Riverbend lineup includes Grammy winners, nominees

photo The Carolina Chocolate Drops will play Riverbend on June 18 on the Bud Light Stage. The group took home the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album. Contributed Photo by Julie Roberts

Miranda Lambert is the biggest and most recent Grammy winner on this year's Riverbend lineup, but she is not the only winner. The schedule also features several acts who have earned nominations this year or in the past, according to Joe "Dixie" Fuller, talent and production coordinator.

Lambert, who will headline the festival on June 15 on the main Coca-Cola Stage, won for Best Female Country Vocal Performance during the 2010 Grammy Awards ceremony. She was a multiple nominee as well.

Also honored that night were the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Grupo Fantasma, both of whom will play on the Bud Light Stage on June 18.

Fuller said having "Grammy winner" or "nominee" on your resume always adds interest.

"It certainly creates some excitement, and we are tickled to death to have them," he said.

The Chocolate Drops took home the Best Traditional Folk Album for "Genuine Negro Jig." They beat out Luther Dickinson's first solo album, "Onward and Upward." Dickinson will be playing Riverbend with his brother Cody as part of the North Mississippi All Stars Duo on June 12 and will join The Machine, a Pink Floyd tribute band, who will perform with the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera on the Coke Stage the same night.

Grupo Fantasma won its Grammy for Best Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album. The 10-piece orchestra has been described as "Latin-funk masters" by USA Today.

"We looked at Grupo Fantasma and the Carolina Chocolate Drops, after the great night they had at Nightfall last year, and we just thought they would be great acts for the closing night," Fuller said.

Steel Drivers, a Nashville-based group, was nominated for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group for its song "Where Rainbows Never Die" and for Best Bluegrass Album for "Reckless" this year. They play June 16 on the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union Stage.

Previously announced Riverbend acts with Grammy awards or nominations include Huey Lewis & the News, The Beach Boys, Casting Crowns, Jeff Coffin and Brian McKnight, who has 16 nominations of his own but has never won.

Riverbend will take place June 10-18.

Upcoming Events