Rock the Boat

Written By Game Day

The inaugural America’s River Roots Festival is shaping up to be one of the most significant cultural celebrations of the year, combining music, heritage, and community for a five-day experience along the historic Ohio River from October 8–12, 2025. Timed to kick off America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, the festival will bring together more than one million attendees from across the country to celebrate the music, food, and stories of river cities across the U.S., with Cincinnati, Covington, and Newport serving as the epicenter.

Major Musical Acts Announced

Today, organizers unveiled the first wave of artists set to take the main stage at Smale Riverfront Park, and the initial lineup is a crowd-pleaser:

  • Mt. Joy (Friday): The indie-rock sensation known for soulful, folk-inspired anthems and festival-favorite performances.

  • Weezer (Saturday): GRAMMY®-winning alt-rock icons with hits spanning decades, from Buddy Holly to Island in the Sun.

  • Maren Morris (Sunday): GRAMMY®-winning country-pop crossover artist whose powerhouse vocals and genre-blending hits make her one of today’s most influential stars.

An additional Thursday headliner will be announced later this summer, completing a lineup that aims to cross musical genres and generations.

Tickets for main stage performances go on sale Friday, July 11 at 10 a.m. EST at: americasriverroots.frontgatetickets.com

Seven Free Stages Across the Riverfront

While the headliners will draw the biggest crowds, the festival’s heartbeat lies in its seven themed free stages, where more than 100 live performances will span every corner of American music, including:

  • Sawyer Point Stage – Gospel & Cultural Rhythms

  • Schmidlapp Stage – Jazz & Gospel

  • Freedom Center Stage – R&B & Blues

  • Covington Stage – Bluegrass, Country, Americana

  • Newport Stage – Southern Rock & Blues

  • Yeatman’s Cove Stage – Cross-Genre

  • Public Landing Stage – Regional Acts

Confirmed artists include:

  • Over the Rhine, Cincinnati’s cherished folk-rock duo

  • Chapel Hart, the country trio that rose to fame on America’s Got Talent

  • Harvey Mason, iconic jazz drummer and founding member of Fourplay

Experiential Programming

The musical experience goes beyond traditional performances with unique, educational, and immersive offerings:

  • Sounds From the River, led by Cincinnati jazz icon Kathy Wade, will trace the migration of American music along the Ohio River and include in-school performances for sixth-graders at the Aronoff Center.

  • The Spirit of America Gala on October 7 at Music Hall will celebrate artistic achievement with the Cincinnati Pops, Opera, and Ballet sharing the stage in a ticketed, black-tie evening of cultural storytelling.

  • King of Them All: River Roots Edition, a partnership with afrochine, will pay tribute to King Records, the Cincinnati-based label that launched artists like James Brown and Bootsy Collins. The showcase will feature archival footage, storytelling, and pop-up exhibitions.

  • Heritage Riverboat Cruises, departing daily, will showcase music from seven historic river cities including Memphis and New Orleans, transporting guests through sound and history.

Community, Culture & Collaboration

The festival isn’t just about music. It’s a five-day, multisensory immersion that also includes:

  • Local culinary offerings featuring tastes from regional chefs and river city favorites

  • Interactive art installations

  • Family zones with youth music and culture programming

  • Cultural booths highlighting the legacy of Black music, Appalachian folkways, immigrant traditions, and more

Festival Executive Music Director Tena Clark, GRAMMY-nominated producer and music entrepreneur, emphasized the role of the river in shaping our national musical identity:

“The river didn’t just move goods. It moved stories, cultures, rhythms. America’s music was born and blended along these banks.”

This massive, multi-day event is made possible through public-private collaboration, including support from:

  • Title Sponsor: First Financial Bank

  • Event Presenters: OneNKY Alliance, AltaFiber, Cintas, Kroger, P&G, TQL, Western & Southern

  • Official Partners:

    • Travel: AAA & Provident Travel

    • Bourbon: New Riff Distilling

    • Automotive: Toyota

  • Institutional Collaborators: City of Cincinnati, Covington, Newport, Hamilton County, Cincinnati Parks, the Cincinnati Museum Center, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

More artists and activations will be announced throughout the summer, with organizers promising surprises and one-of-a-kind moments as the festival approaches. In the words of Festival Executive Director Susan Fisher:

“Whether you're coming to see Maren Morris or explore the roots of gospel, this festival is your invitation to celebrate who we are as a country — and where we’re going.”

For tickets, updates, and full lineup announcements, visit: americasriverroots.com

Game Day
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