The Riverbend Festival, which kicks off Friday, isn't the only musical event that take place on the 21st Century Waterfront. It's not even the only musical series presented by Friends of the Festival.
The lineup for the 12th annual Riverfront Nights Summer Concert Series, announced Tuesday, again features a collection of local and touring acts to expand your musical palate. The series opens July 14 and continues for the next six Saturdays. The event is free, family- and dog-friendly, and has a physical activity component by including local businesses and organizations that focus on healthy living.
Muscadine Bloodline"This is our 12th year, and what started as a fairly small event down on the river has become a very popular series that many people look forward to," said Friends of the Festival Marketing Coordinator Amy Morrow.
Local act Campbell Station kicks off the series at 7 p.m., followed by headliner Muscadine Bloodline an hour later. A short program to remember the tragedy of July 16, 2015, when five local servicemen were killed will start at 7:50 and precede the headliner.
Muscadine Bloodline features the veteran country music duo Charlie Muncaster and Gary Stanton. The two play music they describe as a "Sound [that] intertwines the brash irreverence of early Southern rockers with the seductive quality of '90s country love songs."
The rest of the schedule features Natural Habitz opening for the funk/rock/reggae musings of The Get Right Band on July 21; Sam Killed the Bear opening for indie rockers The Unlikely Candidates on July 28; Cany Creek Company opening for Nashville rockers Waker on Aug. 4; Genki Genki Panic opening for American roots rock artist Mudbone on Aug. 11; and Dirty Blonde opening for an act that can't be announced until later because of a prior contractual obligation on Aug. 18.
For more information on Riverfront Nights, visit www.riverfront nights.com or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com.
Contact staff writer Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.