Justin Moore
Country returns to the Coca-Cola Stage at 9:30 p.m. tonight as the recently crowned ACM Best New Artist winner Justin Moore comes to Chattanooga’s Riverbend. Justin Moore has three albums to his credit, with his debut album coming in at number 3. He stepped it up a bit for his last two albums, both of which hit number one on the Billboard Country charts.
Gurufish, a funky pop music act will kick off the Bud Light Stage at 5:45 p.m., followed by New Orleans Suspects with Fred Tackett and Paul Barrere of Little Feat. The Suspects played a huge crowd at Riverfront Nights last summer and now they are bringing Little Feat members with them to entertain Chattanooga.
The One Night Stand Band opens the VW Stage at 6 p.m., followed by one of my favorites, The Sullivan Band at 7:30. Take a listen to the vocals on the Sullivan Band!
A must see act on Unum, Decibella takes the stage at 6:30 p.m. with a killer band and a great sound. Led by 2012 Entertainer of the Year Bexy Ribeiro, this band has mucho talent. I have seen them twice, but I want to see them again, as their drummer may very well be up for Drummer of the Year honors this year, and Tyler Southern, lead guitar player, has already won previous Best Guitar Player of the Year and Best Keyboard Player of the Year honors.
Love Canon follows Decibella at 8:00 p.m. and brings some super-bluegrass sounds to the Unum Stage. If you want to dance, come here!
Another of my pick of the night winners goes to the headliner on the Unum Stage. If Country music isn’t your thing, then be at the Unum Stage at 9:30 p.m. for an explosion of real talent with the All-Star Band. A ten-piece band of the finest musicians in the area, look for hits from Here Come The Mummies, Adele, Susan Tedeschi, and various oldies. It’s a variety show of the best quality, including the horn section members from the 10,000 Maniacs show of last summer. To make things even better, this band is donating $1,000 to Orange Grove Center, making a total of over $4,000 donated in the past 4 years!
On the TVFCU Stage under the bridge, look for smooth jazz with the Ben Friberg Trio, followed by horn based jazz group Rahsaan Barber and Everyday Magic. Rahsaan is one of Nashville’s most respected sax players, often appearing with the Temptations, Four Tops, the Megaphones and more. For those that say Riverbend doesn’t offer enough good jazz, tonight’s acts on the TVFCU stage should quell that talk.
After the wonderful evening of Jazz, Zach Deputy takes the TVFCU Stage at 9:15 p.m. with his "island-infused drum n' bass gospel ninja soul."
Zach Deputy will be the Artist of the Day at Big River Grille at noon.
Bob’s “must see” shows for Thursday: The Sullivan Band on the VW Stage, Rahsaan Barber & Everyday Magic on the TVFCU Stage, the Chattanooga All-Star Band on the Unum Stage at 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday night, Allen Stone singlehandedly made the $35 Riverbend wristband worth every penny. What a show! I predict now, without much risk in being wrong, that Allen Stone will be on the Coke Stage in a couple of years tops. Add to that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Family Stone Band and you have quite an evening.
Amber Fults & The Ambivalent Lovers rocked the Boston crowd in an excellent set that combined great vocals with experienced, journeyman musicians. Boston came on at 9:30 p.m. and played for almost two hours. They brought 5 tractor-trailers and 4 buses, so the great crew at IATSE Local 140 worked in to the night to get them loaded out.
See you there!
Bob Payne grew up in Chattanooga and graduated from Baylor School. He is the Entertainment Editor for the Chattanoogan.com and assistant talent buyer for Friends Of The Festival.
Email Bob Payne at davrik2000@yahoo.com or www.facebook.com/davrik2000.
Bob Payne