By Lauren Caggiano
Photography by Greg Bastin
fwcityedge@gmail.com

Green was the buzz word at Rothbury Music Festival (Rothbury, Mich.) July 2-5 2009 and I’m not just referring to the copious amount of marijuana in the air.

The festival’s organizers wanted to remain loyal to its bold environmental sustainability mission. To do this, they implemented several methods during the four-day fest.

Consider this: all Rothbury offices have been “greened.” This means full service recycling is active at all offices; all paper products are 100% recycled; all office supplies were replaced by their eco equivalents: rechargeable batteries, hand soap, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, energy efficient light bulbs, and more. The Rothbury team practiced what they preached, traveling only when necessary. And in the event of travel, they offset the carbon created from hotel stays, flights and/or automobiles.

The festival supports environmentally friendly companies: the paper comes from an independent/green-only paper company. The paper is 100% recycled content, which means no trees were cut. All printed materials were produced with soy-based inks. All items can be recycled again.

Perhaps most impressive were the ubiquitous recycling and compost containers provided on site. It’s estimated that as much as 30 to 40 percent of the “trash” generated at an average festival could have been composted (and most of the rest can be recycled). Volunteers from the “Green Team” staffed the sites to instruct festival-goers to the proper bin for materials.
Another trademark of the festival were the organic and sustainable merchandise (t-shirts, hats). Festical go-ers were treated to organic, veggie and vegan food. And don’t forget the farmer’s market, thanks to Sweetwater Local Foods.

Dialogue is key to action and the organizers knew that. That’s why the Rothbury Think Tank was a capstone of the green practices. Leading scientists, scholars, writers, progressive political and corporate leaders, youth leaders, artists and festival-goers came together for a discussion on the new “green” economy. In addition to the forum, attendees could take advantage of hands-on workshops on topics like how to find a green job, make your home and office energy efficient, grow your own organic food, and more.

The four-day line-up included a wide variety of artists and genres: The Dead, Bob Dylan and His Band, The String Cheese Incident, Willie Nelson & Family, The Black Crowes, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley & Nas, STS9, G. Love & Special Sauce, Gov't Mule, Broken Social Scene, Yonder Mountain String Band, The Disco Biscuits, Les Claypool, Cold War Kids, John Butler, Chromeo, Ani DiFranco, Matisyahu, Guster, Girl Talk, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, MSTRKRFT, Martin Sexton, Flogging Molly, Railroad Earth, The Hold Steady, Toots & The Maytals, Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, Brett Dennen, Zappa Plays Zappa, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Shpongle DJ Set, Son Volt, Jackie Greene, Soulive, Man Man, Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band w/ Tony Rice, EOTO, King Sunny Adé & His African Beats, Lotus, Kid Cudi, STS9 Live PA
The Glitch Mob, Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam, Pretty Lights, Moseley, Law, Sipe & Droll, Rebelution, Quannum All Stars ft. Lyrics Born, The Mighty Underdogs, Gift of Gab & Lifesavas, Toubab Krewe, Sam Roberts Band, Hill Country Revue, Kyle, Hollingsworth Band, Lipp Service, 2020 Soundsystem, Break Science ft. Adam Deitch
The Hard Lessons, The Low Anthem, Underground Orchestra
Future Rock, The Macpodz, Steppin' In It, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Chris Pierce, Rachel Goodrich, The Ragbirds and Four Finger Five.

For more information about the Rothbury Music Festival, see rothburyfestival.com