Wichita Riverfest shares out its full list of 2024 musical performers
The Wichita Riverfest has already teased Wichita by announcing two of its big concerts: Classic funk band Kool & the Gang will perform on the festival’s closing night, June 8, and Grammy nominee Hunter Hayes will headline the festival on its first Saturday, June 1.
Now, festival officials are sharing the rest of the nine-day lineup, which includes an iconic 1970s/1980s band, a hip hop group that produced a couple of big hits in the 1990s, plus gospel, rock and country acts.
Again this year, all the big concerts will happen on the Kennedy Plaza Stage. Admission will be a Wichita Riverfest button, on sale now. Adult buttons, good for admission to all nine days of the festival, are $20 for adults, $10 for children. They’re available at wichitariverfest.com and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the festival offices, 444 E. William. They’ll be for sale in local QuikTrip stores in Wichita, Derby, Newton and El Dorado starting May 3.
Following is a full list of the acts scheduled for this year’s festival, which runs from May 31 to June 8.
Friday, May 31: Digital Underground, best known for the hit “The Humpty Dance,” headlines opening night, which will be full of 1990s hit makers: Earlier in the night, C&C Music Factory of “Gonna Make You Sweat” fame will perform, as will Tag Team, best known for the hit “Whoomp! (There It Is.)“
Saturday, June 1: Hunter Hayes, a multi-instrumentalist known for songs like “Wanted” and “I Want Crazy,” will headline, and the bill will also include opening acts Tawna Goforth, a Nashville singer/songwriter who sings “Fixing Cars,” and Red Dirt singer Kyle Kilgore (“Hit It In the Morning.”)
Sunday, June 2: Monterey Jack, a popular local cover band, will headline, and Wichita musician Harrision Steele will open.
Monday, June 3: Gospelfest, the festival’s annual tribute to gospel music, takes the stage on June 3. Festival organizers are still working on the specific lineup of acts.
Tuesday, June 4: Drake White, an Alabama country singer known for songs like “Spark” and “Makin’ Me Look Good Again,” will headline a night of country music that also will include Wichita country band Tequila Ridge.
Wednesday, June 5: Starship featuring Mickey Thomas will headline on Wednesday and will no doubt perform 1980s radio hits like “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” and “We Built this City.” The opening act will be 1970s rockers Foghat, known for the song “Slow Ride.”
Thursday, June 6: Danielle Nicole, leader of a rock group from Kansas City, Missouri, will headline Thursday’s show. Wichita act Pretend Fried Duo will open.
Friday, June 7: Banda Cuisillos is the headliner of a long list of bands performing as part of the festival’s annual Friday-night Fiesta del Rio. The bill this year also includes Yahari, El Meño y Su Orgullo De Parral, Los De La Sierra and DJ Tino Morales.
Saturday, June 8: Kool & The Gang, a longtime R&B band that had big hits in the 1970s and 1980s , will finish out the festival with songs like “Celebration,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Cherish” and “Get Down On It” and many other iconic hits.
