Note: This story was updated on Feb. 27 to correct the attendance expectations for JFest.
The music festival market in the Chattanooga area is apparently strong, as ticket sales for Moon River, Riverbend and JFest are well ahead of last year.
In fact, the Moon River Music Festival set for Sept. 9-10 at Coolidge Park in North Chattanooga officially announced on its Facebook page Sunday that it had sold out of its allotted tickets in less than a week.
Officials don't release exact numbers, but the first festival here in 2018 was listed at 10,000 tickets. More tickets were added later, but no official number was ever given.
"Once again, the Moon River family has overwhelmed us with their support of this festival," said co-founder Drew Holcomb in a text to the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Sunday morning.
"Sold Out! We are thrilled y'all like the lineup and now we shift our focus to making it the best weekend of the year! See you on the river!"
Holcomb founded the event in Memphis in 2014, but when it outgrew the venue there, he partnered with AC Entertainment in Knoxville, and they began looking all over the state for a new location. It moved to Chattanooga in 2018.
While still involved in Moon River, AC is now owned by Live Nation, which also owns C3 Presents, which now produces the event, as it does for others such as the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.
Ted Heinig, president of AC Entertainment, said by phone Sunday that he believes the reason for the sellout is the commitment of everyone involved to make it better each year.
"Chattanooga is a great host," he said. "From the top down. Mayor (Tim) Kelly and his staff are always asking 'What can we do to make it better?'"
"Plus, Drew acting as host, and then the AC team putting together another great lineup, and it seems to have worked for fans."
JFest is set for May 20 at the Tennessee Riverpark and has a goal of 15,001 or more, which would make it the largest festival in Chattanooga. Organizer Ted Gocke said by text Sunday that the festival is also proving popular with fans looking forward to the Christian music event.
"Blowing out!!! It's so good to see everyone excited about live music again! Our next tier of wristbands are estimated to sell out by March 1. The discounted wristbands will then be $35 (regular admission is $45)."
At Riverbend, set for June 2-4 and featuring headliners Maren Morris, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats and Trombone Shorty, ticket sales are ahead of last year's sold-out event.
"The 2023 sales are double what they were at this same time last year," wrote marketing director Robin Derryberry of Derryberry Public Relations in a text.
"We're excited that people see the value in Riverbend pricing and in an outstanding lineup."
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.
Staff Photo by Matt Hamilton / Festivalgoers listen as the band Shovels & Rope performs Sept. 11. Several bands performed on two stages in Coolidge Park for the 2022 Moon River Music Festival. The 2023 festival is set for Sept. 9-10.