Kane Brown, live wrestling among late additions to Riverbend lineup

You might have thought the folks at Riverbend were done adding to their lineup. So did they.

In March, festival organizers announced that performances would include Chris Young, 38 Special and Blood, Sweat & Tears with Bo Bice and said they were the final pieces. But now they have some last-minute additions, including new musical acts, live professional wrestling and a chance to use your wristband to win a new travel trailer.

They did a little shuffling to make room for local country music sensation Kane Brown, who will perform on the Coca-Cola Stage on Sunday, June 12, between Trampled By Turtles and Chris Young. Brown is now in Key West with Jake Owen and has been touring the country with sold-out performances wherever he goes.

"We created a slot for him," said Talent and Production Coordinator Joe "Dixie" Fuller. "He's incredibly hot right now. I've never seen anything like the way he came out of nowhere, and we are so happy to have him. He's a local boy that's doing great."

Also announced is Purple Xperience, a Prince tribute act that will perform on Thursday, June 16. The group is fronted by keyboardist Matt "Doctor" Fink, a member of the late Purple One's backing band, The Revolution, from 1978-1991.

The Voices of Lee from Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn., and country singer Cody McCarver from Dunlap, Tenn., also have been added to the June 14 Faith & Family Night.

For the first time since the festival had power boat racing in its early days, the site will open at 3 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. on closing day, June 18, to make time for live wrestling.

"There will be music on two of the stages, and we'll have live wrestling from AWF Live Pro Wrestling out of Ringgold," said Bob Payne, assistant talent coordinator.

Matches will take place at 4 and 7 p.m. under the Olgiati Bridge, he says.

Last year, the festival replaced its admission pins with wristbands with scannable codes, and they will be used for a promotional giveaway this year. The codes also help organizers gather crowd control and marketing information. Everyone who has their wristband scanned upon entrance to the site automatically will be entered into a drawing for a $20,000 travel trailer from Dunlap RV in Ringgold.

"All of this happened after we thought we were done," Payne said.

Previously announced Riverbend acts are singer/songwriter ZZ Ward, the early featured act on the Coke Stage in front of country singer Thomas Rhett on June 10; Heart and Ambrosia on June 11; Trampled By Turtles and Firefall on June 12; For King & Country for Faith & Family Night on June 14; Granger Smith, Brett Eldredge and Blackberry Smoke on June 15; rap icons Salt-N-Pepa and "improg" rockers Umphrey's McGee on June 16; and REO Speedwagon and Shovels & Rope on June 17.

Contact staff writer Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.

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