The Rad Trads
The Nightfall Concert Series, produced by Chattanooga Presents, continues its 30th season Friday at Miller Plaza with a headline performance by New York City band, the Rad Trads, with Jonny Monster Band to open.
Review for the Rad Trads:
Heavy on horns, the Rad Trads are a fun-loving band influenced by everything from early jazz, New Orleans blues, R&B and Chicago blues to rock n’ roll. Transplants from Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland, and Washington D.C. looking to play with the best musicians they could find. Their horns, guitars, drums and love for the classics like The Band, Allen Toussaint and Dr. John brought them together.
Now, almost five years after they started playing together, their showmanship and musicianship has taken them to four continents, 14 countries and 32 U.S. states, headlining tours and opening for acts such as Tom Jones, Charles Bradley, Buddy Guy and Taj Mahal. Following the release of their first full length album Must We Call Them Rad in May 2016, the band is slated to release their second LP of original music in summer 2017. The record is highly anticipated in its creative direction and sound.
Review for Jonny Monster Band:
Opening for the Rad Trads will be the Chattanooga-based Jonny Monster Band. Originally from the Hudson Valley in New York, Jonny Monster’s original mix of acoustic blues and hard dynamic electric guitar are not to be missed. Having opened for greats like Johnny Winter, Lucky Peterson and Booker T. Scruggs, Jonny Monster has also headlined his own shows down the Eastern Coast from Burlington, VT to Naples, Fla. He released a self-titled record and then an exciting follow up album “Bad Times Before.”
Held each Friday at Miller Plaza through Aug. 25 (with the exception of June 9 and 16 during Riverbend), Nightfall showcases a broad spectrum of musical genres featuring a local band at 7 p.m., followed by a headline show by a national artist at 8 p.m., many of whom are performing for the first time in our city. These shows are free to the public and appropriate for a family audience.
Also at Nightfall this Friday, a small Young Entrepreneurs Expo will be featured inside the Miller Plaza Pavilion, as well as on the last Friday of each month. Space is still available for those who would like to apply to have their budding business featured (contact Carla Pritchard at Carla@chattanoogapresents.com).
Nightfall bulk discount beer and wine tickets are again be available this year at each show, offering a 20 percent savings on a packet of 20 beer and wine tickets. Food trucks and non-alcoholic drink concessions are also available on site. No outside food or beverages are allowed to be brought in to Nightfall, therefore coolers are not allowed.
Since 1988 Nightfall has grown into Chattanooga’s signature summertime program for Chattanooga and the surrounding region. Known for its family-friendly environment as well as being recognized nationally for the quality of its musical programming and locally as “Best of the Best” for Chattanooga Events, Nightfall is a family-friendly concert series with an average attendance of between 2,500-3,000 each night.
For more information on this free community concert series, call 265-0771 or visit NightfallChattanooga.com for a complete, interactive website that includes music samples by each headliner, as well as other important information for first-time attendees.