Riverbend Starts Friday, June 5
It’s finally time – Riverbend starts tonight and it is starting off with a bang! One of the hottest groups in the country, St. Paul & The Broken Bones kicks off the 2015 Riverbend at 6:30 p.m. on the Coke Stage. Riverbend decided that the Coke Stage looked all sad and lonely during the early hours of the festival, so this year they added a second act to the big stage. Every night, except Tuesday, you can enjoy a second big-time headline act, all included in the price of your wristband. This year, St, Paul & The Broken Bones will be the inaugural act at 6:30 p.m. These guys kick you know what. David Lettermen gushed over them.
As if that wasn’t enough, at 8 p.m., immediately following the Bones concert, a great Nashville area funk band, the Deep Fried Five takes the Bud Stage. They last played Chattanooga on New Years at the killer show at the Doubletree Hotel. You can check them out too, right here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIwMTFcZnvA.
Now, after the Deep Fried Five show, guess who is next? 3 Doors Down, that’s who. On the Coke Stage at 9:30, the rockers from Mississippi are still killing it on stage with some real rock n’ roll. With a Gold, Platinum, 4X Platinum, and a 6X Platinum album, 3 Doors Down will be releasing a new album this year. Come hear their greatest hits and maybe a sample off their new one.
Opening the Bud Light Stage at 6 p.m. will be the Get Right Band, also a funk/reggae band out of Ashville, NC. This is a Jeff Styles find, so I am betting they are quite good.
Right behind the Bud Stage over by the Marina, Jessica Nixon & River Run Band will open the new Chevy Truck Corral Stage, followed by Marlow Drive. Stop by the new Chevy Stage and take a look at all the new Chevy Trucks on display there. Word is, you might even be able to win one! Be sure and say hello to Stage Manager Hayes while you are there.
At the other end of the festival, the Chattanooga Girls Choir will perform at the Unum Stage from 6:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. Over 100 strong, watch for this one to be a great show of young talent. Immediately after the Girls Choir is a band I really pushed for to play Riverbend. Sleepy Man, formerly known as Sleepy Man Banjo Boys, will play a 1-hour set from 8 p.m. until 9 p.m. Sleepy Man has played Letterman, the Grand Ole Opry, and many large festivals and arenas. Consisting of a 12-year old phenomenon on Banjo, a 17-year old Fiddle Player and an 18-year old guitar player, these brothers have won America’s hearts with their YouTube videos filmed from their bedroom. Here they are a couple years ago at their Letterman appearance. 10 million YouTube views and still counting – take a look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXcRI0BdioE.
After the Sleepy Man band, look for Charleston South Carolina’s Dead 27’s to rock the Unum Stage from 9:30 until 11 p.m. With a blend of Southern Rock and soul, they have won practically every award a band can win in their native Charleston.
Just down the hill at the TVFCU Stage, John & Michelle open the night from 6:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. This well-known local folk duo has been entertaining audiences for many years.
Another local favorite that has done very well on the Chattanooga music scene is Smooth Dialects. They will play from 7:45 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. I rank them right at the top as one of my favorites of the entire festival.
Ft. Payne’s Bert David Newton closes out the night from 9:15 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. and offers an excellent alternative to the rock on the Coke Stage. A well-known Country music player from the land of the Alabama Band, Bert brings quality players and a great voice to Riverbend.
Also, be on the lookout for the Street Performers at Riverbend. Mike Edwards, the Red Rogues, John & Michelle, and the Mudd Brothers will all be in the park tonight, with magic, folk music, Celtic music, and some Blues.
For everything you need to know about Riverbend, check out my Riverbend Survival Kit at http://chattanoogan.com/2015/6/3/301692/Chattanoogas-Live-Music-Scene-.aspx .
If you’re looking for me, check out St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Smooth Dialects for a bit, then Sleepy Man.
See you there!
Email Bob Payne at davrik2000@yahoo.com or www.facebook.com/davrik2000.