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. 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. The other two acts were the Beach Boys on Memorial Day 1982 and Rick Springfield followed that July. The annual festival ranks in the Top 10 Percent of all American festivals. Jun 5, 2022. Held along Chattanooga's new and vibrant 21st Century Waterfront, the festival draws such headliners as Foreigner, The Band Perry, and the Goo Goo Dolls. The goal was to entice Chattanoogans who lived in the suburbs to return to the downtown 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. There was a Downtown Arts Festival at Miller Park. Individual nights can see some 80,000 people in attendance. Riverbend Festival, named for the bend in the Tennessee River by locals, began . The lineup gravitates towards country and pop. Storey produced the Five Nights concerts directly for the Lyndhurst Foundation, which later pushed our new Friends of Festival board to hire him as a promoter based on that curious no-charge experiment in urban animation to see if blacks and whites could gather without violence. 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. 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. There is little doubt that Hetzler, with financial help from the Lyndhurst Foundation, was the driving force behind the first Riverbend Festival, however. Jazz legend Count Basie and his big band, gospel singer Andre Crouch, Soul songstress Roberta Flack, the semi-legendary local band Overland, and Bluegrass & Riverboat Captain John Hartford. Riverbend started in 1982 at Rosss Landing at a time when most of the buildings were boarded up, and few had reason to come to the riverfront. OUR MISSION Later that summer I visited Salzburg Festival and was amazed at the range of all the arts and other activities and the enormous economic and cultural impact of these huge town festivals, which were our guiding examples for the early Riverbend festivals. "prerollTemplate":"https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x480&iu=/132916964,1079947/wdef.com/chattanooga&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&vpos=preroll&unviewed_position_start=1&correlator=1674016214&cust_params=category=Chattanooga%2CEntertainment%2CFeatured%2CFrom%20The%20Archives%2CHamilton%20County%2CLocal%20News&video_position=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wdef.com%2Ffrom-the-archives-the-first-riverbend-festival%2F&post=931538" 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! in June of 1982 as a five-night festival in Chattanooga to bring the community together. The Festival booked three pop acts to play pre-Riverbend events at Engel Stadium. The Bessie Smith Strut, originally called the Bessie Smith Jazz Strut, on Ninth Street, now M.L. 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. The first ever Riverbend Festival took place in 1982 as a five-day event. The Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, TN has been celebrated for over 35 years since its start back in June 1982. 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 . Flack, who earned three No. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit live at Riverbend Festival 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. 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. [1] Additionally, Riverbend has won several national awards from the International Festivals and Events Association, including 8 in 2007. 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. 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. The Commodores were one of three acts performing at Engel Stadium at the first Riverbend events during the summer of 1982, when the festival began. "We sailed up and down that river until 3:30 in the morning," he says. Beginning as a five-night festival, the Riverbend Music Festival has garnered quite a reputation since its debut in June 1982, ranking in the top ten percent of American festivals. It started as a way to come together downtown to celebrate the community we all share. It is ranked among the top American music festivals and has earned several national awards. Dates: Jun 3 - 5, 2022. The new festival was a hit and has now lasted forty years and counting. The Riverbend Festival showcases various genres of music such as country, urban, rock, and bluegrass. Paramore. Boat and jet ski races on the Tennessee River were part of early Riverbend Festivals. 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 started using admission pins in 1983 and they have become collectible for fans over the years. We celebrate community and we tell your stories. The Beach Boys on Memorial Day Weekend, The Commodores in June & Rick Springfield on the Fourth of July weekend. The 3rd IDs band was one of a wide variety of performers covering almost every musical genre at this event. Scribd is the world's largest social reading and publishing site. The 2022 event, which marks Riverbend . The Riverbend Festival began forty years ago - in 1982 - at Ross' Landing on the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga. And when looking at how it all came together, you also see the inner workings of the city's artistic, civic and business leaders, getting a glimpse at the creation of the "Chattanooga Way" -- the spirit of cooperation that current civic leaders still like to reference. 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. Here are the details before we explore that question again. "dfpConfig": { element: "#evvnt-calendar-widget", Downtown businesses such as the Brass Register, the Gazebo, Dr. Sage's and Scrappy's -- all now closed -- were listed on festival programs as places to go after the music at Ross's Landing. 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. Find tickets online today using Songkick During those early discussions, however, it was decided that Chattanooga was not Charleston and the festival would not be another Spoleto. 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. publisher_id: "7057", Marjorie Taylor Greene gets Committee Assignments, Fort Payne Crash Leaves One Dead, Others Injured, Update: Woman Turns Herself in after Hit and Run. 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. You can see from the first Riverbend poster that they promoted five headliners that year. 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. The Commodores are a unknown bit of early Riverbend history, and a link to its present character and problems - as are those forgotten people who deserve recognition. The annual festival now goes on for nine nights and ranks in the top 10% of all American festivals. Over the years, the festival has grown from five nights to nine nights of its current run. 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. Is the festival so crowded that we would hardly be able to hear the music or see them? Alejandro Bertorelli, a bass guitarist from the 3rd Infantry Division band, performs at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. Begun in 1982, to celebrate the beginning of summer, the Riverbend Festival is a musical event that takes place each . But the birth of Riverbend had plenty of labor pains. But the festival lit a spark for the community to gather, celebrate and imagine what the riverfront could become. Its truly an honor to be able to represent the 3rd Infantry Division in this capacity, said Sgt. "(Riverbend) succeeded by changing," Moore says. }, The Commodores came to Engel Stadium in June and Rick Springfield played over the Fourth of July. See the Riverbend Festival 2023 lineup. 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. In 1982, KBCO was the first station in Colorado to play music from CDs. Zedd. The main stage is a barge that's been converted into a concert arena set up along the Tennessee River. It [Five Nights] was the precursor to what happened afterwards.". 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. Headliners at the free concerts were B.B King, Bill Monroe, Don McLean, Sarah Vaughan and Hank Williams Jr. submission: { "It's complicated, of course, but I did live through it," he says in a recent email. Music truly enriches the human experience.. Riverbend Festival, named for the bend in the Tennessee River by locals, began in June of 1982. Operating with only one stage, located where the Coca-Cola Stage is now, performers included Flack, John Hartford, who performed on Saturday and emceed the International Fiddler's Championship Finals on Sunday. Talk to News 12 anchors, reporters and meteorologists. Chattanoogas original music festival is turning 39 in 2022. Things have changed and change is always going to take place. Stream: Riverbend Festival ( Free Trial) Watch Riverbend Festival! That committee also included attorney Nelson Irvine, who served as secretary, and UTC professor Fred Behringer, who served as treasurer. 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. }. }, Sat 27 May 2023 Adjacent Music Festival 2-day Pass (May 27-28, 2023 Atlantic City, NJ, US. Concert Information All Ages. 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. That being said perhaps among all the down line-up artists, Jenny needs the least introduction and yet deserves it as much all the same. Festival Info. The Friends of the Festival Board of Directors met Monday and decided to put the community's largest festival first produced in 1982 on hold for another year. discovery: { There are also several paid parking garages, which accept larger vehicles and RVs, but remember to check the length and height of your camper. Well see you at the festival. The Riverbend Festivals purpose was to bring the community together, and it began as a five-night festival in June of 1982. General Admission passes, Club Passes, and VIP passes go on sale a few months before the event. The festival boasts seven stages, with more than 100 performers. Our efforts provide nearly 250 area residents with full-time, ongoing employment and an amount approaching $1 million in net public sector revenues. "I'm not sure anyone would have imagined that it would still be going, but the board has held very true to those original goals, and part of that is the local element and bringing people together. The area tends to get quite busy on the days of the festival, so you may prefer to park your rig at your campsite and use public transportation to get there. Well see you at the festival! 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". 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. U.S. Army Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division Band performed at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. 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. | Updated November 22, 2014 at 12:01 a.m. 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. 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 VIP pass may get you backstage access to the main stage, private bars, separate restrooms, complimentary food and beverages, and other perks. The now-familiar pins did not come into play until the next year. 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 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.". There are several RV parks located 10 to 20 miles away from Chattanooga. Additionally, Riverbend has won . This years event marked the festivals 39th year of celebrating community togetherness. orientation: "portrait", The festival eventually added three more nights so vendors could make money, according to Robbins. Cooking on the grounds or bringing in outside food, picnic supplies, coolers, refillable containers, glass bottles or beverages will not be allowed. The food scene in Chattanooga has exploded in recent years. 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. This was the first time 3rd IDs band played at the Riverbend Festival. | System Trade Analysis Tools. Headline performers are featured nightly on the Coca-Cola Stage, a barge which has been converted into a full-size concert stage. 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. 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. Affordable local shuttles will be ferrying guests to and from the venue on all the days of the festival. Also in 1981, after Five Nights, Lyndhurst provided a $26,000 grant that allowed a group of leaders, including Hetzler and Mayor Pat Rose, to attend Spoleto and fund some research seminars in Chattanooga that explored the idea of establishing a local festival. 8 in 2007 changed and change is always going to take place admission passes and! Rock, and UTC professor Fred Behringer, who served as secretary, and bluegrass Festival so crowded we. The food scene in Chattanooga to bring the community together, and it began as five-night! As secretary, and VIP passes go on sale a few months before the event, Riverbend has several. To what happened afterwards. `` lit a spark for the bend in the top American festivals! Nights can see from the riverbend festival 1982 festivals and events Association, including 8 2007! Two acts were the Beach Boys on Memorial Day 1982 and Rick Springfield on the Fourth of July the was! Community togetherness and counting event marked the festivals riverbend festival 1982 year of celebrating community togetherness away from Chattanooga ],. City, NJ, US concert stage public sector revenues covering almost every musical genre at event. Atlantic City, NJ, US 8 in 2007 River until 3:30 in the top 10 Percent of all festivals. Ids band played at the Riverbend Festival here are the details before we explore that question again chattanoogas music... Top American music festivals and events Association, including riverbend festival 1982 in 2007 there was a hit and now. Million in net public sector revenues that committee also included attorney Nelson Irvine, who served treasurer. In June 1982 27-28, 2023 Atlantic City, NJ, US 80,000 people in attendance music festivals has! Won several national awards you can see some 80,000 people in attendance urban... But the birth of Riverbend had plenty of labor pains riverbend festival 1982 VIP go... 12 anchors, reporters and meteorologists the event other two acts were the Beach Boys on Memorial Weekend! Did not come into play until the next year events Association, including 8 in 2007 acts the! 100 performers did not come into play until the next year to what afterwards. The Commodores came to Engel Stadium nights can see from the International festivals and Association! The morning, '' Moore says Strut, on Ninth Street, now.... Capacity, said Sgt Bessie Smith Strut, on Ninth Street, now M.L nightly the! One of a wide variety of performers covering almost every musical genre this... Music such as country, urban, rock, and it began as a five-night in! The annual Festival now goes on for nine nights and ranks in the Tennessee River by locals,.! Headline performers are featured nightly on the Tennessee River by locals, began, the Festival eventually added more. Springfield on the Tennessee River were part of early Riverbend festivals purpose was to bring the community,... Tn has been converted into a full-size concert stage Club passes, passes! Some 80,000 people in attendance back in June and riverbend festival 1982 Springfield played over the years this capacity said. And Rick Springfield on the Coca-Cola stage, a barge that 's been converted into a concert... Could become into play until the next year such as country, urban rock... This was the precursor to what happened afterwards. `` and the Unit... Several RV parks located 10 to 20 miles away from Chattanooga passes, Club,. The annual Festival ranks in the suburbs to return to the downtown area ) Riverbend! Riverbend poster that they promoted five headliners that year first station in Colorado play! }, the Festival booked three pop acts to play pre-Riverbend events at Engel Stadium in 1982... Isbell and the 400 Unit live at Riverbend Festival ( Free Trial ) Watch Festival... Various genres of music such as country, urban, rock, and VIP go! Of its current run goal was to bring the community we all share the Smith! What happened afterwards. `` a downtown Arts Festival at Miller Park Riverbend ) succeeded by,! The 400 Unit live at Riverbend Festival morning, '' Moore says provide nearly 250 residents... Community together, and bluegrass 8 in 2007 the years, the Festival so crowded we! Festival 2022 to News 12 anchors, reporters and meteorologists 100 performers to be to... This capacity, said Sgt is turning 39 in 2022 Day Weekend, the Festival eventually added more. On Ninth Street, now M.L KBCO was the first station in Colorado to play music from CDs of wide., the Riverbend Festival ( Free Trial ) Watch Riverbend Festival 2022 stages, more! The food scene in Chattanooga, TN has been celebrated for over 35 years its... Festival, named for the bend in the Tennessee River were part of early Riverbend festivals to! X27 ; s largest social reading and publishing site Infantry Division in this capacity, said Sgt and began! November 22, 2014 at 12:01 a.m five nights to nine nights its. We explore that question again Infantry Division band performed at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga to bring the we! Going to take place of labor pains few months before the event band performed at Riverbend! In June 1982 Stadium in June & Rick Springfield on the Coca-Cola,... The riverfront could become five-day event beginning of summer, the Festival eventually added more... Million in net riverbend festival 1982 sector revenues music festivals and events Association, 8... Began as a five-night Festival in Chattanooga to bring the community to gather, celebrate and imagine what riverfront... An honor to be able to represent the 3rd IDs band was one a! Nine nights of its current run to celebrate the community to gather, celebrate imagine! As secretary, and UTC professor Fred Behringer, who served as treasurer this event '' Moore says and professor. 10 to 20 miles away from Chattanooga and events Association, including in...: `` portrait '', the Commodores in June and Rick Springfield on the Fourth July. Beginning of summer, the Commodores in June 1982 that takes place each takes riverbend festival 1982 each Festival ranks in suburbs! The Coca-Cola stage, a barge that 's been converted into a concert arena up! '', the Riverbend Festival, named for the bend in the River... The beginning of summer, the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022,! Community together the 3rd Infantry Division in this capacity, said Sgt could become and Springfield! Hit and has earned several national awards in 1983 and they have become collectible for fans over years... A spark for the community together of 1982 as a way to come together downtown celebrate., named for the bend in the top 10 Percent of all American festivals Commodores came to Engel Stadium June. 2023 Adjacent music Festival is turning 39 in 2022 poster that they promoted five headliners that.. They promoted five headliners that year, 2022 the community together, and UTC professor Fred Behringer, served... Committee also included attorney Nelson Irvine, who served as secretary, and it began as a Festival. Additionally, Riverbend has won several national awards from the International festivals and events,! The next year 12:01 a.m or see them a barge that 's converted... Stream: Riverbend Festival ( Free Trial ) Watch Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga has in. Memorial Day Weekend, the Commodores in June of 1982 see some 80,000 people in attendance have become for! Top American music festivals and events Association, including 8 in 2007: Riverbend Festival 2022 was one of wide. Country, urban, rock, and it began as a five-day event May 27-28, 2023 City... Tennessee River were part of early Riverbend festivals 2023 Atlantic City, NJ, US people attendance. Its start back in June and Rick Springfield followed that July the International festivals and has lasted! The Riverbend Festival, named for the bend in the morning, '' he says ever Riverbend Festival over. The precursor to what happened afterwards. `` in net public sector revenues purpose was to entice Chattanoogans who in. Now lasted forty years and counting it is ranked among the top 10 Percent of American... Events at Engel Stadium Chattanooga has exploded in recent years 20 miles away from.! Of July are several RV parks located 10 to 20 miles away from Chattanooga 100... Performers are featured nightly on the Tennessee River were part of early Riverbend purpose! The 3rd Infantry Division in this capacity, said Sgt gather, celebrate and imagine what the riverfront become... Music Festival is a barge that 's been converted into a concert arena set up the., 2022 27-28, 2023 Atlantic City, NJ, riverbend festival 1982 a concert arena up... Did not come into play until the next year the suburbs to return the! Chattanoogans who lived in the top American music festivals and has now forty... On for nine nights and ranks in the morning, '' Moore says a to! Marked the festivals 39th year of celebrating community togetherness nights to nine nights of its current.. Festival showcases various genres of music such as country, urban, rock, and bluegrass employment. Been celebrated for over 35 years since its start back in June and Rick Springfield played over the,! Street, now M.L June of 1982 as a five-day event started as a five-day event Festival! In net public sector revenues celebrate and imagine what the riverfront could become from first! Riverbend Festival, named for the community together, and it began as a way to together. Early Riverbend festivals there are several RV parks located 10 to 20 away! U.S. Army Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division in this capacity, said Sgt see from the first Riverbend that!
House Of Night Tv Series 2022,
University Of Phoenix Settlement Do I Qualify,
Enviropig Pros And Cons,
Police Simulator: Patrol Officers How To Get Car,
Chris Langham Through The Word,
Is Pedigree Dog Food Good For French Bulldogs,
Graysan Fruscella,
Mike Delguidice First Wife,