Riverbend Ready 2007
It began on a narrow strip of walkway at Ross’s Landing on the Tennessee River. It lasted for five nights and featured some good entertainment. When it was over, it forever changed the way we do summer.
27 years later, Chattanooga warmly welcomes Riverbend 2007, scheduled June 8 – 16, at Ross’s Landing! Nine nights and six stages will feature some of the best known artists and entertainers of our time, a wide variety of food, friends and family from across the United States and one of the best known festivals in America.
Stars on the Side
Attention and crowds often follow the headliners appearing on the “main” stage at Riverbend, and with good reason. Some of the biggest names in music history have sung to Chattanooga crowds from the infamous Coca-Cola venue. But as Riverbend has grown, talent, energy and GREAT music have come from the side stages as well.
Jeff Styles, entertainment consultant for Riverbend, works with Dixie Fuller, Entertainment Director at Friends of the Festival in securing festival acts. “Speaking for myself, I’d say I’m most excited, that we are diversifying on the side stages. Traditionally, we’ve had a jazz stage and a blues stage, etc. But now, while we’ll continue to do that to some degree, each stage will offer a bit more.”
When asked about those acts that he finds most interesting, Jeff quickly mentioned moe. They are scheduled to appear on Sunday, June 10 from 6:15 – 9:00 pm. “They’ll have an unprecedented 2 sets scheduled on the Covista Stage, with no warm up act. This is going to be great. They have an audience following, who’ll definitely be here, just like the Grateful Dead did. But I’m sure Chattanooga will be heavily represented,” he notes. “Ning An will bring a solo classical performance to the Unum Stage on Saturday, June 9 at 8:00 pm. His work is essentially new to the area, but his talent is world renowned.” Further, Styles states his excitement for a “Singer/Songwriter in the Round” performance scheduled for the Unum stage. “This is the first of this type of act for this stage. We have 3 incredible acts set to entertain together: Mary Gauthier, a fantastic singer/songwriter, sort of like Lucinda Williams; John McCuen, founder of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Jim Kimbrough, a songwriter who has several songs on Jimmy Buffet’s newest album.”
J. D. Cravens, a Chattanooga resident and long-time Riverbend fan has attended the festival every year since it started and like Jeff Styles, he’s a fan of diversity in music. Cravens states, “I love music. The main stage always has some popular oldies, some I like, and some I don’t. But I really like the side stages. It’s where you get to hear a lot of bands that are new, different or up and coming. You know, we had NickleCreek on the Conoco stage just before they went nuts. That was an incredible concert.” While he acknowledges that the popular headliners often create a large crowd in front of the Coca-Cola stage, Cravens says it’s easy to “just go listen to someone just as good on another stage.” “I’ve seen acts on the side stages that I’ve never heard before and then gone out and bought their albums. That happened with Acoustic Alchemy. I now own 3 of their albums. This year, I’d say I’m most excited about Cracker, The Machine, moe and the Steve Miller Band. They’ll be good.”
Genuine Gill
Vince Gill, musical superstar and Riverbend headliner on June 13, is usually described as a really nice guy, someone who hasn’t let success go to his head. It appears that description is right on the mark. An interview with Vince Gill provided information along with laughter.
CS: You’re coming to Riverbend on the heels of the release of your award winning 4 CD - These Days. What is this release all about? What does it mean to you?
VG: It’s a bit of all of the things I’ve done, country, blue grass, some rock. It embodies everything. I knew going into this project, like every project, that I wanted to do better than I’ve ever done before. These CDs go all the way back to old collaborations and longtime friendships.
CS: How did it feel to do such a variety of songs in one project? How are you able to move from one genre to another?
VG: It’s just the way it is. Some songs feel 30 years old. Some feel brand new. The key to a project like this is to take everything, encompass all that you’ve learned and do it. But also, you learn over time what not to do. To reach success, you have to be willing to edit yourself. That’s not something that just happens; it comes with age and experience.
CS: You were the lead singer in Pure Prairie League, pretty much a rock band. And yet, you’re known as one of the most influential country singers. Why did you make the change from rock to country all those years ago?
VG: Well, I think I went in that direction because country suits me best. Of all that I do, it works best.
CS: I’ve seen a list of your musical influences, it’s so varied: Merle Haggard, Bill Monroe, Chet Atkins, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, Don Rich and Buck Owens. But I’ve read that you credit your parents and late brother, Bobby, as primary musical influences in your life. How did they influence you?
VG: It was just part of my family. My initial influences were essentially at the mercy of the records that my Mom and Dad and brother had. You know, like any kid I was nine or ten before I could think about buying my own records. So I listened to theirs. They had a variety of great music and I liked it all, Patsy Cline, Muddy Waters, James Taylor. Kids are like sponges, they just soak it all up and that’s what I did.
CS: You play the guitar, the bass, the mandolin, the banjo, the fiddle and the Dobro. Do you have a favorite of any of these instruments?
VG: I’d say that the guitar is my favorite. I’m just comfortable with it. The mandolin would be my second favorite to play.
Chattanooga Connections
CS: Last year, Tricia Yearwood told us that she remembered “swallowing a bug” the first time that she played Riverbend. I know that you played Riverbend in 1992. Do you have any “special” memories of that evening?
VG: No, I can’t say that I have any specific memories of the event. But I do remember that the Swag Salesman (that is the t-shirt salesman) was great!
CS: How about any other Chattanooga visits?
VG: I remember playing Chattanooga with Pure Prairie League. We stayed at the Chattanooga Choo Choo and got to sleep in a train car. It was fun. That was a nice hotel.
CS: You played the Mountain View Ford Pro Celebrity Tournament at Black Creek in July, 2003. Records say you had an incredible shot on the 12th hole. (Vince hit the ball 160 yards to get within 12 feet of the flag.) I know you enjoy golf – is that memorable for you?
VG: I definitely liked that shot! Sam Woolwine, the man who runs that tournament, has become a good friend of mine. I look forward to the tournament. I have another buddy in Chattanooga – Rusty Kraus. He’s a chiropractor and he really saved my back. That relationship started at the tournament too.
CS: In your song, South Side of Dixie, the lyrics reference Chattanooga:
…Half a tank north of Birmingham
Red eye gravy and country ham
Chattanooga woman sure is sweet
She’s a hillbilly singer from TN…
Was there ever a special woman from Chattanooga?
VG: Well, I can’t say I ever knew a woman from Chattanooga…I’d probably have to credit the person who collaborated with me on the song, but all Southern women are sweet.
Writer’s note – Good answer!
CS: Will your family travel with you when you come to Chattanooga?
VG: I’m not sure if Amy will come with me or not.
CS: Is there anything special you want to do in Chattanooga?
VG: I know that Chattanooga has a lot of new things on the waterfront and the great Aquarium, but honestly, when I have any spare time I really like to spend it on the golf course, and there is lots of that in Chattanooga.
CS: Your current tour for These Days is going great. It’s been reported that your concert lasts 3 ½ hours. How will you adapt that for Riverbend?
VG: I love being Live! Riverbend, being outdoors is a great venue. When it’s outdoors you have to work some things out but that is what the producers do. You know the real success of a show is because of the crowd. The crowd makes the concert!
The Growth of Riverbend and its Fans
Cindy Lamsey remembers sitting on her then boyfriend, Steve Lamsey’s shoulders when they were in college, watching the Pointer Sisters. Today, they have a daughter Meghan who is almost 14 years old. Charlie Lee remembers taking his family, including his young teenage daughter, Beki, to Riverbend along with a large group of friends. Today, Beki Lee is 26.
Both Cindy and Charlie are staunch Riverbend fans. They have attended the event every year as the festival has grown in size and popularity. Cindy Lamsey notes, “When we first started going to Riverbend we did it because it was the cool thing to do. It was the place where kids went. Today we can take our daughters, though of course we do pick and choose what the girls see. We used to hit the kid’s events and be gone by 9 pm. Now as they’ve gotten older, we feel comfortable staying with the girls. There is always something they can enjoy. In the past, we liked KC and the Sunshine Band, Sugarland and Here Come the Mummies. This year, I’d say we’re looking forward to seeing Vince Gill, the Steve Miller Band and Earth, Wind and Fire. And my mom and I have a special tradition of going to the CSO night. It’s always fun.”
Charlie Lee is without question a fan of Riverbend music, but he was drawn to the festival because of the social atmosphere. It is something he continues to enjoy every year. “In the beginning, it was fun to come with a bunch of families and spread out blankets. We had a ball. But the atmosphere has changed as the event has grown, and I really like it. I think it’s great that people can now bring boats and be part of Riverbend. Sitting on a boat with friends, listening to the music is a lot of fun. It’s something very unique for Chattanooga. I love the atmosphere of the Bessie Smith Strut. It’s one big party, complete with blues music, fun people and good food.” He even likes the crowds. “The crowds don’t really bother me. I like to see all the people that come, cutting up and having fun. If it gets to be too much, I just walk away from the main stage and go see something else for a while. The side stages always have great smaller bands, and they offer a more intimate setting. I’ll be at Riverbend every night.”
Chattanooga, gather round the ‘Bend – some incredible entertainment is coming to the house! For the latest information on the 2007 Riverbend Festival, visit www.riverbendfestival.com.