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Rockin’ the River kicks off July 3rd with Jonathan Tyler headlining the all-day Music and Tubing Series

May 6,2021


Reposted from Tarrant Regional Water District.

Rockin’ the River is back for an exciting tenth year of popular music and tubing at Panther Island Pavilion. A Texas-sized line up including five bands and a fireworks show each Saturday from July 3 thru August 7 will continue what has become a Fort Worth summer tradition along the Trinity River. 

Each week, the gates will open at 1:00pm with five different bands playing back-to-back sets beginning around 2:15pm on the Coors Light Waterfront Stage. After the headlining band finishes at 8:15pm, the water party moves to the shore with the fifth and final band playing until 9:25pm on the after-party stage before a weekly fireworks display.

Although Jonathan Tyler was born in Birmingham, Alabama, he later relocated to Dallas where he formed his band Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights. They take cues from Southern rock veterans like Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Black Crowes, and Led Zeppelin and have toured extensively with the likes of Heart, Kid Rock, and O.A.R. as well as playing major festivals including Austin City Limits Music Festival, Forecastle Festival, Summerfest, SXSW, and others. Tyler and the Northern Lights will bring their muscled sound to Fort Worth to headline the opening weekend of this year’s Rockin’ the River stage on July 3. Carson Jeffrey will bring his honest, raw, and often emotional country rock sound to the party to round out the first weekend when the show moves back to the land for the after-party.

Stephenville-natives Giovannie and the Hired Guns will deliver their high energy show and unique Texas country sound on July 10. The band continues to make a name for themselves in the Texas music ranks, where they are known for playing thrilling shows that always keep fans on their toes. The fun continues all day with Ross Cooper, Dustin Massey, and local fave Austin English. The Lowdown Drifters will bring their country, folk, and rock-infused sound to the after-party crowd.

Fan favorites The Dirty River Boys return to the Rockin’ the River stage on July 17. Beers and fists are often raised as the Boys’ amped guitars and fiddle-fired energy deliver a dynamic live experience fans will not soon forget. Dallas-based Saints Eleven will also bring their Texas country and rock blend to the stage that day. After four potent albums, 14 charted radio singles, and a slew of virally intensive music videos & regular co-bills with many of the top artists in the scene, lead singer Jeff Grossman and the band say they are just getting started. Hellbound Glory will bring music from their latest release Pure Scum to the after-party stage. The band credits influences from Hank Williams to Nirvana and pumps out a country and roots rock vibe.

Chris Colston has been playing music since his stepfather signed him up from drum lessons at the age of seven. Now he’s headlining the Rockin’ the River stage with his gritty Texas roots, blues and rock n’ roll sound. Colston will headline the waterfront stage on July 24. Another raising star on the Texas/Red Dirt scene, Cody Hibbard, will round out the night on the after-party stage. Hibbard honed his songwriting skills and deep-rooted love of country music riding around on his dad’s tractor as a kid and later at the United States Naval Academy. It’s a show you won’t want to miss.

Cody Canada & The Departed return to the RTR stage on July 31. Canada and his band are a surefire recipe for a good time. This year his son, Dierks Cobain Canada, will also take the stage with his band Waves. The star-studded Saturday will also include Austin Meade as he continues to make waves throughout the state and beyond with his powerful performance style. Jarrod Morris will close out the night with his no fluff, raw and real lyrics and genre-blurring sound.

John Baumann is excited to be back on the stage to support his latest release Country Shade released last year. He will close out the series on August 7 on the main waterfront stage. Jon Stork brings his unique “rockytonk” and soul sound to the after-party stage on the final weekend. Newcomers to the RTR festival – Teague Brothers Band, Taylor Hunnicutt, and Western Youth round up the final weekend’s lineup.

In addition to live music on two stages; food and beverage options will be available for purchase, as well as tube and watersport rentals. Rain or shine, we rock the river. In the event of inclement weather, the party does not stop. We simply move the fun over to The Shack. Nightcap? You bet. Each event ends with a fireworks show right on the banks of the Trinity River.

Thirty bands over the six-week music series will perform at Rockin’ the River. Check out the full band line-up and other details at: rockintheriverfw.com.


Location Mentioned: Panther Island Pavilion