Go with the Flow
RiverFest Once Again Reimagines How We Enjoy Our Riverfront –
Now a familiar face on big-time stages, from the legendary FloraBama to the Broadway median for the Uptown Concert Series, roots-country crooner Jonboy Storey remembers dreaming big of one day playing smaller spots.
“I remember going downtown back when I was 13 and just starting to get into music,” says local boy done good Storey, “I was like, ‘I would do anything just to play a couple of songs somewhere downtown.’ To now be able to play on the big stage downtown with all those people there, it’s real humbling. To be considered to be the headliner for my hometown festival, it’s amazing. It’s such an honor.”
Storey’s hometown festival? RiverFest.
The popular, long-running cultural attraction has served as a vital fundraiser since its start. First, it was called the Salisbury Fair and featured art vendors set up on the Broadway 600-700 blocks to benefit Historic Columbus. By the ‘90s, it had expanded to the riverfront with a huge scoop of fun, from James Brown to team-barbecue competitions to pig-kissing contests.
This year, RiverFest reinvents itself once again with a stellar bill of favorite local musicians to serve as a two-day fundraiser for Uptown Columbus, Inc. So, it makes sense to level up and hire a local favorite, captivating performer, and big regional draw in Jonboy Storey.
Starting off by paying his dues in local bars and honky tonks on both sides of the river, Storey has found a second home with a solid following on the Redneck Riviera thanks to a steady stream of top-notch shows at the high-profile FloraBama. Both places have apparel in Storey’s dual attraction among from-the-heart, real-deal country with a dash of roots rock and Margaritaville pirate flair. Having shared the stage with country stars such as Brooks & Dunn and Hardy, Storey is a seasoned pro at this point despite his youth. He arrives at RiverFest 2024 during a busy April which finds him opening for Cooper Allen in Dothan and at a solo acoustic show at the FloraBama for the Riley Green Duck Man Jam. He’ll be backed by Josh Buckley on bass guitar, Brandon Hudson on drums, and Dan Castro on electric guitar.
“The good Lord has blessed us,” Storey, a man of deep faith, explains of his secret to success in building a loyal following of diehard fans.” I treat people how I want to be treated. A lot of people can tell when you talk to them if you treat everybody with respect. Half of it is building relationships with everybody. The other half is practicing and mastering your craft.”
While he says “there’s something to be said for both of them,” Storey admits to enjoying “the festivals more than the bar scene because the stages are bigger, the sound systems are better, you’re not packed into a room and have a bigger stage with more leeway to walk around and entertain.” Festivals present a chance to win over new fans as “you never know who’s going to show up just to be there and not just to see you.”
“Every concert, I hope everyone has a good time,” Storey says of what he hopes for his audiences. “That they take away something they’ll remember and they’ll think about for years, whether it’s some merch they bought as a souvenir or a memory that sticks with them.”
RiverFest 2024 musical line-up features fast-rising Nashville country blues-rocker Holly Rumbarger & the Mississippi Shakedown at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by beloved Columbus icons D.S.O.S. (Deeper Shades of Soul), purveyors of the finest funk and R&B since 1992, from 8-10 p.m. Hitting the stage Saturday at 3 p.m., Phenix City product Skyler Saufley – a real treat to watch play, part Jerry Lee Lewis, part B.B. King, and all vintage vibes, already in the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame despite being in his 20s – brings his band, the 99th Degree. Twangy troubadour Tanner Fussell, best known for his gig on Season 22 of The Voice, where he was coached by Blake Shelton, is next at 5 p.m. Then Jonboy Storey and the boys bring it on home with their headlining set until 10 p.m.
“RiverFest is a great festival that just got better,” is how first-term City Councilor Joanne Cogle put it when she announced an exciting addition to the event to take place in her District 7: the Atlanta Braves – whose minor-league AA affiliate will begin play in Golden Park in 2025 as the anchor to redevelopment of South Commons — will make a stop on Saturday in Woodruff Park. The Braves will bring ‘Pose at the Place,’ with the chance to create a commemorative baseball card of you and your people in a replica of the team’s home stadium of Truist Park in Cobb County. “Make plans to be there,” Cogle concluded.
“Revamping the long-time festival, RiverFest, breathes new energy into a beloved tradition, fostering community engagement and excitement,” Cogle tells the LocaL in an email. “Adding another riverfront attraction enhances the district’s appeal, drawing in more visitors and contributing to its economic and cultural vitality.”
“RiverFest has always been a signature event for Uptown, attracting local and regional vendors who eagerly anticipate it each year,” says Uptown Columbus Director of Communications Tracey Green. “With the introduction of tickets as a fundraiser, we are setting the stage for another successful event for our community. This approach not only supports the vital work of Uptown Columbus Inc., but also enhances our community’s vibrancy and appeal. Additionally, it enables us to bring over 50 free events a year to the community, further enriching the cultural and social fabric of our area.”
Green points to the much-beloved riverfront Splash Pad as one of the many wonderful community assets that depend on financial assistance from events like RiverFest. It alone requires an estimated $245,000 in maintenance and repairs.
Fun in the sun for kids for years to come? Clearly, that’s a cause we can all celebrate.
RiverFest 2024
Fri. May 3: 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Live Music, Woodruff Park.
Sat. May 4: 2 p.m.-10 p.m. Live Music, Woodruff Park.
Music festival tickets $10 Friday, $15 Saturday, $20 both days. Children 12-under free. To purchase your tickets for RiverFest 2024 Music Festival Fundraiser or to learn more, please visit www.alwaysuptown.com/riverfest
By Frank Etheridge