After a dinner at my home in September 1980 for some friends and arts leaders to brainstorm the possibility of such a large festival for Chattanooga, I talked these examples up all the fall of 1980 and spring 1981, to the point that Allied Arts leaders warned me and Mickey Robbins not to continue to push this since it might "dilute" their fundraising efforts. Rather than admission .from 7162988 }; CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) Just how, when and why the Riverbend Festival began is still a matter for debate. 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. text: "Promote your event", } 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. evvnt_require("evvnt/discovery_plugin").init({ 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. Justin Smith, a guitarist assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division band, plays guitar at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. Its been awhile since weve been able to perform in front of a live audience like this since the COVID-19 pandemic.. Concessions are purchased using a token system and many street vendors set up food and souvenir stands. 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. The festival went to wristbands last year, though it offered a collectible pin, as well. 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. Storey had also been involved in the Arts & Education Council which, in the early 1980s, was producing dance programs in town as well as bringing in guest speakers and authors. Daniel Thompson/50th Public Affairs Detachment), U.S. Army Sgt. Security personnel will be present at the entrances and will also be present inside the park during the events. Pictured in this undated file photo are some of the many staff and volunteers who have helped stage Riverbend over the years. Patrick Jacob, a percussionist assigned to the 3rd IDs band. There was a nasty attitude toward mountain music, but this is mountain, or fiddle music, territory.". James Motz, a vocalist assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division band, sings at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. Fri. Jun 3, 2022 - Sun. Provides positive economic impact not only to Chattanooga but also to regional tourism. Its a growing business. 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. It is ranked among the top American music festivals and has earned several national awards. Additionally, Riverbend has won . } The Beach Boys on Memorial Day Weekend, The Commodores in June & Rick Springfield on the Fourth of July weekend. All Ages. The festival itself only had one proper stage, the barge in the river. 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 . 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. map: false, }); 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. 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. Book a spot at a campsite or RV park nearby in advance. Riverbend Festival, Chattanooga's original music festival, announced their entire lineup for this year's festival. And anyone can read through the Lyndhurst archives at UNC at Chapel Hill NC and get the full story from the original documents. The goal was to book a variety of acts to bring different audiences down to the river. The annual festival now goes on for eight nights and ranks in the top 10% of all American festivals. The Riverbend Festival, also called Riverbend, was a well-known annual music festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which was started in June 1982 as a five-night festival. Music is my favorite form of communication; no matter the age, race, language people can always relate with one another through music, said Spc. Over the years, the festival grew into the nine nights of its current run and presently ranks in the top 10 percent of all American festivals. 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". He loves to spread positivity by playing great music so that people can hopefully have a good time. No stranger to large crowds, Isbell and company rocked out. It has since evolved into three nights and is nationally known. 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. Over the years, the festival has grown from five nights to nine nights of its current run. There are plenty of paid parking options in the downtown area. Several local acts, including Overland and the Chattanooga Choo Choo Barbershop Chorus took the stage. Now, no one seems to know what happened at Riverbend's beginning or care very much, my fellow organizers tell me. RV parks and campsites in the area allow cooking, but you'll need to bring your own appliances and materials. The Frnkische Rezat flows through Georgensgmnd into the Rednitz.. Music festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States, International Festivals and Events Association, Pollstar Concert Listing for Chattanooga, TN, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Riverbend_Festival&oldid=1091791846, Tourist attractions in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Monday, June 9- The Bessie Smith Strut (blues/jazz along M.L. We invite you to join us each Sunday, in person or online, at 9:30 & 11:00AM. It started as a way to come together downtown to celebrate the community we all share. "There was a definite progression there," says Robbins. 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. 423-785-1200 | news@wdef.com3300 Broad Street, Chattanooga TN 37408. "Five Nights was a test to see if people with different backgrounds would come downtown. 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. widget: true, For over 35 years, Riverbend Music Center has provided the Cincinnati area with the best in entertainment experiences with approximately 35 major contemporary music events each season, hosting over 500,000 music-lovers annually. . I suppose Commissioner Robinson's "history" on the Riverbend official web page reflects her memories or what someone uninformed wrote for her. Hetzler and Richard Brewer, who was partners with Storey in Variety Services, insist that an event called Five Nights in Chattanooga, which Variety produced in 1981 with a $150,000 grant from the Lyndhurst Foundation, had nothing to do with Riverbend. The food scene in Chattanooga has exploded in recent years. [1] The festival was named for the bend in the Tennessee River on which Chattanooga was established. Various local and national companies sponsor different stages. Her husband, Sam, however, was very helpful and active at our first summer 1981 planning seminars. Talk to News 12 anchors, reporters and meteorologists. The first festival, which was free and ran from Tuesday to Sunday, Aug. 25-29, included a patron's cruise on the Southern Belle riverboat, organ recitals at two downtown churches and a fiddle competition. 12. Cage the Elephant has won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album twice, in 2017 for Tell Me I'm Pretty and in 2020 for Social Cues. publisher_id: "7057", Pack it with a few essentials like sunscreen, sunglasses, bug spray, earplugs, and a portable charger. }, We provide a full spectrum of logistical services and consultation tailored to meet specific event planning needs. 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. Pord ujawnionych dat, znalazo si rwnie miejsce na 12 . Paramore. Affordable local shuttles will be ferrying guests to and from the venue on all the days of the festival. 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. Over the years, it has grown in popularity, and currently, over 650,000 people join the celebrations annually from different parts of the country and the world. The more your referral link gets used, the more money youll start earning. That changed after the Pointer Sister show in 1985. In case you lose something, head to the lost and found tent close to the main entrance. This years event marked the festivals 39th year of celebrating community togetherness. Rent from a pro and travel like one, too. Headliners at the free concerts were B.B King, Bill Monroe, Don McLean, Sarah Vaughan and Hank Williams Jr. It has since evolved into three nights and is nationally known. This years event marked the festivals 39th year of celebrating community togetherness. 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. Country duo Brothers Osborne will kick off the festival on June 3. 423-785-1200 | news@wdef.com3300 Broad Street, Chattanooga TN 37408. Popular Searches. But even in their heyday of the 1990s and early 2000s, most of the music festivals that arose in other cities were three- or four-day events, unlike Riverbend's week-or-more schedule. field59.ipo = { PREVIOUS YEARS. "Music is my favorite form of communication; no matter the age, race, language- people can always relate with . Chattanoogas original music festival is turning 39 in 2022. Riverbend Festival, or Riverbend, named for the bend in the Tennessee River by locals, began in June of 1982 as a five-night festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The AEC has since become the Southern Lit Alliance and still produces the Celebration of Southern Literature, a weekend event hosting of Southern writers. Debra Frizzell. Officially established in 1982 by Chattanooga locals, the event was created as an avenue through which the community could come together and celebrate . The Riverbend Festival includes artists covering almost every music genre on five different stages. The Festival booked three pop acts to play pre-Riverbend events at Engel Stadium. 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. "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. Daniel Thompson/50th Public Affairs Detachment), U. S. Army Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division band play music at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. Our efforts provide nearly 250 area residents with full-time, ongoing employment and an amount approaching $1 million in net public sector revenues. Each first aid station will also have accessible restrooms, which are reserved for patrons with disabilities. Chattanooga and the large music festival scene have changed quite a bit since the inaugural Riverbend Festival in 1982. We are your neighbors. 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. 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. Major local and national companies, such as Covista Communications, Unum, and Budweiser, sponsor other stages throughout the riverfront area. 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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. Jillian Bojoh, a vocalist from the 3rd Infantry Division band, sings at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. 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. Wed love to hear from you. | Updated November 22, 2014 at 12:01 a.m. The Riverbend Festival. The new idea put more emphasis on music and vendors on the river. Sunday, June 20, 1993 Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN Little Richard Add Setlist Monday, June 21, 1993 Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN Deanna Bogart But the now unknown tough work was done by the early full boards that followed our planning efforts, especially after the financial losses of the Engel Stadium concerts when the whole thing almost ended. 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. "We had chamber music and choral music and orchestral music," he says, "but we also had mountain music. celebrating 40 years of riverbend Festival. Still, it can be argued that the first Riverbend set the stage for the city's renaissance, which included the opening of the Tennessee Aquarium in 1992 and the 21st Century Waterfront project, which transformed Ross's Landing into a year-round destination for locals and tourists in 2005. We persisted. It has been bringing top musical acts to Hamilton County since 1981. Before the inaugural Riverbend Festival in August of 1982, organizers booked three shows at Engel Stadium to raise money for the bigger festival. Riverbend Festival, or Riverbend, named for the bend in the Tennessee River by locals, began in June of 1982 as a five-night festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee. But the first full Festival happened in August of 1982. A few other things are certain, as well. If you'd like to take a blanket and stretch out near the main stage, you'll need to purchase a pass to access the blanket seating area. number: 3, 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. 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. Festival Info. widget: true, Riverbend Festival, named for the bend in the Tennessee River by locals, began in June of 1982. Alejandro Bertorelli, a bass guitarist from the 3rd Infantry Division band, performs at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. Maybe a comprehensive Chattanooga town arts festival will emerge from the many new performance and street spaces that downtown offers today, a new festival that will have the social, cultural and economic impact of festivals such as Charleston's and Salzburg's powerful engines of change. We are proud to be Chattanooga's original, premier . 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. Well see you at the festival! 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. There was a Downtown Arts Festival at Miller Park. 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. 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