Barry Courter
How's this for diversity: At this year's Riverbend Festival, fans will be treated to a night of patriotic country music by Toby Keith in an evening dedicated to the men and women who serve in the military. The next day, on closing night, they will see shows featuring Here Come the Mummies, who play funk music while wrapped head to toe in gauze, and The Flaming Lips, whose lead singer often walks on top of the crowd in a giant gerbil ball.
On the first Saturday, rapper/actor Ludacris will perform. In between, so will contemporary Christian artist Crowder.
Riverbend has, since 1982, prided itself on offering something for everyone. Organizers figured out years ago that what the majority of attendees want is oldies, Southern rock and country music, which is why the lineup also includes George Thorogood, Boz Scaggs and Brett Young. Organizers also know that most of the people who attend live close enough to drive home at night.
Adding acts like Ludacris and The Flaming Lips, which were announced last week, is not new, and it's not really a move away from what has kept the festival going for three and a half decades. It does move the festival a little bit more toward a destination event where fans travel to see a favorite act.
They've been trying to book those acts for years, bringing in bands like Widespread Panic and Umphry's McGee. It's just that it worked this year, and hopefully it will continue to work.
The Lips are a very entertaining live act, and maybe we've reached the point where fans will embrace checking out something different.
By the way, if you are sensitive to lots of flashing lights, you'll want to give that show a pass and go check out something else.
» Celebrating its 30th year, Nightfall has added a new wrinkle. The free weekly series will be hosting a Young Entrepreneurs Expo on the last Friday of every month.
For a $15 fee, any entrepreneur under the age of 18 can share their product or service at the expos. Exhibitors will be provided a 6-foot table.
The series begins May 4, and we will announce the full lineup in the next couple of days.
» Congratulations to Cindy Sexton on receiving the John Seigenthaler Making Kids Count Media Award. Sexton has been with WRCB-TV 3 for 30 years and has focused a lot of her work on strengthening families and advocating for children. For the last decade, she has been profiling children available for adoption.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6345.