Back in musical throes of summer
BARRY COURTER: Lisa, I know it’s hard to believe, but we have already come full circle on the calendar once again. This is the week when Tennessee becomes the center of the music universe, at least to my way of thinking. Both Bonnaroo in Manchester and the Country Music Association’s CMA Fest start on Thursday and continue through Sunday.
And, of course, our own Riverbend Festival starts on Friday and runs through the following Saturday. That’s a lot of music in our little slice of heaven.
LISA DENTON: Yes, we are back in the musical throes of summer — big talents, hot temperatures.
I always like to look at the Bonnaroo lineup just to see how many acts I’ve never heard of. They do it in one big poster, with the big acts in larger letters, gradually getting smaller as you go down the list. It’s like the eye chart at the ophthalmologist’s office. I do pretty good on those first couple of lines, then I’m lost.
BARRY: Shameless plug — but I actually have a point for mentioning it, besides the obvious self-serving one — I co-hosted a Bonnaroo-based podcast called thewhatpodcast.com this year with Hits 96 personality Brad Steiner with that very idea in mind, and one of our listeners called the acts on the lower lines on the poster the “small-font acts.”
That’s pretty funny.
LISA: Exactly. So Eminem, The Killers and Muse …
BARRY: the “large-font acts …
LISA: … get top billing this year. Still, it’s hard to believe that artists like Old Crow Medicine Show, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Mavis Staples aren’t even in the top 5 lines. There’s a lot of talent there in rows 7-12.
BARRY: When I saw Mavis Staples in the lineup, my eyes did the “Arrruuuuuga” cartoon thing. I can’t wait to see her. St. Paul is another favorite. I will be doing all kinds of reporting on the event in print and on social media. We might even do a podcast or two.
We have lots of coverage plans for Riverbend as well, including some Facebook Live features with performers. Friday night at Riverbend is a great start, and I’m not even talking about Bocephus. Hank Williams Jr. is the headliner, but the side stages are loaded with good acts. Either G Love
Friday night at Riverbend is a great start, and I’m not even talking about Bocephus. Hank Williams Jr. is the headliner, but the side stages are loaded with good acts. Either G Love & Special Sauce or Gangstagrass are worth seeing all by themselves.
& Special Sauce or Gangstagrass are worth seeing all by themselves.
But my super-talented friend Roger Alan Wade is also that night. He just did four days in New York and has a song on the new Johnny Knoxville (his cousin) movie and is doing some voice-over work on “Squidbillies.” One of his co-voice-over artists is Lucinda Williams. WHAT?
The Wallflowers are the Saturday night headliners. So you get the offspring of Hank Williams and Bob Dylan in town the same weekend. That’s some strong family mojo.
LISA: There’s some strong mojo in my family too, but it’s usually summed up by people saying things like “The nut doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
BARRY: Don’t you mean apple?
LISA: Come on, you’ve met my family.
BARRY: Nut it is. And don’t forget that Nightfall takes a break for the two Fridays of Riverbend week.
LISA: And the Chattanooga Lookouts go on the road that week. Even The Signal, which is usually hopping, is dark for much of June.
River City Sessions, though, is planning some counter-programming for Riverbend, and they’re taking the songs-and-storytelling show on the road Friday to Lula Lake Land Trust on Lookout Mountain. The main event is Red Shoes & Rosin from Knoxville, who perform on fiddles, banjo and — wait for it — kazoo! My kind of band.
Get event details every Thursday in Chattanooga-Now or online anytime at www.ChattanoogaNow.com.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.