He would remember these sessions for about 30 interested citizens, which culminated with a BBQ, Beer, Bluejeans and Bach celebration (the essence of our original inclusive idea) at Sharon Mills' home to celebrate the beginning of a new kind of comprehensive festival for Chattanooga. Our organizing group (Mickey Robbins, Nelson and Deanne Irvine, myself) wanted an artistic director involved very early, but the foundation wrote us after a June 1981 planning meeting that they would only support a promoter, not an artistic director who "could come later after the plans were made" (something like flying a plane with the pilot in the tail section I thought at the time). The 3rd IDs band was one of a wide variety of performers covering almost every musical genre at this event. 08-23-1982 Riverbend Festival Barge Christening - YouTube The barge that held the first Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga is christened. partner_name: "WDEF", "Music is my favorite form of communication; no matter the age, race, language- people can always relate with . There are plenty of paid parking options in the downtown area. It started as a way to come together downtown to celebrate the community we all share. The Beach Boys performed on Memorial Day Weekend. Most parts of the parkway are wheelchair-navigable and accessible parking is available near the main gate. Major local and national companies, such as Covista Communications, Unum, and Budweiser, sponsor other stages throughout the riverfront area. 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. 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. There was a Downtown Arts Festival at Miller Park. Our through-the-gate total attendance of 50,000+ means were right where we need to be: on the Tennessee River in June waiting on you to take the stage. Justin Smith, a guitarist assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division band, plays guitar at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. Onsite camping on the grounds will not be permitted. All rights reserved. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Using 40+ years of experience, we lend our expertise, resources and partnerships to other organizations. That committee also included attorney Nelson Irvine, who served as secretary, and UTC professor Fred Behringer, who served as treasurer. 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. They range in price from $60 (single-day General Admission ticket) to over $800 (four-day VIP pass). virtual: false, 2023 Riverbend, Friends of the Festival Ecom, Wristbands VIP MerchFAQ, Festival InformationParkingFestival MapThings to Do. orientation: "portrait", We are your neighbors. evvnt_require("evvnt/discovery_plugin").init({ "Music is my favorite form of communication; no matter the age, race, language- . 423-785-1200 | news@wdef.com3300 Broad Street, Chattanooga TN 37408. Riverbend Festival is a rain or shine event. Though it technically was centered on a fine-arts festival similar to Spoleto, it also provided a blueprint for Riverbend. widget: true, 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. At the time, festivals were a fairly new concept, so essentially the Chattanooga committee was creating something unusual. Additionally, Riverbend has won . 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. Each first aid station will also have accessible restrooms, which are reserved for patrons with disabilities. This year's festival will be our 39th year! It has been bringing top musical acts to Hamilton County since 1981. In some ways, figuring out who started Riverbend is like trying to definitively pinpoint who invented rock 'n' roll; you can name dozens of artists that could claim part of the title, yet each of those had their own influences in the past. [4] A wristband provides admission for either one night or every night of the festival except for the Bessie Smith Strut. Paramore. 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. Now, no one seems to know what happened at Riverbend's beginning or care very much, my fellow organizers tell me. celebrating 40 years of riverbend Festival. It has since evolved into three nights and is nationally known. The designated pick up and drop off areas are mentioned on the website. Family-friendly, pet-friendly and welcoming to all to enjoy Saturdays on the river. category_id: null, If you're looking for a unique experience, you can take a water taxi or a boat to the park and enter the festival through a different gate. The first Riverbend was held at several downtown locations, including a chamber music concert at the Tivoli Theatre, a hot-air balloon launched from Vine Street and carrying a brass trio, and a children's film festival at the old Kirkman High School. Rent from a pro and travel like one, too. Tips to grow your RV rental business. The Riverbend Festival is a music event that takes place in Chattanooga, Tennessee every year. 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. Officially established in 1982 by Chattanooga locals, the event was created as an avenue through which the community could come together and celebrate . He loves to spread positivity by playing great music so that people can hopefully have a good time. 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. Provides positive economic impact not only to Chattanooga but also to regional tourism. "I was at church the next morning at 8:30.". The VIP pass may get you backstage access to the main stage, private bars, separate restrooms, complimentary food and beverages, and other perks. First Aid tents will be located throughout the venue. in June of 1982 as a five-night festival in Chattanooga to bring the community together. Zedd. The Riverbend Festival was started in June 1982 as a five-night festival in Chattanooga. 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 Bessie Smith Strut, originally called the Bessie Smith Jazz Strut, on Ninth Street, now M.L. This won us a $26,000 planning grant, larger than another foundation test grant for a Chamber of Commerce weekend downtown festival similar to past limited efforts by the Allied Arts organization. Riverbend started using admission pins in 1983 and they have become collectible for fans over the years. Concessions are purchased using a token system and many street vendors set up food and souvenir stands. The annual festival now goes on for nine nights and ranks in the top 10% of all American festivals. But the first full Festival happened in August of 1982. We are your neighbors. When you see news happening, share it! Who funds Riverbend FESTIVAL. 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. Raw video clips. 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. The line takes a turn from there, however, when the festival-in-waiting almost immediately deviated away from Hetzler's original idea of a highly artistic event spread over several weeks and featuring chamber and symphonic music, films and theater performances at various locations all over the city, a la Spoleto. Leadership Award Winner, Roger Pickett Selected As M.C. Storey also played a role in starting the Dorothy Patten Fine Arts Series, which showcases performing arts such as music, spoken word and theater. "You just have to walk around down there and see people from Whitwell and Signal Mountain and Lookout Mountain and Alton Park.". Your email address will not be published. Geography. 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. The Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, TN has been celebrated for over 35 years since its start back in June 1982. After Riverbend began, other cities Southeastern like Birmingham (City Stages) and Atlanta (Music at Midtown) created their own downtown music festivals. From The Archives: The First Riverbend Festival The very first Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga actually ran during late August of 1982 August 18, 2022 Collins Parker CHATTANOOGA. The festival eventually added three more nights so vendors could make money, according to Robbins. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Fri. Jun 3, 2022 - Sun. CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) During the 35th edition of the Riverbend Festival, weve been taking you back to the very first one in 1982. The now-familiar pins did not come into play until the next year. . 11. "People gave out of a sense of civic pride," Robbins says. At right is an original program from the first Riverbend Festival in August 1982. A free summertime music series that attracts wide-ranging audiences to the riverfront. 12. 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. Event Production and Management. 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". Country duo Brothers Osborne will kick off the festival on June 3. Plus the Lyndhurst Foundation funded 3 pop-oriented concerts that summer to warm us up. Well see you at the festival! Going to this festival? "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" "Part of Bruce's genius was getting Walker involved," says Robbins. His thirteen novels received high critical praise, yet he remained largely unknown by readers. King Blvd downtown), 2007 also debuted Riverbend's first ever classical recital featuring pianist, This page was last edited on 6 June 2022, at 11:58. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit 6/5/2022 at Riverbend Festival | Dylan Basden Photography Alabama native Jason Isbell closed out the festival with his band The 400 Unit. Daniel Thompson/50th Public Affairs Detachment), U. S. Army Spc. The festival went to wristbands last year, though it offered a collectible pin, as well. map: false, The Frnkische Rezat flows through Georgensgmnd into the Rednitz.. Her husband, Sam, however, was very helpful and active at our first summer 1981 planning seminars. The Beach Boys on Memorial Day Weekend, The Commodores in June & Rick Springfield on the Fourth of July weekend. Saturday, June 14, 1986 Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN Emmylou Harris Add Setlist Monday, June 16, 1986 Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN Albert King Location: Chattanooga, TN. function evvntDiscoveryInit() { Thank you! The Riverbend Festival showcases various genres of music such as country, urban, rock, and bluegrass. The Riverbend Festivals purpose was to bring the community together, and it began as a five-night festival in June of 1982. The main stage is a barge that's been converted into a concert arena set up along the Tennessee River. Some events were ticketed, but most were free. Friends of The Festival Inc. Friends of the Festival - Inc. Revenue. 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. [3] Admission was previously given to people who had collectible Riverbend Pins. The first ever Riverbend Festival took place in 1982 as a five-day event. discovery: { discovery: { Jillian Bojoh, a vocalist from the 3rd Infantry Division band, sings at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. 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. 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. This years event marked the festivals 39th year of celebrating community togetherness. 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. Security personnel will be present at the entrances and will also be present inside the park during the events. publisher_id: "7057", The festival itself only had one proper stage, the barge in the river. A few other things are certain, as well. 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. [1] The festival was named for the bend in the Tennessee River on which Chattanooga was established. "(Riverbend) succeeded by changing," Moore says. Festival Info. submission: { Protect yourself from the harsh sun and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. 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. Attorney Hugh Moore, who joined the Riverbend board in 1983, called the music festival's creation "an organic progression.". OFFICIAL WEBSITE. The Riverbend Festival, also called Riverbend, is a wellknown annual music festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which was started in June 1982 as a five night festival. For 39 years, the Riverbend Festival has been a cornerstone in the Chattanooga summer scene. In fact, it's not even a single line, but a series of separate lines that eventually merged into one. 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. Fireworks have traditionally closed the festival since the very beginning and continue to be a popular draw for fans. The first ever Riverbend Festival took place in 1982 as a five-day event. Many of the restaurants and bars have live music in the evenings, which you can enjoy with a refreshing cocktail. 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. Find tickets online today using Songkick Riverbend Music Festival Tour Dates This awesome event was started in June 1982 as a five night festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee. 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. Talk to News 12 anchors, reporters and meteorologists. Green Day. Chattanooga, Tennessee. Patrick Jacob, a percussionist assigned to the 3rd IDs band. If you need assistance with anything, you can approach one of the volunteers. 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. | Updated November 22, 2014 at 12:01 a.m. 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. Having a Spoleto in Chattanooga was his ultimate goal, and he says his trip to Charleston is the true moment of conception for Riverbend. It can get a bit chilly after sundown, so dress in layers or take a light jacket with you. 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. For others, the Riverbend line is not quite as straight. var field59 = field59 || {}; Riverbend Festival June 2-4, 2023 | Ross's Landing WRISTBANDS ON SALE 12/2 celebrating 40 years of riverbend Festival We are proud of our long-standing history in downtown Chattanooga. Backpacks are prohibited, but you can carry a small bag or purse. Riverbend Festival, named for the bend in the Tennessee River by locals, began in June of 1982. The other two acts were the Beach Boys on Memorial Day 1982 and Rick Springfield followed that July. Established in 1982, the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a grandiose summer kick-off celebration with music, family-friendly attractions and delicious fried foods. After missing a year due to the pandemic, we will celebrate 40 years of music in 2023! Sid Hetzler, Ph.DSplit Tree Participatory Arts CenterChickamauga, Ga.sidhetzler@gmail.com, Given all the media coverage on classified documents from multiple places by Biden and his watch dogs versus what happened to President Trump is curious given both are being scrutinized for being more, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a man many love and respect now. It is now celebrating more than 35 years as Chattanooga's premier event. Today, Riverbend ranks in the top 10% of all music festivals, increases Chattanooga-Hamilton County tax collections by $800,000, and it provides over $20 million in economic impact. For safety reasons, no chairs will be allowed on site before the gates officially open. Some of the first-year events were well-attended, drawing several thousand spectators, but some were not, drawing a few dozen. "We had chamber music and choral music and orchestral music," he says, "but we also had mountain music. Venue: Ross's Landing Tagged With Rock Tennessee USA Festivals 4-Day Fests. 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 Hanlin, CEO at Provident Insurance, "and asking for a loan that would never be paid back.". There are convenience stores in the vicinity, where you can pick up any essentials you need. 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. Explore our hotels to find accommodations near Riverbend Festival (in Riverbend Festival) for your personal or business trips. Flack, who earned three No. We persisted. 2023 2022 2019 2018 2017 2016 2014 2013 2012 2011. Riverbend 2022 was awesome, Bojoh said. 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, Chattanoogas first and original music festival held in the heart of downtown on the banks of the Tennessee River. 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.