Better Than Ezra, Los Lobos, and Keller Williams with the Travelin' McCourys Headline RRL

River Roots Live is the Quad-Cities' premiere music festival featuring top national bands and barbeque and it returns for its eighth year in downtown Davenport's LeClaire Park August 17 & 18! Admission to the park each day is only $5 after 5 p.m. and FREE from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Better Than Ezra, Los Lobos, and Keller Williams with the Travelin' McCourys will headline River Roots Live's 17 bands with support from a strong lineup of outstanding national artists including Julia Nunes, The Nighthawks, Eric Sardinas, Joe Robinson, The Steepwater Band, The Congress, Maps & Atlases, Quiet Corral, and Family Groove Company. The Quad Cities' own talent will also be on display when American Dust, Jason Carl Band, The Low Down, and the Jordan Danielsen & The Great Space Coasters take the stage. Two more acts will be announced soon. Keller Williams with the Tavelin' McCourys will headline Friday night and Better Than Ezra and Los Lobos will anchor the Saturday lineup.

To say the past 20 years have been 'Good' for New Orleans-based rock band Better Than Ezra would be an understatement. The band had been selling out venues across the country since forming at Louisiana State University in 1988 where the band started touring on the Southern college circuit. After self-releasing their first album Deluxe in 1993, major record labels expressed an interest in the band. But it wasn't until after two years of touring and creating an intense loyal fan base that dubbed themselves the "Ezralites," that Better Than Ezra signed with Elektra Records. Elektra rereleased Deluxe and its single 'Good' which reached the #1 position on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart driving the album sales to platinum status.

Los Lobos' lineup has remained uninterrupted since 1984, when saxophonist/keyboardist Steve Berlin joined original members Pérez, Hidalgo, Rosas and Lozano, each of whom had been there since the beginning in 1973. More than three decades have passed since Los Lobos released their debut album, Just Another Band from East L.A. Since then they've repeatedly disproven that title?Los Lobos isn't "just another" anything, but rather a band that has consistently evolved artistically while never losing sight of their humble roots. The band is a rare example of longevity in a volatile music world that stresses style over substance,

Keller Williams is known as one of the most innovative solo singer/songwriters of this generation. The Travelin' McCourys are the latest incarnation of the most awarded band in the history of bluegrass. What happens when the two join forces? With Keller Williams and The Travelin' McCourys, fans will see Keller playing his music with one of the best live bands

on the touring circuit. McCoury fans, used to seeing the boys tour with Del McCoury in the lead, will now get to see them playing their songs with Keller on guitar. It's a perfect marriage of instrumental virtuosos, memorable songwriting, infectious musical camaraderie, and undeniable energy.

"We're excited to bring yet another talented and diverse lineup to the festival this year," said Kyle Carter, Director, Downtown Davenport Partnership. Our headliners have both well known hit songs and critical acclaim from diehard music fans; meanwhile, the full lineup also features young national acts making a big impression like Julia Nunes. Of course, the Quad Cities has no shortage of its own top-notch bands that will take the stage, too."

For less than the price of an adult beverage at some festivals (or for FREE), you can hear more than six hours of music. That's either only 71 cents an hour or nothing at all!

It wouldn't be River Roots Live without Rivbest BBQ! Get hungry for your favorite mouth-watering national and local Ribfest barbeque vendors, too! This isn't your neighbor burning some hotdogs and calling it BBQ. Our vendors travel the nation and represent the top tier of professional BBQ cookers in the United States. BBQ doesn't get much better than this. So loosen your belt, and we suggest trying every single one of 'em throughout the weekend.

The West Music Jr. Jam Tent will offer fun educational workshops for kids and performances from the River Music Experience's Rock Camp bands. Living Lands & Waters will be present throughout the weekend sharing information regarding how to join their river cleanup efforts.

With an estimated 30,000 attendees in 2012, River Roots Live has continued to grow every year since its inception in 2005. With that in mind, additional vendors and beverage tents will be added to the fest this year. For complete details regarding band bios and festival activities, please visit www.RiverRootsLive.com.

Produced by the Downtown Davenport Partnership, a division of Quad Cities Chamber, River Roots Live is supported by partners Living Lands & Waters and the River Music Experience - all nonprofit organizations. River Roots Live is proud to help promote music education programs at the River Music Experience, environmental clean-up efforts on the Mississippi River by Living Lands & Waters, and the growth of historic downtown Davenport.

River Roots Live is presented by Rhythm City Casino and Riverboat Development Authority. Major Sponsors include U.S. Cellular, Nerdwerx, Mediacom, 97X, Budweiser, The Quad-City Times, WQAD Channel 8, and West Music. Please visit www.RiverRootsLive.com to see the complete list of our generous community sponsors!

Free Concerts feature Local Performers

Don't miss The Friends of Vander Veer Summer Concert Series, presented by The Family Credit Union. This series of three concerts are FREE to the public, and feature live music from artists in the community.

The first concert will be Thursday, June 14th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Concerts are held on the lawn at Vander Veer. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the music!

Future concerts are scheduled for: Thursday, July 12, and Thursday, August 9. The raindate is Thursday, August 23. Each concert is from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

The first concert on June 14th features The Fast Clydes. One of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, rockabilly found its roots in the south during the mid 1950s. The Fast Clydes mix elements of rock, jump blues, boogie woogie and western swing to form driving, danceable rhythms. This style of music was made popular by artists such as Carl Perkins, Johnny Burnette, Gene Vincent, Wanda Jackson and a young Elvis Presley.

The Friends of Vander Veer non-profit organization is pleased to partner with The Family Credit Union and Davenport Parks and Recreation to offer these concerts free-of-charge.

For more information, visit www.friendsofvanderveer.com or call 563-323-3298. Visit The Friends of Vander Veer on Facebook for concert information, as well.

Folks from the Quad Cities, Peoria, Rockford, Iowa City, and Madison---mark your calendar for the Hillcrest Music Fest June 15th and June 16th. Come out to one of the area's only outside event center-The Hillcrest Event Center and enjoy a country music concert Fri. June 15th and a rockin' good time with rock concert on Sat. night June 16th.  Saturday night's special Legendary Southern Rock headliner- Jimmie VanZant- keeping Southern Rock ALIVE! Come the entire weekend and camp with us with affordable rates for a weekend of fun and music!  (more info about Jimmie VanZant Band-  www.Jimmievanzantband.net)

This Hillcrest Music Fest will feature TWO nights with 7 BANDS at ONE OUTDOOR VENUE, with admission prices tailored so that everyone can come out for a weekend of fun and music.

Friday night's concert will be 5pm-1am with country bands including Wild Oatz, Dirt Road Rockers, Slough Buoys, and Dani Lynn Howe Band for an unforgettable country concert.

Saturday's concert will run from noon til 1am with an entire rockin' day and evening of  rock bands:  Sinners & Saints, Wicked Liz & The Bellyswirls, Meet The Press, Dani Lynn Howe Band, and Headlining Southern Rock Band---The Jimmie VanZant Band! There will also be a Father's Day Golf Outing for you and your father for $40. that covers  9 holes of golf, cart and all you can eat pancake breakfast.

Food and Food vendors will be available all weekend.

The Hillcrest Event Center is located at the Hillcrest Resort- 16262 E. 350th St.-Orion, Il 61273 and is the site that the new reality TV show, "American Resort" is being filmed.  Call (309) 755-6550 for more info including special camping rates for festival! Tickets are $40. per person, which include admission for BOTH days and FREE TENT CAMPING!  You can't beat that price for a weekend of fun and music!  For an added $40.00, you get a RV site with water and power.   Limited VIP tickets are $100.00 per person which includes VIP parking; Platinum tickets are available for $200. per person-includes food & beverage; sponsor and vendor are available (call for pricing-limited tents are available.) To purchase Hillcrest Music Fest tickets online, please go online to: www.hillcrest-resort.com    or hillcrest-resort.inticketing.com/events

There aren't any outdoor event centers between Chicago and Des Moines, and the Hillcrest Event Center has worked to make it THE special events venue within a 3-4 hour radius.  The Hillcrest Resort includes a sports bar/restaurant, a 9-Hole Golf course, 68-site campground, and Olympic Size swimming pool-everything for your comfort and relaxation for a great time. Located on the edge of two states (Iowa and Illinois) the Hillcrest Event Center will quickly become your favorite place for events at affordable rates with a comfortable and relaxing setting.