Breland says it was Storey who personally asked him to be the festival's first president. The Beach Boys on Memorial Day Weekend, The Commodores in June & Rick Springfield on the Fourth of July weekend. It's a good idea to wear waterproof shoes, carry a rain poncho, or consider other attire for rain in late May. Headliners at the free concerts were B.B King, Bill Monroe, Don McLean, Sarah Vaughan and Hank Williams Jr. But the festival lit a spark for the community to gather, celebrate and imagine what the riverfront could become. Hold annual riverbend Festival and other events to promote economic development, community involvement & harmony in the chattanooga, tn areathe riverbend Festival that had been planned for the spring of 2020 was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Riverbend is more than a good show. As of June 1982, "Riverbend", affectionately named after the curve in the Tennessee River, has been a riveting music event ranking in the top 10% of festivals in the country. Breland says "it is a miracle the thing got started and has continued.". Download the News 12 News and Weather Apps on your smart phone or tablet device to receive breaking news and weather push notifications the minute it happens. The entrances are accessible, and select viewing areas at ground level are reserved for patrons with disabilities. detail_page_enabled: true, Over the years, the festival has grown from five nights to nine nights of its current run. Yes, I was inspired by reading in the Chattanooga Times in May 1980 about Charleston's 21-day Spoleto Festival and by working to get a Chattanooga town festival started. Daniel Thompson/50th Public Affairs Detachment), U.S. Army Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division band perform at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. This photo is taken from the railroad trellis on MLK looking back toward the Chubb Life building. submission: { Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. When you see news happening, share it! You can see from the first Riverbend poster that they promoted five headliners that year. Event Production and Management. Thu 16 Mar 2023 Reggae Rise Up 2023 St Petersburg, FL, US. Breland also recalls riding up and down the Tennessee River in a boat with singer/songwriter Roberta Flack following her performance on the fifth night of the then six-night festival. Nashville's Summer Lights began the same year as Riverbend. "Music is my favorite form of communication; no matter the age, race, language- people can always relate with . Over the years, the festival grew into the three nights of its current run and presently ranks in the top 10 percent of all American festivals. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}350318N 851934W / 35.055N 85.326W / 35.055; -85.326. field59.ipo = { (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Over the years, it has undergone serious wind damage, leading to a new cover, and it has been outfitted with more modern and better audio, lighting and video equipment. Hotels/Motels close to Riverbend Festival are shown below ordered by distance (closest first). Pack it with a few essentials like sunscreen, sunglasses, bug spray, earplugs, and a portable charger. Pord ujawnionych dat, znalazo si rwnie miejsce na 12 . I wish these local urban history records (or copies) were in Chattanooga, since they explain much about why Chattanooga is becoming what it is becoming. Not all of the events from that first Riverbend were successes. [1] Additionally, Riverbend has won several national awards from the International Festivals and Events Association, including 8 in 2007. Here are the details before we explore that question again. As the first president of the board of directors for the first Riverbend, Breland was there almost from the beginning. More archival material is at the Chattanooga Public Library, including early programs and publicity. "dfpConfig": { (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Chattanooga, TN's long-running Riverbend Festival has announced the music lineup for its 2022 event, set to return to Ross's Landing on June 3rd-5th. "You just have to walk around down there and see people from Whitwell and Signal Mountain and Lookout Mountain and Alton Park.". publisher_id: "7057", When Riverbend began, it was not the same Ross's Landing that's now part of the multi-million dollar 21st Century Waterfront. When the band threatened to leave town without playing, Rody Davenport, whose family owned all the Krystal restaurants in Chattanooga, "went to every Krystal in town and cleaned out every till of cash to pay them," Breland says with a laugh. There are convenience stores in the vicinity, where you can pick up any essentials you need. [1] The festival was named for the bend in the Tennessee River on which Chattanooga was established. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Paramore. Answer 1 of 6: I love Alison Krauss, but found out about the festival too late to get reserved seats by front of the stage. The victims of excessive financial losses, those three disappeared (although Music at Midtown resurrected itself in 2011). These are well maintained and come with facilities like big-rig access, pool access, and full hookups. 11. Talk to News 12 anchors, reporters and meteorologists. They will be staffed with trained professionals and festival volunteers. The 2022 event, which marks Riverbend . He would remember these sessions for about 30 interested citizens, which culminated with a BBQ, Beer, Bluejeans and Bach celebration (the essence of our original inclusive idea) at Sharon Mills' home to celebrate the beginning of a new kind of comprehensive festival for Chattanooga. Mobile App|Weather App | WDEF Email Sign Up. Riverbend Festival Riverfront Nights Four Bridges Art Festival, About Us Our Work Contact Careers. Headline performers are featured nightly on the Coca-Cola Stage, a barge which has been converted into a full-size concert stage. text: "Promote your event", Individual nights can see some 80,000 people in attendance. evvnt_require("evvnt/discovery_plugin").init({ Contrary to the official Riverbend history on their page, the 1981 Five Nights in Chattanooga had nothing to do with Riverbend except, in looking back, as a bad model, since the three ticketed summer acts in 1982 lost the fledgling festival about $100,000 under executive director Bruce Storey's leadership, based on comments from the first officers. I suppose Commissioner Robinson's "history" on the Riverbend official web page reflects her memories or what someone uninformed wrote for her. Major local and national companies, such as Covista Communications, Unum, and Budweiser, sponsor other stages throughout the riverfront area. 8The Riverbend Festival, which was twice delayed and then restructured during the COVID-19 pandemic, will have to wait another year before returning June 2-5, 2022. OUR MISSION "Part of Bruce's genius was getting Walker involved," says Robbins. One touching the leg decides it's a tree; one at the trunk thinks it's a snake, one at the ears thinks it's a fan. Each first aid station will also have accessible restrooms, which are reserved for patrons with disabilities. More than a hundred acts, both well-known and new, converge each year to perform various kinds of music, including classic rock, country, urban, and bluegrass, as well as jam bands, on three stages set alongside the Tennessee River. The Bessie Smith Strut, originally called the Bessie Smith Jazz Strut, on Ninth Street, now M.L. Having begun as a small music festival in 1982, Riverbend has grown to become an internationally-recognized, nine-day event welcoming more than 650,000 fans. Going to this festival? Music lovers enjoy performances from three stages set along the backdrop of the Tennessee River at Ross's Landing on Riverfront Parkway . The Riverbend Festival includes artists covering almost every music genre on five different stages. After Riverbend began, other cities Southeastern like Birmingham (City Stages) and Atlanta (Music at Midtown) created their own downtown music festivals. I am wanting to come in from ATL and I don't. Saturday, July 30, 2022 Outlaw Music Festival 2022 featuring Willie Nelson, ZZ Top, Gov't Mule, Larkin Poe, and Particle Kid Doors Open: 4:00pm Show Time: 4:25pm Riverbend Music Center Artists Willie Nelson ZZ Top Gov't Mule Larkin Poe Particle Kid Important Health Update There Are No Health Entry Requirements For This Event. The new idea put more emphasis on music and vendors on the river. Headline performers are featured nightly on the Coca-Cola Stage, a barge which has been converted into a full-size concert stage. Patrick Jacob, a percussionist assigned to the 3rd IDs band. Riverbend Festival 1993 Setlists Jun 18 1993 Date Friday, June 18, 1993 - Saturday, June 26, 1993 Venue Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN, USA Report festival So far there are setlists of 11 gigs. I've sent out a few emails and maybe an editor will catch it for a quick human interest side bar. The barge that held the first. After missing a year due to the pandemic, we will celebrate 40 years of music in 2023! Begun in 1982, to celebrate the beginning of summer, the Riverbend Festival is a musical event that takes place each . Raw video clips. Your email address will not be published. The Riverbend Festival was started in June 1982 as a five-night festival in Chattanooga. Daniel Thompson/50th Public Affairs Detachment), U. S. Army Spc. The Lyndhurst's Riverbend archives make it clear Mr. Jack Lupton saw the Five Nights project as a one-time experiment but wanted the foundation out of the concert business with its potential for liability lawsuits and that a "citizen's group should be found.". The festival eventually added three more nights so vendors could make money, according to Robbins. Family-friendly, pet-friendly and welcoming to all to enjoy Saturdays on the river. Anyone violating the regulations of the festival will be removed from the venue. Riverbend Music Festival Tour Dates This awesome event was started in June 1982 as a five night festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee. During the multiple-day engagement, revelers can enjoy performances by over 80 regional and nationally touring musical acts in the realms of country, rock, pop and soul. So, she and other current FoF board members, such as Hugh Moore, may not have known what was actually happening before that time. Jun 5, 2022. We had Jazz legend Count Basie, Soul hitmaker Roberta Flack, Bluegrass & traditional musician John Hartford and gospel singer Andre Couch. 423-785-1200 | news@wdef.com3300 Broad Street, Chattanooga TN 37408. Riverbend Festival 1986 Setlists Jun 13 1986 Date Friday, June 13, 1986 - Sunday, June 22, 1986 Venue Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN, USA Report festival So far there are setlists of 14 gigs. }; CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) Just how, when and why the Riverbend Festival began is still a matter for debate. "global": { In 1987, for example, the Jet Riverbend Challenge, the Inboard Championship Series and The Automotive Thunderboats all took place. She and others really only became active after the four of us received a Lyndhurst matching grant of $60,000 for operating funds starting in the fall of 1981. [1] Additionally, Riverbend has won several national awards from the International Festivals and Events Association, including 8 in 2007. The most important impact Riverbend makes is the same one that made it so special in 1982: Bringing people together from diverse backgrounds from around the country and the world to enjoy music in a special place that holds so much of Chattanoogas history. But there were other artistic events linked to the festival like an old time fiddlers convention, a brass trio launched in a hot air balloon and an arts festival at Miller Park. The board had been considering returning with a smaller . After returning from his trip to Spoleto, Hetzler hosted a brainstorming session at his house and eventually chaired a group that would later hire Bruce Storey, who died earlier this month, and his newly formed events-producing company, Variety Services, to run the new festival. It is now celebrating more than 35 years as Chattanooga's premier event. The Riverbend Festival, also called Riverbend, is a wellknown annual music festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which was started in June 1982 as a five night festival. None of the shows made money, and even had some drama of their own. The Riverbend Festival. Don't forget that you will likely cross a bridge or two near this festival. We are your neighbors. Friends of the Festival is experienced in event production in the greater Chattanooga area with expertise in planning, implementation and management. It's really not clear to me who and how it was saved, but no doubt the Lyndhurst Foundation deserves most of the credit along with Breland and Parham. James Motz, a vocalist assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division band, sings at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. Several groups in town were searching for ways to move the city forward both artistically and from a civic standpoint, he says, and, in many ways, Riverbend became that vehicle, providing an opportunity for diverging groups with equally divergent agendas to work together for the greater goal. Chattanooga is situated along the Georgia border in the southeast part of Tennessee. If you're looking for a unique experience, you can take a water taxi or a boat to the park and enter the festival through a different gate. The Krystal sponsored these three events as part of its 50th anniversary, building on Lyndhurst support, and I believe co-organizers Nelson Irvine and Mickey Robbins have copies of that poster; mine burned in my August 07 home fire with other original founding records. Backpacks are prohibited, but you can carry a small bag or purse. Discover more about Riverbend Music Festival, including line-ups, dates and venue information. Each has their own memories and interpretations of the series of events that led to the creation of an event heading into its 33rd year. But the details of where, when and how the long-running festival actually got started depends on whom you ask. Individual nights can see some 80,000 people in attendance. submission: { Tickets are available online beginning in May. The AEC has since become the Southern Lit Alliance and still produces the Celebration of Southern Literature, a weekend event hosting of Southern writers. evvnt_require("evvnt/discovery_plugin").init({ The other two acts were the Beach Boys on Memorial Day 1982 and Rick Springfield followed that July. Storey also played a role in starting the Dorothy Patten Fine Arts Series, which showcases performing arts such as music, spoken word and theater. "(Riverbend) succeeded by changing," Moore says. Friends of The Festival Inc. Friends of the Festival - Inc. Revenue. widget: true, 2023 2022 2019 2018 2017 2016 2014 2013 2012 2011. "We had chamber music and choral music and orchestral music," he says, "but we also had mountain music. The barge floats just off the shore against a large collection of amphitheater seats built into a hillside at the water's edge. We are proud to be Chattanoogas original, premier music festival. There is little doubt that Hetzler, with financial help from the Lyndhurst Foundation, was the driving force behind the first Riverbend Festival, however. Sunday, June 20, 1993 Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN Little Richard Add Setlist Monday, June 21, 1993 Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN Deanna Bogart In the rare event of severe weather, you can look for direction from festival staff at that time. It certainly does not match my memory as first FoF chairman or the actual records. Or, when Riverbend opens its gates and opens stages all over town, our dream will begin again with new players on all the stages. in June of 1982 as a five-night festival in Chattanooga to bring the community together. "I was at church the next morning at 8:30.". When Walker Breland thinks back to the very first Riverbend Festival in August 1982, he remembers first going to people like Scotty Probasco, president at American National Bank, and Carey Hanlin, CEO at Provident Insurance, "and asking for a loan that would never be paid back.". You can choose to attend a single day of the Riverbend Festival or all four days. The line takes a turn from there, however, when the festival-in-waiting almost immediately deviated away from Hetzler's original idea of a highly artistic event spread over several weeks and featuring chamber and symphonic music, films and theater performances at various locations all over the city, a la Spoleto. When you see news happening, share it! 201 Riverfront Pkwy, Chattanooga, TN 37402, USA USA Get Directions Featured Hotels in Chattanooga More Hotels 38 Followers Connect, Meet and Build a Strong Network Related Events More Events Around Chattanooga Chattanooga All Events Trade Shows Consumer Fair Trade Shows Consumer Fair Events in USA Events in Chattanooga 154 relations. The Riverbend Festival, which was twice delayed and then restructured during the COVID-19 pandemic, will have to wait another year before returning June 2-5, 2022. 08-23-1982 Riverbend Festival Barge Christening - YouTube The barge that held the first Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga is christened. Its a growing business. [4] A wristband provides admission for either one night or every night of the festival except for the Bessie Smith Strut. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Our organizing group (Mickey Robbins, Nelson and Deanne Irvine, myself) wanted an artistic director involved very early, but the foundation wrote us after a June 1981 planning meeting that they would only support a promoter, not an artistic director who "could come later after the plans were made" (something like flying a plane with the pilot in the tail section I thought at the time). celebrating 40 years of riverbend Festival. var field59 = field59 || {}; Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Most parts of the parkway are wheelchair-navigable and accessible parking is available near the main gate. Riverbend Festival, named for the bend in the Tennessee River by locals, began in June of 1982 as a five-night festival in Chattanooga to bring the community together. Music festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States, International Festivals and Events Association. Technically, they are correct. An annual juried art show that attracts visual artists from across the country, and has been ranked in the top 30 fine art festivals in country. Event Details. Popular Searches. In a partnership with local audio retailer Listen Up, CDs and playback equipment were shipped in from Japan. We quote the most whitewashed and comforting portions of his speeches without further examination or questioning his thoughts, more, Next Sunday, I and a group of activists will be counterprotesting a pro-abortion event marking the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, skates, scooters, or other personal motor vehicles will not be allowed at the Riverbend Festival. [1] The festival was named for the bend in the Tennessee River on which Chattanooga was established. Our efforts provide nearly 250 area residents with full-time, ongoing employment and an amount approaching $1 million in net public sector revenues. virtual: false, There was no Five Nights connection with their support for our Friends of the Festival group, which started with a proposal from me and Mickey Robbins May 5, 1981. Big Collection of Riverbend Pins This collection of Riverbend admission pins goes all the way back to the very first Riverbend Festival held annually in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Zedd. Rather than admission .from 7162988 For 39 years, the Riverbend Festival has been a cornerstone in the Chattanooga summer scene. Riverfest Festival Map Riverbend Church OCT 29 | 4-7PM Riverfest at Riverbend in Austin, TX We're so glad you're here to enjoy Riverfest with us. We dreamed of festivals such as Salzburg that made the city a tourist destination six weeks every summerand a financial bonanza like a second Christmas shopping season for all merchants. And anyone can read through the Lyndhurst archives at UNC at Chapel Hill NC and get the full story from the original documents. So far the event has certainly lived up to the hype and you can watch all the action, no matter where you are, by following . Instead, it should focus on what was already here, Breland says. But I keep thinking those early workers should have some recognition, and I mean the first working board, not the organizing one that I chaired from June 1981-2. The official Riverbend history web page really should be more accurate in my opinion as it leaves out the visionary, hard working "heroes" of the early Riverbends. Join us at Rosss Landing on June 2-4, 2023 and celebrate with us. The 3rd IDs band was one of a wide variety of performers covering almost every musical genre at this event. } Greenlee moved KADE and KBCO to a state-of-the-art studio complex at 4801 Riverbend Road in East Boulder and then sold the stations to Noble Broadcasting in 1987. You are home here. All Ages. Riverbend ignited civic pride, stimulated business and civic leaders to rethink downtown, and showcased the arts. Riverbend 2022 was awesome, Bojoh said. While we could go all the way back with our lineups, we thought youd enjoy seeing who has taken our stages over the past couple of decades. Jason Isbell's another "festival goer's festival" artist, and indeed in the audience before his show I met many first-time Riverbend goers, but long time festival veterans, who came from . The organization celebrated that accomplishment this past weekend at the annual Riverbend Festival. Friends of the Festival has assisted in the planning and implementation of 4BAF since 2019. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit live at Riverbend Festival 2022. Launched in 1982, Friends of the Festival is a non-profit organization that was created to attract sponsors, promote, set up, and produce Riverbend Festival, Chattanoogas first and original music festival held in the heart of downtown on the banks of the Tennessee River. Major local and national companies, such as Covista Communications, Unum, and Budweiser, sponsor other stages throughout the riverfront area. Flack, who earned three No. At the time of Five Nights, Robbins was director of the Chattanooga Arts Council, which merged in 1982 with Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga, now called ArtsBuild. The festival itself only had one proper stage, the barge in the river. It started as a way to come together downtown to celebrate the community we all share. . You'll need to wear an age verification wristband to purchase alcoholic beverages. In the mid-'80s, Riverbend hosted the Grand Prix Formula I powerboat racing series and then the Inboard Championship Series featuring inboard hydroplanes. virtual: false, Jillian Bojoh, a vocalist assigned to 3rd IDs band. Talk to News 12 anchors, reporters and meteorologists. Last but not least Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit arrived to close-out the festival! orientation: "portrait", That changed after the Pointer Sister show in 1985. "Carey just sat back and laughed, but then he turned around and wrote a check for $25,000," says Breland, professor emeritus from the Music Department at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Riverbend Festival, Chattanooga's original music festival, announced their entire lineup for this year's festival. The Riverbend Festival, also called Riverbend, is a well-known annual music festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which was started in June 1982 as a five-night festival. Protect yourself from the harsh sun and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. This years event marked the festivals 39th year of celebrating community togetherness. The Beach Boys performed on Memorial Day Weekend. Fri. Jun 3, 2022 - Sun. Over the years, the festival grew into the three nights of its current run and presently ranks in the top 10 percent of all American festivals. Now, no one seems to know what happened at Riverbend's beginning or care very much, my fellow organizers tell me. Mobile App|Weather App | WDEF Email Sign Up, Golden Apple Award: Dr. Lindy Blazek, OLPH, "Egg-flation" Causing Local Businesses Issues, Hamilton County Organizations Fight Foster Care Instability, What's Right With Our Schools: Get Future Ready. We are the most trusted source for local news. For others, the Riverbend line is not quite as straight. For me, the band's reappearance brings back good memories of Riverbend's beginnings. Many of the restaurants and bars have live music in the evenings, which you can enjoy with a refreshing cocktail. Concessions are purchased using a token system and many street vendors set up food and souvenir stands. The annual festival now goes on for nine nights and ranks in the top 10% of all American festivals. We provide a full spectrum of logistical services and consultation tailored to meet specific event planning needs. Launched in 1982, Friends of the Festival is a non-profit organization that was created to attract sponsors, promote, set up, and produce Riverbend Festival, Chattanooga's first and original music festival held in the heart of downtown on the banks of the Tennessee River. But the first full Festival happened in August of 1982. In-person support no matter where the road takes you. Remember, that first Riverbend didnt actually arrive until August. number: 3, The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Riverbend Festival is Chattanooga's longest running, award winning music festival celebrating 39 years as the Scenic City's premier event. } } Three major highways, I-24, I-75, and I-59, intersect in the region. Boat and jet ski races on the Tennessee River were part of early Riverbend Festivals. Much of this is in my 1990 Emory University dissertation on town festivals but the FoF management has not responded to these historical materials when offered. When it comes to food, you'll find much more than the usual festival fare at the Riverbend Festival. It has since evolved. November 30, 2014 at 1:00 a.m. Riverbend's line-up is so stacked that to write about Jenny Lewis and not get to say "headliner Jenny Lewis" really says something about the music bench they're pulling from for this festival! It has been bringing top musical acts to Hamilton County since 1981. Things have changed and change is always going to take place. category_id: null, RV parks and campsites in the area allow cooking, but you'll need to bring your own appliances and materials. Riverbend started in 1982 at Ross's Landing at a time when most of the buildings were boarded up, and few had reason to come to the riverfront. Riverbend Festival. It has since evolved into three nights and is nationally known. Over the years, the festival grew into the three nights of its current run and presently ranks in the top 10 percent of all American festivals. Five Nights was held at the intersection of what is now M.L. Since Chattanooga is located along the Tennessee River, you can also enjoy outdoor activities like fishing and boating or go on scenic hikes. More than a hundred acts, both well-known and new, converge each year to perform various kinds of music, including classic rock, country, urban, and bluegrass, as well as jam bands, on three stages set alongside the Tennessee River. widget: true, I was surprised to see that The Commodores are on Riverbend's main barge stage Wednesday night and yet I have seen no mention anywhere that they performed at the first Riverbend events May-August 1982.

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