File photo / Michael and Tanya Trotter of The War & Treaty return to Chattanooga in June for the Riverbend 2022. The husband and wife are staples on the festival circuit and played in recent years in Chattanooga at Moon River and Nightfall. They are known for their powerful, high energy gospel-infused shows.As happens every year, Chattanoogans are somewhat split on their satisfaction with the Riverbend 2022 lineup, but if ticket sales are any indication, people like it.
The 500 VIP tickets sold out within days of the lineup announcement Jan. 20, and the 200 corporate VIP wristbands sold out a week later, according to spokesperson Robin Derryberry. She said the festival is limited to 15,000 attendees, and she cautioned people shouldn’t wait to get their tickets if they plan to go.
“It is selling really, really well, and once those are gone, that’s it,” she said.
Not everyone is happy with the lineup. Hamilton County Commissioner Katherlyn Geter, D-Ridgeside, publicly questioned the diversity represented in the lineup this past week in other media outlets. She did not return a request for comment from the Times Free Press.
Derryberry said the 23-act lineup is composed of 33% women or people of color. Seven of the acts, including The War and Treaty, Devon Gilfillian, Ayron Jones and Brittney Spencer, are African American artists.