All My Favorite Songs
Tickets for the main stage performances will go on sale Friday, July 11 10 a.m. americasriverroots.frontgatetickets.com.
For information and updates about the evolving lineup, visit americasriverroots.com.
There’s no better way to enjoy music than along the riverfront, with the Roebling Bridge twinkling in the background and the cities along the Ohio shining all around you.
This Fall, music lovers will have that chance at the America’s River Roots Festival, Oct. 8–12, with headlining sets from indie-rock favorites Mt. Joy on Friday, GRAMMY® award-winners Weezer on Saturday and Maren Morris on Sunday in Smale Riverfront Park.
An additional headliner for Thursday will be revealed in the weeks ahead, rounding out a lineup that spans genres and generations.
From spirituals to jazz, country to funk, bluegrass to hip-hop, music has long been one of the most powerful cultural currents flowing through America’s inland waterways, connecting our communities for generations. This fall, America’s River Roots Festival honors that legacy with performances and experiences that highlight the area’s musical roots during the five-day experience.
“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,” says Tena Clark, America's River Roots executive music director and CEO of DMI Music & Media Solutions.
Over the past five years, Mt. Joy has amassed over half a billion streams and earned acclaim from NPR, Billboard, Rolling Stone, The Line of Best Fit, and more. Throughout their career, the band has performed at a variety of festivals such as Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo.
The Philadelphia and Los Angeles-based band of take their name from Mt. Joy in Valley Forge National Park, outside Philadelphia. Forming in 2016, the band made their mark two years later when their self-titled debut album spun off platinum single “Silver Lining,” an uplifting power ballad that went to #1 at AAA radio (Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay) and has more than 240 million streams across platforms. Their second album, “Rearrange Us” (2020) drew widespread critical raves, with title track gaining 92 million Spotify streams since the release. Their third LP, “Orange Blood” (2022), came out of the pandemic and further cemented them with another #1, Lemon Tree, at AAA and a 70 date headline tour that sold over 180K tickets.
Weezer is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1992 and has sold 10 million albums in the U.S., and over 35 million records worldwide. Their catalogue includes megahitsl like “Buddy Holly,” “Undone (The Sweater Song),” “Say It Ain’t So,” “El Scorcho,” “Hash Pipe,” “Island In The Sun,” “Beverly Hills,” and “Pork and Beans.”
Weezer has won Grammys, MTV Video Music Awards, and more throughout their career. Following massively acclaimed album releases in 2016 and 2017 (Weezer [The White Album] and Pacific Daydream, respectively), and two sold out amphitheatre tours with Panic! At the Disco (in 2016) and Pixies (in 2018), Weezer released a fan-inspired cover of Toto’s “Africa.” The cover propelled the band back into the charts across the board, giving Weezer their FIFTH #1, TENTH Top 5, and SIXTEENTH Top 10 at Alternative Radio, in addition to landing Top 5 on the Hot AC chart. It has since gone Platinum. They then surprise dropped a covers album at the start of
Even More Music
In addition to more than 100 live performances, the musical experience at America’s River Roots Festival honors the history of music and our communities with performances that reflect both legacy and innovation. Special musical experiences will complement the stage lineup, including
Sounds From the River, an interactive educational concert and curriculum from Kathy Wade, with performances will be hosted at the festival and at the Aronoff Center for sixth-graders in Cincinnati Public Schools.
The Spirit of America Gala, an evening honoring artistic achievement and cultural storytelling, featuring Cincinnati’s world-class performing arts: Cincinnati Pops, Cincinnati Opera and Cincinnati Ballet at Music Hall on Oct. 7,.
King Of Them All: River Roots Edition, in partnership with afrochine, offering a focused look into Cincinnati’s iconic King Records, drawn from the stories and footage behind the full-length documentary.
Riverboat Cruises from seven of America’s historical river cities will feature the music from their home port, including Memphis and New Orleans.
In 2021, Weezer released two very different but equally Weezer albums – “OK Human,” an orchestral pop album meditating on technology and disconnectedness, and “Van Weezer,” an homage to the band’s shared metal roots growing up. “OK Human”’s first single, “All My Favorite Songs,” was one of the biggest rock hits of 2021, and was subsequently nominated for a Grammy for “Best Rock Song.” In 2022, the band released “SZNZ,” a four EP project inspired by Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.”
Maren Morris has broken boundaries, smashed records, and affirmed herself as a dynamic vocalist, prolific songwriter, and showstopping performer on her own terms. Among numerous accolades, she has garnered a GRAMMY® Award, five ACM Awards, five CMA Awards, and three Billboard Music Awards. She has earned dozens of multiplatinum and gold certifications worldwide and tallied billions of streams.
Her catalog includes several acclaimed albums, namely “HERO” (2016), “GIRL” (2019), and “Humble Quest” (2022). Speaking to her versatility, she’s the rare talent equally suited to collaborating with Zedd on the 6x-platinum “The Middle” or duetting with everyone from Taylor Swift, Stevie Nicks, and Sheryl Crow to Teddy Swims, Hozier, and Jessie Murph. She also co-founded The Highwomen with Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, and Amanda Shires. In September 2023, Maren shared her EP, “The Bridge,” and followed with a cover of Billy Idol’s classic track “Dancing With Myself” in February 2024. She entered a bold new era with the release of her “Intermission” EP that same year, covering themes of gratitude, loss, catharsis and sexuality.
America’s River Roots is a signature event to kick off America’s 250th celebration. This free, five-day festival takes place in Cincinnati, Covington and Newport. More than one million people are expected to attend, soaking in sips, sounds and flavors through music, cuisine, culture and cruises that celebrate our nation's river cities and the Cincy Region.
Guests will find the musical experience goes far beyond the headliners, with an additional seven free stages featuring blues, gospel, jazz, Americana, rock, country, multi-cultural music and more.
The festival will feature standout free performances from nationally and regionally acclaimed artists. Fans can catch Over the Rhine, Cincinnati’s beloved folk-rock duo; country trio Chapel Hart, known for their breakout moment on America’s Got Talent; and legendary jazz drummer Harvey Mason. These artists and many more to be announced will perform across seven themed stages.
“Music is at the heart of America’s River Roots – it’s one of the pillars that brings people together,” says 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.”