The barge floats just off the shore against a large collection of amphitheater seats built into a hillside at the water's edge. Rather than admission .from 7162988 Richard Brewer said he came to the first Riverbend Festival in 1982. In fact, it's not even a single line, but a series of separate lines that eventually merged into one. The Beach Boys performed on Memorial Day Weekend. Instead, it should focus on what was already here, Breland says. With the planning grant we also took Mayor and Mrs. Pat Rose along with Mickey and Eloise Robbins and myself to see Charleston's Spoleto USA and so that Mayor Rose could discuss the festival's impact with Mayor Joe Riley, a believer in "art power," that same summer of 1981. [1] The goal was to entice Chattanoogans who lived in the suburbs to return to the downtown area. Provides positive economic impact not only to Chattanooga but also to regional tourism. 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. Headliners at the free concerts were B.B King, Bill Monroe, Don McLean, Sarah Vaughan and Hank Williams Jr. The first ever Riverbend Festival took place in 1982 as a five-day event. "We were looking at where the city was," Robbins recalls. 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. After missing a year due to the pandemic, we will celebrate 40 years of music in 2023! James Motz, a vocalist assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division band, sings at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. The 3rd IDs band was one of a wide variety of performers covering almost every musical genre at this event. At right is an original program from the first Riverbend Festival in August 1982. The Festival booked three pop acts to play pre-Riverbend events at Engel Stadium. The Riverbend Festivals purpose was to bring the community together, and it began as a five-night festival in June of 1982. U.S. Army Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division Band performed at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. celebrating 40 years of riverbend Festival. The Riverbend Festival is a music event that takes place in Chattanooga, Tennessee every year. 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. Or, when Riverbend opens its gates and opens stages all over town, our dream will begin again with new players on all the stages. 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. 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. The Riverbend Festival, or called Riverbend (named for the bend in the Tennessee River) by locals, was started in June 1982 as a five night festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is ranked among the top American music festivals and has earned several national awards. We did our homework. Each first aid station will also have accessible restrooms, which are reserved for patrons with disabilities. More archival material is at the Chattanooga Public Library, including early programs and publicity. The festival went to wristbands last year, though it offered a collectible pin, as well. There are several RV parks located 10 to 20 miles away from Chattanooga. The Friends of the Festival. No stranger to large crowds, Isbell and company rocked out. Jillian Bojoh, a vocalist from the 3rd Infantry Division band, sings at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. 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. For others, the Riverbend line is not quite as straight. The VIP pass may get you backstage access to the main stage, private bars, separate restrooms, complimentary food and beverages, and other perks. The board had been considering returning with a smaller . Its truly an honor to be able to represent the 3rd Infantry Division in this capacity, said Sgt. The organization celebrated that accomplishment this past weekend at the annual Riverbend Festival. [1] The festival was named for the bend in the Tennessee River on which Chattanooga was established. Riverbend Festival is a rain or shine event. 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. Chattanoogas original music festival is turning 39 in 2022. 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. | System Trade Analysis Tools. There are convenience stores in the vicinity, where you can pick up any essentials you need. All rights reserved. The Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, TN has been celebrated for over 35 years since its start back in June 1982. It has since evolved into three nights and is nationally known. 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. Sat 25 Feb 2023 Innings Festival 2023 Tempe, AZ, US. At Riverbend, it doesn't matter what you believe or where you're at on your spiritual journey. We invite you to join us each Sunday, in person or online, at 9:30 & 11:00AM. 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. Back then, few visited the riverfront, home to boarded-up buildings. Green Day. Riverbend Festival, orRiverbend, named for the bend in the Tennessee River by locals, began in June of 1982 as a five-night festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Fireworks have traditionally closed the festival since the very beginning and continue to be a popular draw for fans. 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. 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 . The barge floats just off the shore against a large collection of amphitheater seats built into a hillside at the water's edge. 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. Concessions are purchased using a token system and many street vendors set up food and souvenir stands. The Beach Boys on Memorial Day Weekend, The Commodores in June & Rick Springfield on the Fourth of July weekend. After Riverbend began, other cities Southeastern like Birmingham (City Stages) and Atlanta (Music at Midtown) created their own downtown music festivals. The Riverbend Festival was started in June 1982 as a five-night festival in Chattanooga. Country duo Brothers Osborne will kick off the festival on June 3. Begun in 1982 the Riverbend Festival known locally as just Riverbend, is hugely popular. Anyone violating the regulations of the festival will be removed from the venue. field59.ipo = { Alejandro Bertorelli, a bass guitarist from the 3rd Infantry Division band, performs at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. 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. The annual festival now goes on for eight nights and ranks in the top 10% of all American festivals. The Riverbend Festival. 2023 2022 2019 2018 2017 2016 2014 2013 2012 2011. The Riverbend Festival includes artists covering almost every music genre on five different stages. 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. The weather is typically warm and sunny in Tennessee, but May has been known to bring some showers. Tricks to find the perfect rig. I am wanting to come in from ATL and I don't. Then sync via Google Calendar or iCal. 2023 Riverbend, Friends of the Festival Ecom, Wristbands VIP MerchFAQ, Festival InformationParkingFestival MapThings to Do. For safety reasons, no chairs will be allowed on site before the gates officially open. 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. 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. Backpacks are prohibited, but you can carry a small bag or purse. His thirteen novels received high critical praise, yet he remained largely unknown by readers. "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" Thomas Savage (19152003) was one of the intermountain West's best novelists. We provide a full spectrum of logistical services and consultation tailored to meet specific event planning needs. Daniel Thompson/50th Public Affairs Detachment), U.S. Army Staff Sgt. 12. Music truly enriches the human experience.. Over the years, the festival grew into the nine nights of its current run and presently ranks in the top 10 of all American festiv. 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. Saturday, June 14, 1986 Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN Emmylou Harris Add Setlist Monday, June 16, 1986 Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN Albert King 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. The goal was to book a variety of acts to bring different audiences down to the river. You are home here. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Daniel Thompson/50th Public Affairs Detachment), U.S. Army Sgt. Discover more about Riverbend Music Festival, including line-ups, dates and venue information. While the list of original goals for the as-yet-nebulous festival included things like "economic benefit," "people to downtown," "civic publicity," "civic pride" and "artistic quality," which the committee defined as featuring big names and local showcases in any creative area, the committee was looking for an event to showcase fine arts at various locations around town. Having a Spoleto in Chattanooga was his ultimate goal, and he says his trip to Charleston is the true moment of conception for Riverbend. detail_page_enabled: true, Patrick Jacob, a percussionist assigned to the 3rd IDs band. Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. Sat 27 May 2023 Adjacent Music Festival 2-day Pass (May 27-28, 2023 Atlantic City, NJ, US. "People gave out of a sense of civic pride," Robbins says. category_id: null, This year's festival will be our 39th year! It is now celebrating more than 35 years as Chattanooga's premier event. But the details of where, when and how the long-running festival actually got started depends on whom you ask. 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. 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. www.riverbendfestival.com +1 423 756 2211 www.facebook.com/rbfestival Often called "Chattanooga's Family Reunion," Riverbend is the city's biggest music festival. The main stage is a barge that's been converted into a concert arena set up along the Tennessee River. Leadership Award Winner, Roger Pickett Selected As M.C. Raw video clips. 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