Nikki Hill. Paul Hadfield & The McCoys. The Weeks. Earphunk. Rahsaan Barber & Everyday Magic.
Before last week, I had no idea who any of these artists/bands were. That’s a real shame because they’re among the 82 acts that will play at Riverbend between Friday evening and June 14, and I only just now discovered how amazing they are.
As a consequence, I feel like I’m behind the excitement curve. Partly, that’s a consequence of how Riverbend is marketed since, for obvious reasons, event organizer Friends of the Festival devotes a lot of time and attention to highlighting the big-ticket artists who will serve as each evening’s headliners.
It makes sense. That’s where the majority of the booking money goes, so it’s a smart decision to shine a spotlight on the names people recognize. After all, those are the ones with the requisite drawing power to bring in the kind of crowds necessary to buy truckloads of chicken-on-a-stick and Bud Light.
In the months leading up to opening night, organizers have been unveiling Coke Stage acts like benevolent Samaritans handing out loaves of bread to famished street urchins. Each headliner release is accompanied by a secondary announcement of a side-stage artist, but for the most part, organizers place the lion’s share of attention on who will spend 90 minutes on the barge each night.