHJohn Butler Trio September 1, 2017 Cancelled due to weather,rescheduled to September 3, 2017 September 2, 2017 Mr. Steve, the Music ManGuthrie BrownCordovasPaper RouteThe Voodoo FixElliot RootBahamasThe Delta SaintsThe Record CompanyLPThe Lone BellowFuture Islands September 3, 2017 The Whistles & The BellsRon GalloGoodbye JuneSHELDrew Holcomb and the NeighborsSheryl Crow
2016 The 2016 season started with three consecutive Thursdays from August 11–25, 2016 and ended with a weekend finale from September 1–3, 2016. - Date- Artists August 11, 2016White DenimAllen StoneAndra Day August 18, 2016 JR JRPassengerJenny Lewis August 25, 2016 The Record CompanyKurt Vile & the ViolatorsDawes September 1, 2016 *repeat repeatSIMOCOINThe RevivalistsBØRNSYoung The Giant September 2, 2016 Josh FarrowDaniel Ellsworth & The Great LakesNikki Lanethe SheepdogsRayland BaxterThe Wild FeathersBand of Horses September 3, 2016 Kid's Fest with Mr. Steve, the Music ManMountains Like WaxBasshAlanna RoyaleLos ColognesGabe DixonAubrie SellersElizabeth CookBullyThe WeeksJudah & the LionBen Harper & The Innocent Criminals
2015 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. - Date- Artists August 20, 2015 Elliot RootShakey GravesLord Huron August 27, 2015 HoundmouthJ Roddy Walston and the BusinessCold War Kids September 3, 2015 Greg HoldenThe Delta SaintsMoon Taxi September 10, 2015 Civil TwilightKopeckyDelta RaeHumming HouseJD McPhersonRodrigo y Gabriela September 11, 2015 Turbo FruitsThe VespersColony HouseSmooth Hound SmithZella DayBig DataPassion Pit September 12, 2015 Mr Steve, The Music ManDaphne and the Mystery MachinesSteelismFuture ThievesKaleoAll Them WitchesThe DistrictsLennon & MaisyAnderson EastElle KingFamily of the YearBen Folds
2014 The 2014 season started with three consecutive Thursdays from August 14–28, 2014 and ended with a weekend finale from September 4–6, 2014.