Scott Chase

After years of trying, Riverbend organizers have landed the Texas blues/rock trio ZZ Top, according to Chip Baker, festival executive director.

“Our community has waited a long time for ZZ Top to come to Chattanooga, and after five years of hard work, we’re thrilled to announce they’ll perform at Riverbend on June 12,” Mr. Baker said.

The Ohio Players and David Bromberg also have been booked for the festival scheduled for June 6-14, according to Mr. Baker.

Five years ago, Riverbend officials announced that ZZ Top would play, but scheduling conflicts caused the band to pull out. Since then, the two groups have tried to find a date that would work, according to Joe “Dixie” Fuller, the festival’s talent and production coordinator.

“It finally worked out,” he said.

ZZ Top, featuring Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard, has been performing for 34 years. The group is as instantly recognizable for the distinctive beards worn by Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Hill as it is for its guitar-driven blues/rock sound.

Among their hits are “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Cheap Sunglasses,” “Sharp-Dressed Man,” “Tush,” “Legs,” “LaGrange” and “Rough Boy.”

In 2004, ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The band has been a fixture on WSKZ-FM 106.5’s playlist for 30 years, said program director Scott Chase. The trio’s live show is also one of the most entertaining out there, he said.

“I think they will be one of the focal points of Riverbend this year, if not the focal point,” he said.

Seventies funk icons The Ohio Players will appear on the Covista Stage June 8. Their hits include “Skin Tight,” “Love Rollercoaster,” “Fire,” “O-H-I-O” and “Who’d She Coo.”

David Bromberg will perform on the Unum Stage June 11. Bromberg gained fame as a session guitarist in the ’60s for folk and country legends Bob Dylan and Jerry Jeff Walker. He later established himself as a talented songwriter and instrumentalist on his own solo works that featured guests such as George Harrison and Jerry Garcia.

Previously announced acts for Riverbend 2008 are Josh Turner on June 11 and Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad on June 7.