Chattanooga welcomes Willie Nelson to the Tennessee River - Riverbend 2009

Willie Nelson was on the road again, this time to the Chattanooga Riverbend Music Festival.

 Since the announcement that Willie Nelson was coming to Riverbend, I have just not been able to wait. Friday's opening act for the main stage did not disappoint. The crowd was ready and so was Willie.

Willie Nelson opens with Whiskey River

On the road again and a Hank Williams medley

Willie Nelson Playlist

The Riverbend Music Festival is a 9 day event with a wide variety of music acts.  Chattanooga has held the festival since 1981, and it seems to get better each year. A first this year the Riverbend Beach, featuring expert sand sculpturing. The crowds are able to watch the artists and to see the progress each day.

 Riverbend Festival is 9 days of live music with continuous acts performing on from 5pm on, on 4 stages. These are in addition to the main stage act, on the Coke Stage, from 9:30 to 11. Every night you are treated to some of the best new acts and some more established acts, all in very intimate settings.

Friday my treat was Infinite Orange. This is a local phenomenon with 3 young men from Soddy Daisy, a neighboring community to Chattanooga. Folks, I had not heard of them before. But I was by myself in not knowing this group.

It is special to see talent at the beginning. Infinite Orange is that.They have a huge following, and they added one old man Friday night.