Rockin’ the River returns this summer!

Popular Fort Worth tradition returns Saturdays at Panther Island Pavilion.

FORT WORTH, TX – Rockin’ the River is back for an exciting eighth 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 7 thru August 11 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, we will clear the water and bring the party to the shore with the fifth and final band playing until 9:25pm on the after party stage before a weekly fireworks display.

Micky & the Motorcars bring their straight-ahead style of alternative country-rock to the stage to kick off the series on July 7. Also playing that day is 20-year-old Mason Lively supporting his first full length album “Stronger Ties,” which is gaining both critical and fan acclaim.  Jackie Venson will bring some blues, soul and funk to the party with her undeniable talent when the show moves back to the land.

The fun continues on Saturday, July 14 with Kody West headlining the main stage with his blend of Texas Country and Bluegrass that creates good for the soul music. Jeff Plankenhorn, or “Plank” as he is known, is sure to be another highlight of the day creating an intoxicating sound that uncovers his deep love of all types of music – including the soulful vocals he developed in his hometown church choir, Motown-influence, funk and bluegrass. The Peterson Brothers are back with their youthful energy and jam-band style improvisation to cap the night off on the after party stage.

One-time lead vocalist and guitarist for Cross Canadian Ragweed, Cody Canada and his alt-country band The Departed top the schedule for July 21. Red Dirt will run deep that day with another Oklahoma-based rock group, the Read Southall Band, which has been making waves on the Texas music charts.  The Bottle Rockets wrap the evening up with their brand of populist, Midwestern, brawny rock n’ roll.

The Dirty River Boys bring a hard-driving-roots sound in their heartfelt and unrestrained performance style to the main stage on Saturday, July 28. Look out for Eve & The Exiles to provide a mixture of down and dirty Blues grooves and gritty rock n’ roll. The Buffalo Ruckus bring boot-stomping rhythms, howling vocals and spear-in-the-back guitar leads to create a psychedelic postmodern avant-garde and experimental country-fried rock sound to the after party stage.

Memphis-born and Texas-based singer songwriter, Dalton Domino brings his honest and raw lyrics to life on the main stage on August 4. A true Texas Troubadour, Cameran Nelson, is back with his gritty, down-home country rock sound. Dallas-Fort Worth-based Vandoliers will close out the evening with their distinctive part alt-country, part punk-rock sound.

Be prepared for a hip-shaking, belly laughing, soul-singing, song-slinging, down-home house party on the water to wrap the series up on August 11, with headliners Shinyribs. Local favorites Grady Spencer & The Work will also bring their blue collar-inspired act to the stage melding together Spencer’s lyrics with the band’s old-time blues meets classic country modern sound.  The line-up could not be completed any better than with The Drugstore Gypsies – intent on providing a show that will consume fans with irrepressible enthusiasm born out of their dynamic rip-roaring rock n’ roll  sound from start to finish.

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.

Rockin’ the River is presented by Coors Light. It is generously sponsored by 95.9 The Ranch and North Texas Marine. The event is produced by the Trinity River Vision Authority