Brandy added to Riverbend 2013 lineup

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Pop and R&B artist Brandy will perform at this year's Riverbend Festival on June 9.

Pop star/actress Brandy will headline on the main Coca-Cola Stage on Sunday, June 9, during the Riverbend Festival, according to Joe "Dixie" Fuller, talent and production coordinator.

Also announced are two acts that will perform on the Bud Light Stage. Florida Georgia Line will play there Friday, June 7, and Ed Roland's Sweet Tea Project will perform on June 13.

Born Brandy Norwood, the 33-year-old singer now goes by just her first name. Her initial claim to fame was on TV on "Thea" in 1993. But that same year, she released her self-titled debut album, which contained two No. 1 hit singles -- "I Wanna Be Down" and "Baby."

In 1996, she began a six-year run starring in the TV show "Moesha" and, in 1998, earned a role in "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" on the big screen.

Brandy has recorded six albums, including her latest, "Two Eleven," which was released in October.

"When I heard she had a new album coming out and saw a big spread in Billboard, I put the offer in and she accepted almost immediately," Fuller says.

Billboard ranked her as one the Top 20 Top Pop Artists of the 1990s and ranked her among the Top 50 R&B and Hip Hop Artists of the past 25 years.

Florida Georgia Line is a new country music duo featuring Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley. Their first hit was "Cruise."

Ed Roland's Sweet Tea Project is a side effort for the Collective Soul leader. The band's version of Bob Dylan's "Shelter From the Storm" was included on the tribute CD "Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan."

Riverbend is scheduled to take place June 7-15 along the 21st Century Waterfront.

Previously announced acts are Dierks Bentley, who's set for the Coca-Cola Stage on Wednesday, June 12; jazz guitarist Larry Carlton performs on the Unum Stage on Thursday, June 13; and Moon Taxi is on the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union Stage on Friday, June 14.

Friends of the Festival Executive Director Chip Baker says Riverbend is coming off a good year thanks to agreeable weather in 2011. Music scheduling for this year's festival is about 40 percent complete, he says.

"Anytime the weather cooperates, it's a good thing," he says. "We had a good sponsorship campaign, which we do in the summer and these announcements get off to a good start with the music. We should have that wrapped up in February."