Willie Nelson was on the road again, this time to the Chattanooga Riverbend Music Festival.
Since the announcement that Willie Nelson was coming to Riverbend, I have just not been able to wait. Friday's opening act for the main stage did not disappoint. The crowd was ready and so was Willie.
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Crowd gathers for Willie Nelson and Riverbend 2009 Opening Night. |
Willie Nelson opens with Whiskey River
On the road again and a Hank Williams medley
Willie Nelson Playlist
The Riverbend Music Festival is a 9 day event with a wide variety of music acts. Chattanooga has held the festival since 1981, and it seems to get better each year. A first this year the Riverbend Beach, featuring expert sand sculpturing. The crowds are able to watch the artists and to see the progress each day.
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Willie Nelson Sand Sculpture |
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Tennessee Valley FCU, Riverbend Festival and Riverbend Beach sponsor |
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Sand sculptures by Team Sandtastic of Sarasota, Fl |
Riverbend Festival is 9 days of live music with continuous acts performing on from 5pm on, on 4 stages. These are in addition to the main stage act, on the Coke Stage, from 9:30 to 11. Every night you are treated to some of the best new acts and some more established acts, all in very intimate settings.
Friday my treat was Infinite Orange. This is a local phenomenon with 3 young men from Soddy Daisy, a neighboring community to Chattanooga. Folks, I had not heard of them before. But I was by myself in not knowing this group.
It is special to see talent at the beginning. Infinite Orange is that.They have a huge following, and they added one old man Friday night.
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Infinite Orange has a new CD coming out this fall, titled Dig it. Their next performance is Nightfall on June 26. I will be there. Here is a link to a playlist. Take time to visit. |
This is a fabulous post Richard. With all the YouTube and the links, I spent almost 20 minutes here. This was great!!
William,
Thanks for commenting. I love Willie Nelson. Could not believe that the festival got him. This year Riverbend has already had Train, and Three Dog Night with the Symphony Orchestra. I have started posts for them. Alice and I cannot keep up the pace and always plan nights off the Riverbend calendar. So we stayed home last night, and tonight.
Still more great acts coming. Not sure what to select for the 3 Dog post. They played most of their hits.
Did you listen to the Infinite Orange music? Those boys are really good, especially in front of a crowd. Amazing that they have written so much. They play off each other so well. I will video some from the Nightfall concert in a couple weeks.
Richard
Love this post! I am a Willie Nelson fan from way, way back. I worked at Harrah's Reno in the late 70s as a bartender - I always volunteered to stay late and work the Willie Nelson shows - I met him several times, as he would go onstage, I made sure that I was in the way. :) I told him that my favorite song was 'Me and Paul' - he said he didn't play that much, but would for me - and he did and dedicated it to me. That man has the most mesmerizing blue eyes! I nearly got fired the time he was there for 10 days - they had to come drag me away from watching the show and force me to do some work.