Chattanooga’s Riverfront will come alive with activity and fantastic music for nine nights from June 11-19 for the 2010 Riverbend Festival. A Chattanooga tradition for nearly 30 years, the festival has become synonymous with top-notch entertainment for the entire family.
From well-known singer-songwriters to country and funk legends, Riverbend has every genre covered. Chip Baker, executive director of Riverbend, says: “This will be my 11th year with the Riverbend Festival, and I truly believe this is our best lineup yet. The Riverbend Festival is celebrating 30 years of making music, dating back to its predecessor, Five Nights in Chattanooga.”
The festival will kick off with Sheryl Crow on June 11 at 9:30 p.m. on the Coca-Cola Stage. A nine-time Grammy Award-winning singer who released her first album nearly 15 years ago, Crow’s performance will set an exciting tone for the festival.
Joining Crow is a list of talented performers too long to mention. They include up-and-coming country stars Darius Rucker and Billy Currington, bluegrass sensation Alison Krauss, funk legend George Clinton, and many more.
Closing out Riverbend’s nine musical nights is The Charlie Daniels Band. An American classic and a 52-year veteran of the music industry, Charlie Daniels always puts on a great show. The Charlie Daniels Band will perform on the Coca-Cola Stage at 9:30 p.m. on June 19th – a fitting end to a fantastic nine days.
CityScope went straight to the source to find out about some of this year’s most anticipated performers. Here’s what Darius Rucker, Charlie Daniels and Billy Currington had to say about their careers, their love of music and the 2010 Riverbend Festival.
Darius Rucker
June 16 at 9:30 p.m.
Coca-Cola Stage
CityScope: Congratulations on the overwhelming success of your country album, Learn to Live. Were you at all surprised by the immediate success?
Darius Rucker: I’m still surprised. I knew that it was a good record, but coming from the world of pop music, I am still amazed by the success I’ve had so far in country music.
CS: What do you attribute your success to?
DR: [laughs] Luck. That’s it – just luck. I paid my dues in music. Hootie & the Blowfish was a band for nine years before we got a record deal. We played 300 shows a year doing the club scene – that was my bread and butter.
CS: How have your Hootie & the Blowfish fans responded to your move to country music?
DR: I think a lot of my Hootie fans were already country music fans. Many of them continue to follow me now. They’ve been very supportive.
CS: What keeps you going and motivated in your career and life in general?
DR: I always wanted to sing. I make records so that I can play live. I love playing in front of an audience. I’ve been touring with Rascal Flatts and I can’t wait to get out on stage every night and play to an audience. Playing live is my favorite part about being a musician.
CS: Do you take your family on the road with you?
DR: No, not usually. These country guys have this whole touring thing figured out. We play shows on the weekends only, so I am home three to four days a week. I get to spend a lot of time with my family.
CS: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
DR: I hope I’m sitting in Charleston, S.C., playing a lot of golf. I’ll continue to play country music and keep putting country music out there.
CS: So, is country music where you belong?
DR: Country is my home. I’ve always loved it, but I didn’t know it was where I belonged until I put out my first album. Now I know and I’m here to stay.
CS: Is there anything that you are looking forward to seeing or doing while in Chattanooga for Riverbend this June?
DR: I’ve played Chattanooga a few times. We even played when we were doing the club scene a long time ago. It is always fun to come to Tennessee. I especially love festivals and I can’t wait to get out there and play.
Charlie Daniels
June 19 at 9:30 p.m.
Coca-Cola Stage
CityScope: How did you get started in the music industry?
Charlie Daniels: I decided I wanted to get a job making a living as a musician and took it from there. This is my 52nd year as a professional musician.
CS: What are some of your career highlights?
CD: Walking on stage is an experience to me. That is the high point – walking out there to entertain people with something you’ve created that they enjoy listening to. I’ve had a lot of awards, won a Grammy, won three CMA Awards in one year, platinum albums, and sold out concerts in big arenas. I’ve played some huge crowds. It’s just been a great way for somebody who loves music like I do to spend their life.
CS: What would you attribute the long-standing success of The Charlie Daniels Band to?
CD: The blessings of God that I’ve been able to do something for a living that I enjoy doing for so long. Every night we are on stage, I try to give them everything I’ve got. I just want to make sure people get their money’s worth and that they have a good time. They say you only go around once, but that’s not true. If you play your cards right, you can go around and around at places over and over again, just like I’m doing at Riverbend. If you don’t do right by people and give them your best, then they won’t come see you again.
CS: I know you’ve recently had a stroke, what is it that keeps you going year after year?
CD: I thoroughly enjoy what I do. I can’t imagine spending my life doing anything that I’d enjoy more, and I’m still creating and I can still entertain people and do what I do best. I just can’t imagine my life without music, so I keep doing it.
CS: I take that to mean you probably don’t plan on retiring anytime soon?
CD: I have absolutely no plans toward retirement.
CS: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
CD: I’ll be 83 years old … I just have to see what happens. I don’t do 200 dates a year anymore – I do 100. I probably may not do that many by that time. If I’m healthy, and by God’s will I’m still around, I’ll be playing music.
CS: You’ve performed at Riverbend before. Is there anything specific that you are looking forward to about performing there this year?
CD: Well, it’s in Tennessee, my home state. I love this state – I love it from one end to the other. People always ask me where I like to play the best and I always say, “Somewhere I can get grits for breakfast.” I was born and bred in the South and I like playing to all kinds of people, but there’s something special about Southerners.
(Charlie Daniels, cont.)
CS: Well, you can certainly find grits at many fine establishments in Chattanooga. Is there anything that you would like to add that I have not asked you?
CD: Just let everyone know that we’re looking forward to playing for them and being back in Chattanooga. Come out and see us and we’ll have a great time, and bring the kids, too. We do a family show.
Billy Currington
June 18 at 9:30 p.m.
Coca-Cola Stage
CityScope: How did you get started in the music business?
Billy Currington: Everybody starts with a dream, right? I was a teenager when I decided I wanted to pursue a music career. I was 18 years old when I moved to Nashville. Skipping a lot of long stories, it was about 10 years later when I met someone who worked for Garth Brooks’ management company and he got me into the business with a publishing deal, doing demos, and I met lots of people. Many songwriters and producers were all trying to help me out, so over a period of two to three years, I ended up getting a record deal out of it.
CS: Did growing up in a small town in Georgia impact your songwriting?
BC: Yeah, especially in my early years growing up in South Georgia. I look back on those early songs and there’s a lot about fishing and dirt roads and going to the beach – all the things you do in southeast Georgia. There was a lot of that stuff, but as you get older you write about different things.
CS: Do you have any career highlights to date?
BC: Getting to work with Mutt Lange was the highlight for me. It was cool and I was a big fan for many years.
CS: Have you had any problems adjusting to fame and being recognized?
BC: Well, the question that you are asking me now (has been) kind of hitting me over the past four to five days. It seems that things have definitely changed. More people recognize me. Even though I’ve already adjusted over these last few years, it seems like it has changed since the “People Are Crazy” video. I welcome it and I’m thankful for it and I’m glad people come up, but just like anything in this world, it has its downside. I’m thankful though, and wouldn’t change a thing.
CS: Who are some musicians that have influenced you?
BC: My all-time guy that influenced me is definitely Kenny Rogers. I always say him. His was the first concert I ever went to. Then, of course, there’s Def Leppard. I’m a big fan of theirs – the music and the big production.
CS: If you were not a singer and a songwriter, what would you be?
BC: If I was not making a living doing music, I would for sure, no doubt, be selling coconuts on a beach on some faraway island.
CS: Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?
BC: I still see myself basically doing the same thing, along with a couple of movies by then. I’d definitely like to enter into that side of the world, the L.A. side of world. Other than that, I’m still traveling – the Willie Nelson kind of life, that’s me.
CS: What are you looking forward to most about coming to Chattanooga for Riverbend?
BC: Just to see the folks in the Chattanooga area again. It’s been a while since I’ve been there. We’re bringing a new show. We’ve got a couple new players, playing a lot of different new songs and bringing back some old ones. I’m excited about the whole bit. I can’t wait.
There is no need to travel any distance to listen to some of the world’s best musicians. Riverbend 2010 is bringing those musicians into the heart of Chattanooga. Join your friends and neighbors on the Riverfront, June 11-19, for some exceptional entertainment this summer.
For up-to-date information, visit www.RiverbendFestival.com.