Organizers have announced the first musical acts to perform at Cincinnati’s upcoming America’s River Roots Festival.
The America’s River Roots Festival is a celebration of inland river culture and heritage and will happen along the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Covington and Newport this October as a kickoff to the United States’ 250th birthday. The festival will feature everything from riverboat races to multicultural food offerings, bourbon, craft beer, artisan vendors and, of course, live music.
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“The river was not only a means of transportation: It transported, created and shaped the music we know today — from jazz, blues, R&B, gospel to rock,” Tena Clark, America’s River Roots executive music director and CEO of DMI Music & Media Solutions, said in a press release.
Headlining the main-stage musical performances at the festival are Grammy-winners Weezer and Maren Morris, as well as indie rock band Mt. Joy. Mt. Joy will take the main stage at Smale Riverfront Park on Friday, Oct. 10, followed by Weezer on Saturday and Maren Morris on Sunday. Another headliner for Thursday will be announced in a few weeks, say organizers.
Tickets for the main-stage performances are on sale now here. The main-stage concerts and the Spirit of America Gala will be the only musical performances at America’s River Roots that will be ticketed.
Beyond the headliners, festivalgoers will also be able to enjoy music spanning genres and generations at seven different free, themed stages, with performances from nationally and regionally acclaimed blues, gospel, jazz, Americana, rock, country and multi-cultural artists and more. Groups will include Cincinnati’s own folk rock duo Over the Rhine, country trio Chapel Hart and jazz drummer Harvey Mason.
Themed stages will include:
- Sawyer Point Stage (Gospel and Cultural Rhythms)
- Schmidlapp Stage (Jazz and Gospel)
- Freedom Center Stage (R&B and Blues)
- Covington Stage (Bluegrass, Country and Americana)
- Newport Stage (Southern Rock and Blues)
- Yeatmans Cove Stage (Cross-Genre)
- Public Landing Stage (Regional Music)
America’s River Roots will also feature special musical experiences to complement the stage lineup, like:
Sounds From the River: An interactive educational concert and curriculum from local music icon Kathy Wade that will “trace the historical development and migration of music from the diverse populations that traveled along the Ohio River.” You can catch performances at the festival and the Aronoff Center. It will also be performed for sixth-graders in Cincinnati Public Schools.
The Spirit of America Gala: An evening to honor artistic achievement and cultural storytelling, featuring Cincinnati’s world-class performing arts, including Cincinnati Pops, Cincinnati Opera and Cincinnati Ballet. This will be held at Music Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Tickets will go on sale in late July.
King Of Them All: River Roots Edition: Hosted in partnership with afrochine, this experience offers a look into Cincinnati’s iconic King Records, created from stories and footage behind the full-length documentary.
There will also be riverboat cruises from seven of the U.S.’s historical river cities that will feature music from their home port, including Memphis and New Orleans.
“Music is at the heart of America’s River Roots — it’s one of the pillars that brings people together,” said Susan Fisher, executive director of America’s River Roots. “This year’s lineup reflects that spirit. We’ve got something for everyone. We invite everyone to come to the riverfront to see your favorite band, find new favorites, and explore new sounds and experiences.”
America’s River Roots will be held Oct. 8-12. You can learn more about the festival at americasriverroots.com.
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This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 8, 2025.
