RISE event at Miller Park lets fans pick the featured opening act for Levitt AMP Chattanooga series

Zowie Boyd is one of nine local performers who will be trying to earn the chance to be a featured opening act for one of the Levitt AMP Series concerts at The Bessie. The musicians will be performing Saturday and Sunday at Miller Park. The audience will choose the winner. Ms Tennessee 2019 Briana Mason will be there on Saturday as a featured guest judge. / Contributed photo from Zowie Boyd
Zowie Boyd is one of nine local performers who will be trying to earn the chance to be a featured opening act for one of the Levitt AMP Series concerts at The Bessie. The musicians will be performing Saturday and Sunday at Miller Park. The audience will choose the winner. Ms Tennessee 2019 Briana Mason will be there on Saturday as a featured guest judge. / Contributed photo from Zowie Boyd

Nine local musicians will perform this weekend at Miller Park for the chance to be a featured opening act for the Levitt AMP Chattanooga series at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center.

The audience will pick the act to be featured.

RISE (Responsive Initiatives for Social Empowerment) Chattanooga has partnered with The City of Chattanooga's Open Spaces Division to host the RISE to Levitt event in Miller Park from 7-10 p.m. Saturday and from 5-8 p.m. Sunday.

Formerly known as Jazzanooga, RISE is a minority-led nonprofit that offers an array of cultural arts programming to encourage creative experimentation and community empowerment.

"We wanted to be able to provide a spotlight on one of Chattanooga's greatest assets which is the local pool of creative artists and performers," says Shane Morrow, RISE Chattanooga Director.

"We are excited to have a great eclectic mix of artistic performances that reflects our city's cultural landscape."

Jonathan Susman, an open spaces activation and engagement specialist, says the shows this weekend are both a chance to promote the Levitt AMP series and the newly renovated Miller Park.

"The City of Chattanooga is thrilled to partner with RISE Chattanooga on this exciting showcase that highlights some of the amazing musical talent found right here in Chattanooga," Susman said.

"In addition, the new Miller Park space is a fantastic location in the center of the city to serve as the backdrop for this unique opportunity to invite all Chattanoogans to get together and enjoy a great night of music," he added.

The community is encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to the park and help decide who will be one of the featured acts. Artists selected to audition were chosen based on quality, originality, diversity, personality, professionalism and desire to perform.

The selected local artists performing this weekend are Amber Fults, Zowie Boyd, TJ Smith, Tim Hughes Quartet, Qualls, Courtney Reid, Ryan Oyer, Jayden and FBI Unloaded.

The featured artists in the 2019 series, which takes place each Thursday at 6 p.m. at The Bessie from Aug. 22-Oct. 24, are: The Hamiltones (Aug. 22); Valerie June (Aug. 29); Jose Valentino (Sept. 5); Rev. Sekou & The Freedom Fighters (Sept. 12); Stout (Sept. 19); Jyemo Club (Sept. 26); B-Slade (Oct. 3); Louis York & The Shindellas (Oct. 10); Frank Bumpass (Oct. 17); and Eric Roberson (Oct. 24).

The Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation is a national funder that uses live music as a way to enrich communities by bringing various community members together in underused public spaces.

In 2019, more than 550 free Levitt concerts will take place in 26 towns and cities, all featuring a rich array of music genres and high-caliber talent. This is the third year that Chattanooga has been selected to host one the 15 Levitt AMP Music Series. It comes with a $25,000 matching grant to present the free series. Learn more at levitt.org. or go to risecha.org.

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

Upcoming Events