Ben Harper to headline Rock the Green festival
Eco-friendly event returns Sept. 9
Rock the Green, the Milwaukee eco-friendly music festival that made a surprising comeback in 2016 after a three-year hiatus, will return Sept. 9 with Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals headlining.
Known for his environmental advocacy, the genreblending Harper is a suitable fit for Green, which last year diverted 90% of the event’s waste from landfills, amounting to about 1.55 ounces of waste per festivalgoer. The average at a festival is 16 ounces per person.
To reach its goal, the festival featured waste reclamation stations with four kinds of receptacles, including a food grinder that helped generate material for an organic fertilizer. Other environmentally conscious elements include a bicycle-powered local music stage, compostable plates and napkins, and festival shirts recycled from Goodwill.
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Rock the Green will return to Reed Street Yards in Walker’s Point, at S. 3rd St. and Freshwater Way. Tickets are $50, or $100 for VIP passes, available at
rockthegreen.com. Admission is free for children 10 and under.
The full lineup will be announced July 12.