Pop singer Livvia is excited to return to Chattanooga for the Running of the Chihuahuas

Livvia will perform Saturday, May 4, as part of the 12th Running of the Chihuahuas at First Tennessee Pavilion. The event is free and features several live music performances, food and drink and the chihuahua races.
Livvia will perform Saturday, May 4, as part of the 12th Running of the Chihuahuas at First Tennessee Pavilion. The event is free and features several live music performances, food and drink and the chihuahua races.

Pop singer Livvia loves animals and she also loves performing, but she also loves school. So, when she was booked to perform at last year's Running of the Chihuahuas, she was thrilled, but conflicted.

photo Livvia will perform Saturday, May 4, as part of the 12th Running of the Chihuahuas at First Tennessee Pavilion. The event is free and features several live music performances, food and drink and the chihuahua races.

"I had finals on Monday, so I could only stay for my performance because I had to fly back home. I was in the middle of finals at UC [California] Berkeley."

She now has her degree in economics, so this year plans to not only perform on Saturday, May 4 at the 12th Running of the Chihuahuas at First Tennessee Pavilion, she plans to hang around to watch the nearly 200 miniature athletes compete for bragging rights and a trophy.

The event is free and the music, which will also include performances by Fletcher, Drax Project, Livvia, MKTO, and NOTD, will start at 3 p.m. with the racing beginning at 6 p.m. Madision Beer was originally scheduled to headline, but has a conflict because she is shooting a video for a new song.

Livvia, born Olivia Somerlyn Christensen, worked professionally as Olivia Somerlyn before shortening it to just Livvia, said she is excited to be able to return for the full experience.

"I can't wait for this weekend," she said.

"I loved being there last year, but I love animals and this sounds like so much fun."

Drax Project, which derived its name combining the DRumming of Matt Beachen and sAXophone playing of Shaan Singh, will give fans going to the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival June 13-16 a sneak peak of their show on Saturday. They were added to the Bonnaroo lineup late and will play on the Who Stage on June 13 at 6 p.m.

More Info

Listen to an interview with Matt Beachen of Drax Project talk about Running of the Chihauhuas and being added to the Bonnaroo lineup at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-who-stage/id1350272565?i=1000434298747

Now a quartet, the band began as a duo busking on the streets of New Zealand where they learned how to hold an audiences attention by playing a wide variety of familiar songs by other people. Sam Thomson and Ben O'Leary were added a couple of years ago and the group continues to attract attention outside of their home country.

Beachen said the busking experience also garnered them the attention of local bar managers who asked them to do a set or two and that led to playing parties and eventually corporate events and their careers have grown from there.

"We've moved over to LA for a few months and getting all these crazy, crazy things," Beachen said.

"It's pretty cool."

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

Upcoming Events