Why Nashville music festival Live On The Green won't return in 2023

Live On The Green, Nashville’s free outdoor concert series at Public Square Park, will not return in 2023, according to a statement from festival organizers and tourism officials. 

"... Putting on a festival of this size, with this caliber of talent, and keeping it free and open to the public each and every year since 2009 has been a labor of love and one of our greatest joys as Nashville's independent radio station," reads a statement from the festival's Executive Producer Lester Turner posted on Live On The Green's Instagram account.

"Unfortunately, this year, the cost and demands of that challenge are too great for us to deliver the same quality experience that supporters of our festival have come to enjoy through the years. For that reason, we are sad to announce the cancellation of the 2023 festival, however, this is not the end of Live On The Green."

Turner, who is also Lightning 100's president of Tuned In Broadcasting, closes the statement by saying they plan to return in 2024.

Sponsored by  Lightning 100 (WRLT, 100.1 FM), a local independent radio station, Live On The Green’s previous multi-day events have featured emerging local and national talent, as well as well-known performers — from Sheryl Crow and Citizen Cope to The Wallflowers, Band of Horses and Jars of Clay. 

Officials previously stated more than 700,000 attended its festivals, dating back to 2009.

During the pandemic, event organizers moved the live music festival to the airwaves. Video streams were also available on Lightning 100’s website.

The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. first made the announcement on its website.