RiversEdge announces summer concerts lineup

RiversEdge will host 19 free shows this summer that will run from May 25 through Sept. 30.

“We will have 19 free admission shows. We still haven’t announced Big River Get Down yet. We are working on that,” said Adam Helms, director of Resident Services for the City of Hamilton and producer of the RiversEdge concerts.

“With Whimmydiddle, Jared’s Jam and Big River Get Down, we are going to have three music festivals in Hamilton this year. That’s new, and two of the three are free.”

The RiversEdge summer concert series will kick off with Eggy headlining the concert and Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country opening. Donato has been gaining momentum, and selling out shows across the country.

“In terms of the line-up overall, we always try to cover as many genres as possible, and different types of music, and eras, especially with the tribute bands, we try to cover all different eras of music. We really try hard to reach everybody, all music lovers,” Helms said.

Scotty Bratcher Band is one of the popular, returning performers on the series.

Credit: Nick Graham

Bratcher will play Aug. 17. There will be three bands that evening. Scotty Bratcher Band will be joined on stage by Duane Betts & Palmetto Hotel and Cordovas. Duane Betts is the son of Dickey Betts, who was a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band.

Other favorites will include 90 Proof Twang, who will return June 1 with Country artist Zach Top.

“As far as the returning bands, you’ll see some familiar faces like 90 Proof Twang, Scotty Bratcher, and Signs of Life is here every year, and That Arena Rock Show is back on July 4,” Helms said.

Tribute bands are also extremely popular on the concert series, including Led Zeppelin 2 with Gyasi on Thurs., June 15 and Taylor Swift Experience with Rachel Holt on July 8 to name a few.

Another highlight in 2023 will be the Harlem Gospel Travelers who will headline RiversEdge on June 29. Buffalo Nichols will open the concert the same night.

Audiences can expect to hear diverse genres of music from rock and blues to country and tribute bands. RiversEdge features a mix of local, regional and national talent.

The majority of RiversEdge concerts will be held on Thursdays. There are a few exceptions. RiversEdge at Marcum Park is located along the Great Miami River in downtown Hamilton.

Whimmydiddle presented by IBEW Local 648 will return to RiversEdge in 2023 as a free, three-night event. John R. Miller will headline the festival on Thurs. evening, Little Texas will be the headliner on Fri. night and 49 Winchester will headline the show on Sat. night.

“The local connection is Little Texas, they are from Hamilton and Fairfield, and they had multiple No. 1 hits in the 1990s, so we’re excited to have them come back home and play a show in Hamilton. They played at RiversEdge once before in 2014, so it’s been a while since they’ve been back,” Helms said.

Whimmydiddle will be June 22-24 at RiversEdge Amphitheater. Gates will open at 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and the music will start at 7 p.m. On Saturday, gates will open at 5 p.m. and the music will start at 6 p.m. For more information and a complete schedule of the lineup, go to whimmydiddle.com.

RiversEdge will also host Jared’s Jam — a concert to honor Hamilton native, Jared Whalen on Sept. 4.

“Jared’s Jam is about Jaret Whalen. It’s a memorial event. This is something the Whalen family wanted to do every year to support RiversEdge and Jared,” Helms said.

Whalen, 44, passed away from heart failure in August of 2018. At the time of his passing, he was an executive chef at Coach House Tavern & Grille. Whalen was a 1993 graduate of Hamilton High School.

Jared’s Jam will be Sept. 4. Historically, there have been two bands on the line-up, but the concert event has been expanded this year to include five acts. The event is free to attend and open to the public.

Jared’s Jam will open with Bedford at 4 p.m. followed by Bee Taylor at 5:15 p.m., J & The Causeways will perform at 6:30 p.m., and Cole Chaney will go on stage at 8 p.m. Red Clay Strays will headline the concert at 9:30 p.m.

How to go

What: RiversEdge 2023 Summer Concert Series

When: 7-10 p.m. Thursdays, 7-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, unless otherwise noted. Schedule varies for Whimmydiddle, Jared’s Jam and David Shaw’s Big River Get Down.

Where: RiversEdge Amphitheater at Marcum Park, 116 Dayton St., downtown Hamilton

Admission: Free general admission, except Big River Get Down, which is paid admission (details to be announced). VIP tickets are available for each show.

More info: riversedgelive.com and facebook.com/HamiltonRiversEdge.