Riverbend?

[jackfrost]

I was thinking about attending the riverbend festival in TN and was curious if anyone knew anything about it. If you any kind of information please let me know. Thanks.

[coffmanmolly]

I haven't been before, but I was also thinking about going. The website for the festival is http://www.riverbendfestival.com

[littlevenice143]

the page will not come up for me, but i was wondering (i asked in an eralier post) if anyone knew if you could just buy tickets at the gate or if you had to buy them sooner...thanks :)

[Bubbles]

Hi! Um, well, I've been to Riverbend many times. You can buy pins that will get you in for the entire festival for around $25 at gas stations and other places in the Chattanooga area, maybe even online. You may buy pins at the gate, and you may also buy bracelets at the gate that let you in for the night. Last year I think they were around $13.

I advise that you get there early if you want a good seat. Basically, they set up stages along the TN River and the seating is first come, first served. Take lawn chairs unless you want to sit in the grass or on the pavement ( I don't know what stage Nickel Creek is on).

I wish I was going to be able to go this year, but I'll be in Nicaragua on a mission trip. *sniffles* Oh well, such is life.

[mandoBob]

Riverbend is pretty cool, but if you come for one night, it aint cheap...$19 for a one day pass! A 9-day pin is $30 at the gate...$23 in advance (can be bought at local Golden Gallon gas stations). So if you were going to stick around it's not too bad of a deal.

This year's hilights (and one lowlight) in my opinion are pierce pettis, todd snider, lynrd skynrd (oh geez!), the gap band, art garfunkel, blues traveler, vassar clements, norman blake, jeff coffin (of the flecktones), victor wooten (ditto), and of course NC., who will be on the Conoco stage...not a very intimate venue, but it sure beats the pass me the binoculars coca-cola stage.

I live here in Chattanooga, and I know the festival is good for our great city, but I'm not a big fan of the whole thing. But bear in mind that I don't like festivals in general...massive crowds, short sets, expensive food...but I digress. I usually try to bum a pin off someone for the one night I want to go :-)

Honestly, this year's lineup is pretty dern good, so I hope you come and enjoy the fesitival and our lovely town. I hope even more that you come back when it's NOT riverbend, so you can enjoy the city like it really is...if you're into bluegrass, you've GOT to check out the Mountain Opry...it's the real thing...unfortunately the NC show is on the same time as the opry (friday nights).

[NCFan4Ever]

Does anybody know about how far Riverbend is from Charleston, West Virginia?

[mandoBob]

about 7 hours. pretty straitforward drive. check out www.mapblast.com or some such site.

[NCFan4Ever]

Thanks...now all I have to do is convince my mom to let her 17 year old daughter drive to TN....

[creekster_anna]

I was planning to go to Riverbend but it turns out that the people I was going to go with can't get off work that day. So now unless I can find someone else to take me I won't be able to because my parents are not going to be able to get away and I am sure not going alone since I am only 18. [bang]

Anyway, I live in Alabama so Chattanooga is pretty close. Our family goes there a lot to shop and eat out. However, I have never gone to Riverbend.

Also, could anyone tell me more about the Mountain Opry (like where exactly it is or if they have a website)?
:confused:

Finally, mandoBob mentioned Pierce Pettis. I see him every once in a while when he comes to the store where I work. He is a nice guy but I am not really familiar with his music. If anyone could tell me anything about what his music and lyrics are like I would really appreciate it. I feel bad that I am more familiar with him (which is not very much) than I am with his music.

[mandoBob]

The mountain opry is up on signal mountain. they dont have a site, but I found some info. Go up the mountain (hiway 127) and thru town...
The Mountain Opry on Signal Mtn. Old-timey, Bluegrass, Gospel and Country music. It's been going on for years. Starts at 8:00 p.m. and goes till they run out of bands. Just past the Chinese restaurant bear right on Fairmont Pike.
2501 Fairmount Pk.
423-886-3252, 423-886-5897
anyway, the opry is great...lots of oldtimers in there, and more and more young folks too.

pierce pettis is a great singer-songwriter. dont hold it against him, but he wrote some pretty famous songs that certain famous country singers have recorded (and made him lots of money I bet!...hopefully at least). he's from mentone, by the way. www.pastemusic.com has a few of his mp3s, and you can read about him here http://www.compassrecords.com/pettis.htm I like how he infuses spirituality and thoughtfulness in his music. if you like david wilcox, you'll probably like pierce.

[creekster_anna]

Thanks for the info mandoBob! Sounds like a good deal. Could you tell me if you have to order tickets ahead of time? I'm guessing that is what the phone numbers are for but I am not sure. (I didn't want to call before knowing if they were for more info or ticket ordering.)

Thanks for the info on Pierce too! The website really seemed to praise his newest one. Do you think I should buy that one or is there another one that you would recommend checking out first?

Sorry for asking so many questions.

[mandoBob]

if you mean tickets for the mountain opry, it's free! they pass the hat, so leave a couple bucks to help keep the lights on.
if you mean tickets for riverbend, I think the only way to get a pin is at golden gallon or at the gate.
I havent heard Pierce's new album, but I'm sure it's good...I'm not surprised they gave a glowing review, since that's his label's website, and they're a bit biased :-) But we really like his Making Light of It album, and I recommend it to you.
dont apologize for asking questions!

[mandoBob]

if anyone is interested in a workshop with pierce pettis before riverbend, check it out:
http://chattanoogan.com/articles/article_22460.asp

[creekster_anna]

Thanks again mandoBob. Sorry I wasn't more specific; I meant the Mountain Opry. However, for now I am focusing on Riverbend again because it seems that I will get to go after all.:D (I would explain why but it is a pretty long and boring explanation.)

I looked for a Pierce Pettis CD this weedend but had no luck finding one. I get so frustrated that our town has basically little to no variety in music. I can't believe that I looked in a store that has a whole section exclusively for local artists both popular and unknown and they still didn't have his even though he went to school here and still lives in the area now![bang]

[mandoBob]

Cool. Maybe I'll see you there! I'm not sure if I'm going or not...gotta check if there's anything in the concert budget this month.
I know you can buy Pierce's CD off of www.compassrecords.com but once you pay shipping, it's not cheap. Of course there's amazon (or half.com ... tho he wont get any $$ from half, b/c it's used). I'm sure the big record stores have it too...like media play out by the mall here.
Anyway, if you come to Pierce's workshop you may see me there b/c I happen to work in the coffee shop that's hosting it! We'll see. Anyway, if we're not careful they'll move this thread to off topic...so, like I said, CANT WAIT til the NC show at riverbend...anyone within a days drive should come, camp out at racoon mountain or cloudland canyon or something, take in the good shows, revel in the beauty of music, wade through the crowds and live it up. hopefully it wont be so stinkin hot...

[oogabooga]

Mandobob-
You said that you can buy advance ticket's for cheaper at the gas stations around town. Is a one day ticket the same regardless of where you buy it or does it have to be bought at the festival??
Maggie and I are only going to be in town until that next morning then we are heading up to the Blue Plum festival and spending the day there.

Thanks :)

Katy

[mandoBob]

one-day passes are $19....clearly priced to sell the $30 full-festival passes. advance sales are over. you can buy the one-day passes at the gate. The stage they'll be playing (conoco) is right off the main gate (to your left). I recommend getting there early (I dunno if the band before them is any good or not).

You have a tough choice after NC is done with their set. Norman Blake is playing at 9.15 under the bridge, but Jeff Coffin is playing at 9.30 up by the museum. If you're into more traditional folk/bluegrass, go see Norman. He's a living legend (and from right down the road!)...played a bit on the O Brother soundtrack. If you're into jazz/funk kinda stuff, go see Jeff. He's the sax player for Bela Fleck...great performer. Of course if you're into country, Lonestar is playing, but I don't know a bit about them.

See you at the NC show at least! I'll be the one sitting next to the amazingly beautiful woman.

[oogabooga]

I'll be the one sitting next to the amazingly beautiful woman.

I saw your website from one of the other posts (one on pictures I think) and you and your wife are too cute :) and I love the puppy. She looks like a mini version of barkley from Sesame Street.


Thanks for the info. I am not sure who we will end up seeing(besides NC of course). Maggie and I are going with her mother (isn't that sweet?! she wanted to road trip too :) ) and I don't know about Deb (mag's mom) but we like all types of music....I guess we will see. Honestly we are so excited to see nickel creek again it is hard to think of other musicians. we drove to see them in April (only a 6 hour drive though) and they were phenomenal and the venue itself was perfect and...*sigh*....anyway...I am absolutely giddy that I get to see them again. Plus I LOVE road trips :)

have a great time :)
Katy

[AshleyLuvsChris]

I'm awfully sad guys..... Nickel Creek has never came to the St. Louis area where I live..... I'll probably never get to see how cute Chris Thile is in person.....[sob]

[mandoBob]

go check out their show here!
June 28 Columbia, MO: The Blue Note

[AshleyLuvsChris]

I wish I could.... but thats about 6 hours away from where i live.... I'd have to ask my parents..... for the 15th time this week.....:(

[creekster_anna]

:cool: It's cool to see that some people from this club besides me are going to Riverbend to see Nickel Creek! I am sooo excited! It's becoming harder every day to focus on school because I have been so preoccupied with thoughts of seeing NC live again.

I was wondering if anybody here is going to wear a NC T-shirt. I will be wearing the new gray one that says Always Listen.

Also, does anyone know if there will be any chance of meeting them? I have only seen them in concert once before and did not get the opportunity to meet them then. It would be awesome if I could get to this time.

[AshleyLuvsChris]

Shoot, Anna. At least you get ot go... I've never been to a NC concert. The main problem is that they will never tour where I live.
Oh well.... maybe someday, I suppose.....MandoBob said they were touring in Columbia Missouri on 6/28/02, but that's about 6 hours away from where I live.:( Hmm....[think har I wonder if they will tour for the Christmas season?



-------------------------------------------------
Maybe you should get Sean a bottle of hair gel because his hair looks better when it's slightly spiked in the front, like it is on the Nickel Creek CD.....haha...:D

[creekster_anna]

Yeah, Ashley. I'm not complaining or anything at all. I am just glad to get to see them live because for a while it just seemed like I couldn't work out a way to go.

Don't give up and maybe they will eventually come somewhere fairly close. Remember to keep an eye out for tour dates in nearby states b/c they could actually be a lot closer than ones in your state. I am going from Alabama to Tennessee which will take about an hour. However, everytime I know of when they have been in my state it would have been much farther away.

Sorry if this all seems way to obvious to even mention; just trying to help.:)

[AshleyLuvsChris]

Oh, no, Anna, I didn't think that you were complaining at all! I just kinda worded my post wrong.:) (I'm not in the buisness of making people mad or jumping all over them, either. And I will check Nickel Creek's tour list on their other web site; it's updated almost every week.:D