A Day on the Green

A Day on the Green Poster

A Day on the Green is a concert series that started in Oakland, California in 1973.   Hugely famous artists performed at the series of concerts that were held in the Oakland Coliseum Stadium, including U2, the Grateful Dead, the Rolling Stones and Chicago (among many others).  Even though Day on the Green concerts have not been held in Oakland since the 1990s, there is a “A Day on the Green” Facebook page, for fans to join.

Building on the original concept, A Day on the Green migrated to Australia and New Zealand starting in 2001.  As before, it offers outdoor concerts featuring popular artists, but this time the events are held at wineries and showcase fine food.  “A Day on the Green” concerts will be held from tomorrow, February 7, 2009 through the end of March “down under.”  Featured artists this year include Simply Red and Jimmy Barnes.

Here is an excerpt of Leonard Cohen at A Day on the Green concert this year:

Now that is all nice and good, but I can rock a lot harder with Journey in this excerpt from 1982 (ahh…. Middle School days for me).  C’mon and sing along with “Separate Ways” filmed at A Day on the Green – dare I say it – 27 years ago!

I forgot how much I love 80s music!  But, seriously.  I am eagerly awaiting for A Day on the Green to return to Oakland – only a long days’ drive from where I live.  There was a rumor last year that the outdoor concert event would be back in fall 2008.

As much as I would love to visit Australia and New Zealand, American and British rock is more my style.

What do you think – are you in with me for A Day on the Green 2009 here in the States?  If so, who should play?