The Advocate and Democrat

The fifth annual Little Tennessee River Music Festival will be held at the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum on Highway 360 in Vonore on Saturday, June 28 beginning at noon. The headline artist, Natalie Stovall, will take the stage at 9 p.m.

This year, the concert is free and there will be a fireworks show at 10:15 p.m.

“We’re hoping we’ve got a better date this year,” said event founder Dave Evans. Last year other area concerts affected attendance but this year, Evans said he did his homework and found June 28 to be free of competing events.

Any extra funding raised for the concert will go to the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum and Monroe Area Council for the Arts. There will be a $5 charge for parking. Boaters are also welcome.

The entire event is non-profit and every year the entertainers who come here work with Evans on the dates and their fees. This year, the concert schedule looks like this:

Noon-5 p.m. – activities, booths and demonstrations; an attempt will be made to set the Guinness World Record for the number of people participating in the Electric Slide line dance (at approximately 4:30 p.m.)

5 p.m. – local music

6 p.m. – Dream Catcher

7 p.m. – The Sammi Moore Band

8 p.m. – Dixie Highway Band

9 p.m. – Natalie Stovall

Sammi Moore, originally from Marion County, performs country and Southern rock classics with her band, The Sammi Moore Band. Moore was a top finalist in 2006 on the television show, Nashville Star.

Dixie Highway Band, from Maryville, plays country music. The five band members have been playing together for eight years and have opened for acts including Sammy Kershaw, Amy Grant, Carlene Carter and Sawyer Brown.

Natalie Stovall resides in Nashville and her second CD, “Late Night Conversations” is currently making its way up the charts.

The "Smoke on the Water" Fireworks Show will be presented by Pyro Shows of Lafollette. The fireworks will display a variety of aerial shells that will ignite the sky.

Evans started the annual music festival to showcase sites like the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum in the Monroe County area. The museum recently upgraded its amphitheatre to accommodate this event and others requiring a stage with changing rooms and specialty lighting.

“It draws attention to what we have here,” said Evans. “A lot of people didn’t realize we have so many assets.”

Evans is calling this year’s show, “Fire at the Lake.” The festival is family friendly; no alcohol or carry-in coolers are allowed. Concessions will be available. Bring shade umbrellas, blankets and/or chairs.

The festival will go on, rain or shine.

melissa.kinton@advoacteand democrat.com | 423-337-7101

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