There will be a little mystery surrounding this year's symphony night at the Riverbend Festival.
What is known is that the night will showcase The Waybacks featuring guest vocalists John Cowan and Joan Osborne, accompanied by the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, performing on the Coca-Cola Stage June 13.
What is not known is which well-known classic rock album the groups will perform as part of the show. That information will not be announced until the opening note of the show.
"This is something very different for us and very unique," said Chip Baker, the festival's executive director.
In the past, The Waybacks along with Mr. Cowan and friends have performed Led Zeppelin's "II" and The Rolling Stone's "Sticky Fingers" at other events around the country, but they have not performed with a symphony. According to Mr. Baker, members of the festival's artist selection committee decided to try something "outside of the box." Friends of the Festival has had musical charts commissioned just for this show.
"This took a lot of discussion and innovation on our part, and I think people will thoroughly enjoy this new approach," Mr. Baker said. "This has never been seen in Chattanooga and I feel very confident that people will come away thoroughly impressed by it."
Also announced this week are Ivan Neville's Dumpstafunk, which will perform June 18 on the Unum Stage, Grammy-winning trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, who will perform June 19 on the Tennessee Valley Credit Union Stage and Lyfe Jennings, set to perform June 13 on the Bud Light Stage, according to Talent and Production Coordinator Joe "Dixie" Fuller.
Dumpstafunk is considered one of New Orleans' funkiest exports. Mr. Sandoval was a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning group Irakere, which played a mixture of jazz, classical, rock and traditional Cuban music. Mr. Jennings has sold millions of records based around his soulful, R&B sound.
Previously announced performers are Sheryl Crow, Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Darius Rucker, George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, the Charlie Daniels Band, Billy Currington, The Whigs, Carmine Appice's Slamm, Dan Baird, David Nail, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Jimmy Webb and Drivin' 'n' Cryin'.
Riverbend pin holders will be able to use their 2010 pin for free admission to the PGA's Nationwide Tour Chattanooga Classic here Oct. 4-10.
The pins will be available at area Kangaroo convenience stores beginning May 1 for $30.
Reserved Star Seating tickets (in front of the stage) are available for every Coca-Cola Stage performance, and Club Riverbend passes are available now to the general public. Call 756-2211.