Blues aficionado Kenny Neal will add his unique brand of swamp blues to Riverbend’s Bessie Smith Strut on June 14, according to Joe “Dixie” Fuller, talent and production coordinator.
He will be joined on the two strut stages along M.L. King Boulevard by Scott Holt, Otis Taylor, Eric Steckel and Soul Rebels.
The strut will not utilize the Miller Plaza Stage as it has in the past, according to Mr. Fuller, but will have the same number of artists performing on the stage at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and the one under the railroad trestle near University Street.
Both Mr. Neal and Mr. Steckel have been here before, which is unusual for strut artists, according to Mr. Fuller.
“We did Kenny back in 2001,” Mr. Fuller said, “and he was such a huge act. We try not to bring anybody back too soon because there are so many good blues artists out there, but we thought it was time. He is so good.”
Mr. Neal, Mr. Steckel, Mr. Holt and Soul Rebels will also perform during the festival on June 13. Mr. Steckel and Soul Rebels will play at the official Strut After-Party at Bessie Smith Culture Center beginning at 9 p.m. Admission is $5.
Also announced is that the Artist of the Day program, which has performers doing meet-and-greet functions at various downtown locations, will feature two artists who will appear on the main Coca-Cola Stage in The Waybacks and Joan Osborne. Locations for this year’s Artist of the Day events are Hennen’s, Greenlife Grocery, 212 Market, Blue Water Grille, Big River, Easy Bistro and Market Street Tavern.
Also, the Bend Unplugged outreach program has added several new downtown educational facilities to its lineup. They are Hunter Museum of American Art, Creative Discover Museum, IMAX Theater, Bessie Smith Cultural Center and Hamilton County-Chattanooga Bicentennial Library.
Artists and schedules for both programs will be finalized at a later date.
The Riverbend Rewards program launches today, according to a news release, and runs through the end of April. Patrons who buy their pins online this month and select the Riverbend Rewards pin purchase option will receive a limited-time exclusive admission pin for the discounted rate of $28 ($40 at the gate).
Also, 2010 Riverbend pins can be used for admission ito the PGA’s Nationwide Tour Chattanooga Classic held Oct. 4.
Riverbend pins will go on sale for $30 to the general public May 1 at select area Kangaroo convenience stores.
Reserved Star Seating tickets (in front of the Coke stage) are available and Club Riverbend passes (pier access) are available to the general public. Call 756-2211.