RiverBeat Music Festival producer on event's return to Tom Lee Park
The second RiverBeat Music Festival is kicking off this weekend.
The festival, held at Tom Lee Park on May 2-4, is headlined by Missy Elliott, The Killers, and Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals.
“We came out of 2024 with a lot of [lessons]. We had a short runway to prepare last year,” Mempho producer Jeff Bransford told MBJ. "[We're] super excited about the experience this year. We've elevated our production, our environmental design, and the entire fan experience."
Last year’s festival had just over 30,000 attendees, and Bransford said this year is trending to be well above that. Final attendance numbers for the 2025 edition will be released after the festival.
Some changes to this year's RiverBeat include restructuring the park's environmental design. Stages have been moved around for better flow, and the VIP area was also moved to be along the Mississippi River. Bransford said that safety is the festival’s No. 1 priority for the weekend, in addition to having a good time.
The festival plans to have five stages throughout Tom Lee Park. And for park access, there are two added main entry points: a north entrance, which leads directly into the festival, and a Butler Avenue entrance. RiverBeat is scheduled to feature a Ferris Wheel, family-friendly activities, and a fireworks display.