December 16, 2009
When it comes to entertainment, the Clarksville Rivers & Spires Festival doesn’t fiddle around. Jeff Turner, president of Ajax Distributing, major corporate sponsor for the event, is thrilled to announce that The Charlie Daniels Band will be the featured headliner at the 2010 Rivers and Spires Festival. Daniels and his band will take the stage as the main event on Saturday night, April 17. The concert is free and open to the public.
Daniels is known for his eclectic mix of country and southern rock. The singer, guitarist and fiddler was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2008 and was recently inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. The band is well known for their support of American troops and has performed for soldiers at more than 300 shows domestic and abroad.
Singing sensation The Texas Tenors will be performing Friday night at the festival. The Texas trio was among the top 40 acts on Season 4 of “America’s Got Talent.” The a cappella group made it to the quarterfinals of the NBC talent competition series in September. Doug Barber, Rivers & Spires Festival Director, says he saw the group perform on television and knew their mix of country and classical music was a perfect fit for festival.
This year’s festival will have a new look courtesy of local artist Brandt Hardin. Hardin had the winning design in the first ever Rivers and Spires Poster Contest. His work, a unique design which brings together all aspects of the local event, will be seen in festival publications throughout the year and is featured on the website. The poster contest was a huge success and will be held as a regular event in upcoming years.
Some of the returning events include Jazz n’ Wine, International Streetfest, Quilts of the Cumberland, Kidz Zone, Teen Area and Green Zone. More announcements will be made soon as new events and entertainment are finalized. Applications are available online now for bands, artists, businesses, vendors or those who wish to participate in festival events.
In 2009, more than 35,000 people filled the streets of Clarksville for the free 3-day event. At the International Festivals and Events Association annual conference, Rivers and Spires Festival won top awards over 1,500 other organizations from around the world. The festival received top accolades in the “Overall Best Event” category and first place in the “Best New Event Within an Event” category for Quilts of the Cumberland
