Kenny Wayne Shepherd is also on the Aug. 22 bill. It’s the first show announced for the festival’s return to Comstock Park after two years in downtown Grand Rapids.
Tres Hombres: ZZ Top will fire up Rock the Rapids.
This year’s Rock the Rapids will rock with ZZ Top.
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With the three-day music festival moving back to Fifth Third Ballpark from downtown Grand Rapids, Rock the Rapids announced today that the “little ol’ band from Texas” will headline the third day of the event on Aug. 22, with blues-rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd opening the show.
Tickets — $28, $38 and $49 — go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, by calling 616-784-4131 or online at fifththirdballpark.com; get details by visiting Rock the Rapids’ official website at rocktherapids.org.
ZZ Top, the multi-platinum-selling, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame trio that’s been together with its original lineup for 44 years, continues to perform across the globe, with an upcoming appearance at the high-profile Bonnaroo festival in Tennessee followed by a European tour and a series of U.S. dates.
Shepherd, meanwhile, has racked up millions in sales with a half-dozen studio albums and remains a popular fixture on the blues-rock circuit, playing several dates this summer with guitarist Peter Frampton.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Additional Rock the Rapids headliners are expected to be announced in coming weeks.
Festival organizers earlier had announced that after setting up shop for two years on parking lots behind Van Andel Arena, Rock the Rapids would return to the ballpark where it first began and cut back to three days. Last year’s six-day affair drew about 40,000 people and was headlined by Miranda Lambert, Toby Keith, Shinedown, Evanescence, Boyz II Men and B.o.B.
Festival founder Dennis Baxter said at the time that the potential for possible future development on part of that downtown site led organizers to rethink the event’s future but they “didn’t want to go dark for a year” while exploring other options.
“I think people enjoy music at the ballpark, so this is a great alternative while we take the time for better planning downtown,” he said.
The 2013 edition of Rock The Rapids is presented by Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort and sponsored in part by Auto Value, Pepsi, Rockstar, Riverfront Inn, Xtreme Demolition, AdMark, Elite Disposal and Great Lake Wine & Spirits.
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
