Old Dominion, Sheila E., Purple Xperience coming to Riverbend

Old Dominion will play the Coca-Cola Stage at Riverbend on June 11.
Old Dominion will play the Coca-Cola Stage at Riverbend on June 11.
photo In 1984, Sheila E. had a Top 10 hit with "The Glamorous Life," which also became a No. 1 dance hit. (Photo from SheilaE.com)
photo Sheila E. had a long working relationship with Prince, including a duet on the hit "A Love Bizarre." (Photo from SheilaE.com)

The Riverbend Festival for 2017 went big, and somewhat old school, with Toby Keith as its first announced act. Now it's going new school with the announcement that country outfit Old Dominion will headline the Coke Stage on June 11.

And festival organizers have added a purple/paisley tint to the lineup as well.

Talent and Production Coordinator Joe "Dixie" Fuller says The Purple Xperience, a Prince tribute act, will play the early featured set on the Coke Stage on June 15 and former Prince backing vocalist/percussionist Sheila E. will play the late time slot that night.

Old Dominion broke into the country scene with the release of the album "Meat and Candy" last year. The CD spawned three Top 10 country hits - "Break Up With Him," "Snapback" and "Song for Another Time." Entertainment Weekly called "Meat and Candy" "a deceptively smart, occasionally cheeky, stellar debut."

"These guys are going places," Fuller says.

He notes that the young band is managed by Dale Morris, who also manages Kenny Chesney and Jake Owen.

"I learned a long time ago when Dale Morris calls and says, 'You should do this act,' you should do this act," Fuller says. "I have to look at myself in the mirror every morning knowing I passed on Kenny Chesney when I could have had him."

In 1984, Sheila E. had a Top 10 hit with "The Glamorous Life," which also became a No. 1 dance hit. She and Prince had a Top 20 hit in 1985 with "A Love Bizarre," and she also worked with him on recording sessions for "Purple Rain," "Sign 'O' the Times," "Black Album" and "Lovesexy."

Her other collaborations include Beyoncé, Ringo Starr, Gloria Estefan, Lionel Richie and Kanye West. "I don't think Ringo goes on tour without her," Fuller says.

The Purple Xperience is fronted by Matt "Doctor" Fink, another former Prince band member. A keyboardist, producer and songwriter, he worked with Prince from 1978 to 1991 and has co-writing credits on "Dirty Mind," "Computer Blue" and "America."

His playing also can be heard on "1999," "Controversy," "Purple Rain" and "Sign 'O' the Times," among other Prince albums. The Purple Xperience was a late add to last year's Riverbend and Fuller says he wanted to bring it back so more people could see the act.

"It was a great show and the young man (Marshall Charloff) who does the Prince part is the spitting image and has the whole persona down. It will be a very percussive and danceable night."

The festival announced in November that Keith would headline the Coca-Cola Stage on June 14.

Karen Shostak, director of sales for Riverbend, said wristbands for the June 9-19 festival can be purchased for a discount at $39 through Christmas Eve at Hamilton Place mall.

"We also have for the first time a holiday package where you can get admission for two and $20 in tokens," she says. "You order them online only, but you pick them up at the office. No standing in line."

The package deal costs $88 and is valued at $130.

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

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