The first Saturday of Riverbend 2011 will take on a beach theme: The Beach Boys will headline, and A1A, the official Jimmy Buffett tribute act, will also perform, according to Joe "Dixie" Fuller, the festival's talent and production coordinator.
The Beach Boys are best known for their vocal harmonies and songs about surfing and the beach. Originally featuring brothers Carl, Dennis (both deceased) and Brian Wilson, along with cousin Mike Love and childhood friend Al Jardine, the group recorded 28 studio and four live albums. Songs like "Barbara Ann," "I Get Around," "God Only Knows," "Good Vibrations," "Surfin' USA" and "Help Me Rhonda" earned them induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Fellow inductees that year were The Beatles, Bob Dylan and The Drifters. The Beach Boys were awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award Grammy from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 2001.
The No. 1-selling American group of all time according to Rolling Stone magazine, currently features Mike Love and longtime member Bruce Johnston and a rotating lineup of musicians.
"Mike Love has surrounded himself with some people who really love The Beach Boys," Fuller said. "I don't know anybody that doesn't know at least one good Beach Boys song, and they have a ton of them. It will be a fun night."
In making the announcement, Riverbend officials also said that its corporate pin sale campaign began Monday. Companies that buy 100 or more pins pay an "early bird" price of $24. Regularly priced pins are $30 in advance and $40 at the gate during the festival.
A1A, named for Buffett's 1974 CD, is the only tribute band sanctioned by the entertainer. A1A's shows are described as highly energetic, colorful and family-friendly. The band is led by Jeff Pike, who appeared on Buffett's 1994 "Fruitcakes" CD and has shared the stage with the star, as well as his backing band, Coral Reefers.
A1A has appeared all over the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, Costa Rica and Japan.
Friends of the Festival earlier announced that Casting Crowns would headline Family and Faith Night on June 14.
For more info, visit www.riverbendfestival.com.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6354.