| System Trade Analysis Tools. The festival went to wristbands last year, though it offered a collectible pin, as well. The Riverbend Festival showcases various genres of music such as country, urban, rock, and bluegrass. Several local acts, including Overland and the Chattanooga Choo Choo Barbershop Chorus took the stage. [3] Admission was previously given to people who had collectible Riverbend Pins. Your email address will not be published. For me, the band's reappearance brings back good memories of Riverbend's beginnings. In the mid-'80s, Riverbend hosted the Grand Prix Formula I powerboat racing series and then the Inboard Championship Series featuring inboard hydroplanes. In the familiar story, the blind men each touch a different part of the elephant and come away with different ideas of what it is. [1] The festival was named for the bend in the Tennessee River on which Chattanooga was established. It has since evolved into three nights and is nationally known. It has been bringing top musical acts to Hamilton County since 1981. Boat and jet ski races on the Tennessee River were part of early Riverbend Festivals. 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.". Cooking on the grounds or bringing in outside food, picnic supplies, coolers, refillable containers, glass bottles or beverages will not be allowed. Riverbend ignited civic pride, stimulated business and civic leaders to rethink downtown, and showcased the arts. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. While our history is rich with performers Raw video clips. 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 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. 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. Individual nights can see some 80,000 people in attendance. Ranked in the top 10% of all American festivals, Riverbend Festival draws in more and more attendees every year, with over 350,000 people attending last year alone. Friends of The Festival Inc. Friends of the Festival - Inc. Revenue. The food scene in Chattanooga has exploded in recent years. virtual: false, At right is an original program from the first Riverbend Festival in August 1982. It has since evolved. detail_page_enabled: true, 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. After missing a year due to the pandemic, we will celebrate 40 years of music in 2023! U.S. Army Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division Band performed at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. 08-24-1982 Riverbend Festival 1,477 views Apr 15, 2011 3 Dislike Share Save wrcbarchive 14 subscribers Highlights of the first Riverbend Festival, including interviews with performers,. Going to this festival? King Boulevard and Broad Street and -- as the name implies -- it was spread over five consecutive Tuesday nights. Riverbend Music festival closes out a fantastic weekend along the banks of the Tennessee River. It has since evolved into three nights and is nationally known. This years event marked the festivals 39th year of celebrating community togetherness. To provide seed money for the larger festival, Lyndhurst provided $150,000 for three concerts at Engel Stadium, one each in May, June and July of 1982 and headlined by Rick Springfield, The Commodores and The Beach Boys. Discover more about Riverbend Music Festival, including line-ups, dates and venue information. Youre covered with our custom protection packages. You can Google "Two Town Festivals: Signs of a Theater of Power" and scan the academic text, now being revised for a book, "The Idea of Festival". Chefs and restaurateurs are using locally sourced produce to churn out some delicious food. Although being unfortunately canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, event organizers have pushed through to ensure that this beloved occasion occurs . | Updated November 22, 2014 at 12:01 a.m. In case you lose something, head to the lost and found tent close to the main entrance. 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. Chattanooga, Tennessee. Discover something new every day from News, Sports, Finance, Entertainment and more! Several of the early organizers who still care wonder why the current Riverbend history page is not corrected to match the real history, which started with my/our efforts in 1980 to learn about town festivals, such as the new one in Charleston S.C., Spoleto USA. The barge has been an iconic part of Riverbend from the start. In 1987, for example, the Jet Riverbend Challenge, the Inboard Championship Series and The Automotive Thunderboats all took place. The VIP pass may get you backstage access to the main stage, private bars, separate restrooms, complimentary food and beverages, and other perks. The Frnkische Rezat flows through Georgensgmnd into the Rednitz.. 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. These are well maintained and come with facilities like big-rig access, pool access, and full hookups. 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. Its hosted by a local pro-choice group called the New Suffragettes, more, Walker Valley, McMinn Co. 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Varnell Jr. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. 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! 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. 9 ALTON Thousands of eagle fans landed in the Riverbend Saturday for the annual Eagle Ice Festival, a multi-site extravaganza dedicated to the majestic bird that serves as the nation's. The big names in 1987 were Chicago, The Spinners, The Judds, who actually opened for Reba McEntire on the Coca-Cola Stage, Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger together, and Willie Nelson. Traffic is not usually a problem in the downtown area, but you can expect it to be quite hectic on the days of the event. 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. Riverbend 2022 was awesome, Bojoh said. "On the day of the show, the Commodores' manager said they would have to be paid in cash," Breland says, something that was not readily on hand. OUR MISSION 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. Concessions are purchased using a token system and many street vendors set up food and souvenir stands. As the first president of the board of directors for the first Riverbend, Breland was there almost from the beginning. Although Savage spent much of his later life in the Northeast, his formative years were spent in southwestern Montana, where the mountain West and his ranching family formed the setting for much of his work. Interacting with a live audience is a feeling unlike any other, and we hope to be back next year., 3rd Infantry Division Band Performs at Riverbend Festival, U. S. Army Sgt. 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. November 30, 2014 at 1:00 a.m. Before the inaugural Riverbend Festival in August of 1982, organizers booked three shows at Engel Stadium to raise money for the bigger festival. Some of the first-year events were well-attended, drawing several thousand spectators, but some were not, drawing a few dozen. }, The investment our audience makes in our festival increases the Chattanooga-Hamilton County tax collections by $800,000 and provides $30 million in economic impact. But the details of where, when and how the long-running festival actually got started depends on whom you ask. element: "#evvnt-calendar-widget", When you see news happening, share it! 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. The Tennessee Aquarium would not be built for another decade, and most of the buildings in the area were empty and boarded-up; there was almost no reason for anyone to visit the area, much less bring a family there. The board had been considering returning with a smaller . Three major highways, I-24, I-75, and I-59, intersect in the region. 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. Crowds were so large for the concert, the fence was removed for safety reasons and the entire Riverbend site has been closed to vehicle traffic since. } Headliners at the free concerts were B.B King, Bill Monroe, Don McLean, Sarah Vaughan and Hank Williams Jr. No stranger to large crowds, Isbell and company rocked out. During those early discussions, however, it was decided that Chattanooga was not Charleston and the festival would not be another Spoleto. When it comes to food, you'll find much more than the usual festival fare at the Riverbend Festival. 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. The Beach Boys on Memorial Day Weekend, The Commodores in June & Rick Springfield on the Fourth of July weekend. We are proud to be Chattanoogas original, premier music festival. Music festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States, International Festivals and Events Association. Admission is given to people with special scannable wristbands, which can be purchased in southeast Tennessee and north Georgia in the weeks leading up to the festival for a discounted price or purchased at the gate for a regular price. The barge floats just off the shore against a large collection of amphitheater seats built into a hillside at the water's edge. text: "Promote your event", So when talk began of putting together an arts festival to promote the city, many forces fell into place under his leadership. Concert Information In the rare event of severe weather, you can look for direction from festival staff at that time. "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. Technically, they are correct. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Book a spot at a campsite or RV park nearby in advance. Artists who have performed at Riverbend Festival in the past include Rascal Flatts, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Martina McBride, Michelle Branch, Johnny Appleseed, Trisha Yearwood, The Avett Brothers, Little Big Town, Steven Curtis Chapman, Sheryl Crow, The Beach Boys, Goo Goo Dolls, Dierks Bentley, and 3 Doors Down. }. 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. Sunday, June 20, 1993 Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN Little Richard Add Setlist Monday, June 21, 1993 Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN Deanna Bogart Many of the restaurants and bars have live music in the evenings, which you can enjoy with a refreshing cocktail. The Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, TN has been celebrated for over 35 years since its start back in June 1982. The Commodores came to Engel Stadium in June and Rick Springfield played over the Fourth of July. in June of 1982 as a five-night festival in Chattanooga to bring the community together. Back then, few visited the riverfront, home to boarded-up buildings. Instead, it should focus on what was already here, Breland says. By the late fall, we enlisted retired UTC music professor Walker Breland, first operating board chairman and a lover of Charleston's festival, and GPS French teacher Lee Parham, vice-chairman, and others on that first very hard working board, who all deserve long overdue and full community recognition. In fact, it's not even a single line, but a series of separate lines that eventually merged into one. Spalt is situated between Nuremberg, Ansbach, and Treuchtlingen in the north of the Franconian lakelands.In the southwest of the city is the Great Brombachsee and its dam. The festival eventually added three more nights so vendors could make money, according to Robbins. Then the first Riverbend "at the water" was held the end of August at Ross's Landing with about 15,000 or so people attending during the week of this first one; the attendance numbers are not certain. But the first full Festival happened in August of 1982. For Sid Hetzler, a former reporter, college professor and local business man, it's a pretty straight line from September 1980, when he visited Charleston, S.C., and attended the Spoleto Charleston Festival, until the first Riverbend. Breland says it was Storey who personally asked him to be the festival's first president. Various local and national companies sponsor different stages. Remember, that first Riverbend didnt actually arrive until August. 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. The 3rd IDs band was one of a wide variety of performers covering almost every musical genre at this event. Kicking off summer, Riverbend Festival draws thousands of attendees to enjoy a weekend of great music, food and other festival attractions. partner_name: "WDEF", 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. All of that was vital to gaining key support for a major Chattanooga town festival. submission: { For safety reasons, no chairs will be allowed on site before the gates officially open. Storey is largely credited with pushing Riverbend in the direction it eventually went, including the type of musical programming still going today. Its a growing business. orientation: "portrait", Breland says "it is a miracle the thing got started and has continued.". Chattanooga is situated along the Georgia border in the southeast part of Tennessee. King Boulevard, was a hit from the start with people who enjoyed the mix of cultures, the blues, barbecue and beer. 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