2014 Schedule

Tue, Aug 12, 2014 2:11 PM

Organizing Begins for The Big Green 2014

Fri, Dec 6, 2013 9:33 AM

Hula hooping at the Big Green

Mark your calendar for Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014 for the 3rd Annual Big Green Sustainable Music Festival.

Come help plan the party! Bring your friends, too! Find us on Facebook!

Numerous volunteers from last year's event are returning to help spread the message that healthy, fun, thriving — sustainable — communities start with us. Our heartfelt thanks for their inspiring accomplishments in 2013:

Chris Aaron at the Big Green

• More than 800 people attended
• Only slightly more than half an ounce of waste per attendee went to the landfill
• A great time was had by all

Thanks, too, to The Community Foundation of the Fox Valley Region and all our sponsors, vendors and exhibitors for sharing the vision of a sustainable future.

As The Big Green grows to become one of SFV's main fundraisers, we are working tirelessly to create opportunities that offer our volunteers a truly exceptional experience. Please spread the word — from leaders to heavy lifters, all help is welcome.

photos by Adam Z Anderson

The Big Green 2013

Mon, Jun 3, 2013 12:55 PM

Get ready Fox Cities residents! The Second Annual Big Green: Sustainable Music Festival is getting ready to take center stage at Sunset Park in Kimberly on August 17, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.! The festival features live music, local food and marketplace, handcrafted beers, workshops, kids activity area and exhibits. This near-zero waste public festival raises awareness of sustainability, encourages community involvement, supports diversity, and enhances our creative culture.

“The Big Green (TBG) is a great way to bring the community together to learn about sustainability in a fun and exciting way,” stated Ali Koestner, TBG’s Vending Coordinator. Koestner also supports BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle). “You can refill your bottle for free at our Bottled Water Killer refilling station. It is a great way to stay refreshed while maintaining the festival’s near-zero waste goals”. Don’t worry if you forget your reusable bottle TBG offers reusable, foldable bottles at a very reasonable price.

In 2012, 70% of the waste generated at the festival was either composted or recycled. Less than one ounce of waste per attendee went to the landfill. This accomplishment was done by strategically placing Compost Recycle Trash (CRT) stations throughout the festival grounds. “We hope to continue the success we had in waste reduction at last year’s event,” said Chris Miller, Outagamie County Recycling Coordinator and TBG’s Green Waste Coordinator. “Our plan is to reduce our landfill waste by 10%, while increasing our recycling and composting rates by 10% from 2012.”

New this year, TBG Festival team will be leading our region in sustainable event management by applying the ISO 20121 Sustainable Event Management System Standard. “This means all applicable environmental, social, and economic issues involved with our event have been identified”, said Joanne Gorski, President of Sustainable Insights LLC. “We have objectives and targets in place to manage all significant issues in a manner consistent with the principles of sustainable development and have published a Sustainable Event Policy to clearly communicate this to all interested parties.”

Sarah Lauer, TBG Event Chair, commented, "It's amazing to see so many people in our communities respect one another and the environment we live in. TBG is just a piece of the miraculous puzzle that helps assure our future generations thrive."

Save the date, this August 17th to come out and taste amazing locally sourced food, shop unique and local merchandisers, attend an educational workshop and listen to an amazing lineup of local bands including The Chris Aaron Band, Ifdakar, Unity... the Band, Dead Horses, and Evergreen

To buy tickets or learn more about Volunteering, Vending, or Sponsoring, please visit thebiggreenfest.com or find us on Facebook.

Proceeds from the event benefit Sustainable Fox Valley, a non-profit 501c(3).

new playlist

Thu, Apr 11, 2013 6:53 PM

If you haven't noticed we have some new tunes on the site from our run with Family Groove Company in Madison & Milwaukee. Five fresh tracks for your listening enjoyment! 

The Grasshoppers have some exciting news for our 2013 summer schedule!

Fri, Mar 22, 2013 10:30 AM

Stay tuned for dates and times! Don't let the suspense get the best of you!

The Grasshoppers and the Motet

Fri, Mar 22, 2013 9:43 AM

The Grasshoppers are honored to be opening up for The Motet on Thursday, March 28nd at the historic Majestic Theatre.  The doors open at 8:30 and the show will begin promptly at 9:30. We ask that you get there early to get a good dancing spot, for this night shall truly be a ho down throw down!

Ifdakar at Summer Camp : On the Road Tour

Thu, Feb 21, 2013 12:19 PM

Ok, here it is. We know after the last time we lost (2 years ago), we said we would never do a battle of the bands again. The outpouring of support everyone showed us last time was enough for us to say, "We did our best. A ton of our friends, fans and family came out to support us. We can't ask them to do that again." Point being, you push so hard to rally your troops to come out and pay a cover charge, see you play for maybe 45 minutes, and you might not even win. Truth be told, it can be kind of embarrassing to beg your friends to come and vote for you, especially if you come out on the losing end of the stick.

However, you all know that we're not the type of guys to give up. :) 

That said, we have agreed to take part in one more battle, the Summer Camp: On the Road Tour, for a chance to fulfill our band's dream of performing at Summer Camp!

We really feel we have a good look at it this year, and that's not to take anything away from the other acts who will be performing for your vote. We just think that if we can pull anywhere near the kind of support we had 2 years ago, we should be in heavy contention.

And, of course, that's where you come in! As much as we have ever needed you before, we need you more than that now! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do anything you can to make it to Madison and the High Noon Saloon on Friday, March 1st to cast your vote for Ifdakar and send this band to one of the greatest music festivals in the country!

We have chartered a PARTY BUS from the Fox Valley for this battle! Here is the event page with details on the bus!

https://www.facebook.com/events/340150906104303/ 

Beyond the battle, take a look at the line-up! Should be a BLAST, either way!!!

Vintage Blue 9:00-9:50
Ifdakar 10:10-11:00
Evergreen 11:20-12:10
Asparagii 12:30-1:20am

Thanks everyone! We seriously can't thank you enough for everything you've given us to this point. Your faith in us makes it all the more important to us to do well beyond the realm of our local boundaries, so we can tell the world, "these people believed in us the whole damn time!" Big love!

We all hope to see you March 1st at the High Noon Saloon!

23: A WIJAM Halloween Event!

Sun, Oct 21, 2012 11:23 AM

A WIJam Weekend :: Sept 27-29

Tue, Sep 11, 2012 1:42 PM

Coming at you on the last weekend of September is the First ever WIJam Weekend at Camp NCN in Black River Falls. We have a jam packed 3 days of Wisconsin bred music for you to get down one last time before winter sets in. The best part, it is only $50 presale and $60 at the gate! So save some green and get them right here!

Check out the lineup!

Steez
Ifdakar
Cosmic Railroad
The Mustache
Wook
Clovis Mann
Soup
Recalcitrant
Venice Gas House Trolley
Dead Horses
Honest Monday
Asparagii
Evergreen
4th Coast
Red Rose
Terry 'N Front
Damn Little Matthew

We will also have:

Reflections of Heaven PhotoDesign PhotoBooth - Ryan Keranen

Charity Auction by ArtZoo- Ryan Kulpa

A-PATCHE Patchwork Clothing - Karin Keranen

The Eden's Rose Foundation - Trevor Klemp

Grateful Foodz - Shane Foxcroft

Groovy Goods by Brett Lauderdale

Simple Health Naturally - Carrie Spranger

YouPhoriClothing

Hand Crafted by Anna

see you September 27-29!

The Big Green

Wed, Aug 8, 2012 3:24 PM

Excitement is brewing in anticipation of the Fox Valley’s first annual Sustainable Music Festival – The Big Green™ – premiering Saturday, August 18 from 12:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at  The Kimberly Amphitheater, Sunset Park in Kimberly, WI.

The Big Green is a near-zero waste music festival that encourages sustainability, community involvement, diversity, and cultural exploration. The festival’s alternative energy needs will be met by the use of a bio-diesel generator. All attendees are encouraged to utilize bicycle routes, mass transit, walking and carpooling as a way to limit the use of fossil fuels.

Ifdakar is proud to be playing alongside Greg Waters & the Broad Street Boogie, Recalcitrant, Josh Harty, Gaylynne Goodwill, and Justin Bricco of the Blueheels. Stone Arch will be serving the same beer you get at The Stone Cellar Brewpub, there will be great local food from vendors like Kangaroostaurant, a local marketplace, exhibits, speakers, and activities for children at The Kids Green!

All of this for only $10 at the gate or you can pick up your tickets now at http://thebiggreenfest.com ~ Children under the age of 13 are free!

Profits benifit Sustainable Fox Valley and their goals for the Fox Valley region of Wisconsin:

• Resilient and self-reliant local economies
• Opportunities for all to thrive in their community
• A healthy natural environment

For more information about Sustainable Fox Valley visit http://sustainfv.org or for more info on the Big Green visit http://thebiggreenfest.com