Riverbend Battles Weather And Changing Tastes
The goal for Riverbend organizers is simple, have a little something for everyone.
"The folks who are coming here, the majority of them are between 35 and 55, with middle to upper income and those are the folks that are coming here and spending money here. They have children and they have kids and we want them to come here and we want to attract all of that. Any festival wants to serve as many demographics and as many genres as they can, and I think we do that not only with silent disco, but more EDM music, more of the up and comers," said Amy Morrow with Friends of the Festival.
But the quickly shifting musical landscape can make it difficult to stay on top of what’s hot.
"Local acts are more on the cutting edge, but I feel like the main acts, that it’s just been more old school," said festival goer Idi Melendez.
"I think they have a mixture of everything but I mean, I just personally, I don’t think it fits me," added Cody Morse.
What fits, of course is often in the ear of the beholder. While the main stage grabs all the attention, local acts trying to expand their fan base say it only takes one song to get one new fan.
"I know plenty of people that come just for the smaller acts, the local acts, and they avoid the big crowds. And I know some people that come just for the headliners, that are like, oh wow, we do have a good local music scene. It’s a melting pot for sure," said Decibella lead singer Becky Ribiero.
"If people are walking to the main stage, and happen to stop for a second, and catch our name, and dig what we are doing, I think that’s a win," added Decibella guitarist Tyler Reddick.
But the festival is only a win, if the weather cooperates.
"The crowd of course reacts differently depending on where they are at home on their couch wondering about Riverbend," said Morrow.
"I’m not going to mess up my hair for rain. There’s nobody good enough to stand in the rain for," said Kari Dedmon.
Riverbend wraps up this weekend with Joan Jett headlining Friday night and Young the Giant on Saturday night
"The folks who are coming here, the majority of them are between 35 and 55, with middle to upper income and those are the folks that are coming here and spending money here. They have children and they have kids and we want them to come here and we want to attract all of that. Any festival wants to serve as many demographics and as many genres as they can, and I think we do that not only with silent disco, but more EDM music, more of the up and comers," said Amy Morrow with Friends of the Festival.
But the quickly shifting musical landscape can make it difficult to stay on top of what’s hot.
"Local acts are more on the cutting edge, but I feel like the main acts, that it’s just been more old school," said festival goer Idi Melendez.
"I think they have a mixture of everything but I mean, I just personally, I don’t think it fits me," added Cody Morse.
What fits, of course is often in the ear of the beholder. While the main stage grabs all the attention, local acts trying to expand their fan base say it only takes one song to get one new fan.
"I know plenty of people that come just for the smaller acts, the local acts, and they avoid the big crowds. And I know some people that come just for the headliners, that are like, oh wow, we do have a good local music scene. It’s a melting pot for sure," said Decibella lead singer Becky Ribiero.
"If people are walking to the main stage, and happen to stop for a second, and catch our name, and dig what we are doing, I think that’s a win," added Decibella guitarist Tyler Reddick.
But the festival is only a win, if the weather cooperates.
"The crowd of course reacts differently depending on where they are at home on their couch wondering about Riverbend," said Morrow.
"I’m not going to mess up my hair for rain. There’s nobody good enough to stand in the rain for," said Kari Dedmon.
Riverbend wraps up this weekend with Joan Jett headlining Friday night and Young the Giant on Saturday night
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