PortFest “Rollin’ on the River” Festival June 9 & 10 at Jacksonport State Park (Posted by Ginger Smith)
The PortFest “Rollin’ on the River” Festival will return on June 9 and 10, 2017 at Jacksonport State Park with all new entertainment options, events, schedule and ticketing structure. This year will be particularly exciting as PortFest 2017 becomes the largest tribute artist festival in the mid-south with 14 acts on two stages, featuring tributes to popular artists past and present.
On Friday, June 9 on the George’s of Newport/O’Connor Distributing stage, Twist on Taylor tribute to Taylor Swift kicks off at 5 p.m. by Sarah Jessica from Las Vegas, Nevada kicks off at 5 p.m. Raise Your Glass P!nk tribute from Orange County, California recreates the music of the Grammy award-winning pop star at 7 p.m. The Katy Perry Tribute by Prizmatic from San Diego, California brings their amazing Firework tribute to the stage at 9 p.m.
Also on Friday, June 9, entertainment on the M&P Bank/ASU-Newport Stage begins at 5:30 p.m. with a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute by Edge of Forever from Topeka, Kansas recreating the sound of spirit of Skynyrd for Southern Rock enthusiasts. At 7:30 p.m., the Real Good Man tribute to Tim McGraw by Jason Glenn from Riverside, California brings the music of Tim McGraw to the stage. Country power house Jason Aldean will be recreated by Joel Dixon from Las Vegas, Nevada at 9:30 p.m.
Entertainment begins early on Saturday, June 10 on the George’s of Newport/O’Connor Distributing stage with the Bandimonium battle of the bands competitions from noon to 4:30 p.m. At 5 p.m., Kiss the Sky’s Jimi Hendrix tribute from New York, New York lets you experience a rock legend on stage as seen on AXS TV’s the World’s Greatest Tribute Bands series. A Prince tribute by The Controversy Band from Fresno, California takes the stage at 7 p.m. The Earth, Wind and Fire tribute by Kalimba from Seattle, Washington, performs at 9 p.m. with their 12-piece band.
Enjoy Classic Rock of the 70s and 80s tribute by Arkansas’ own Riverbilly on the M&P Bank/ASU-Newport stage followed by One Hit Wonders of the 70s by KTel and the Amazing Offerings at 1:30 p.m. The Who tribute by The Who Generation from Hollywood, California performs at 3:30 p.m. This band has been featured on AXS TV’s show The World’s Greatest Tribute Bands. PortFest is excited to have been named a qualifying event for the C&C Distributors U.S. Air Guitar National Championships, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. and is sponsored by C&C Distributors. At 7:30 p.m., see the award-winning Elton John Tribute by Kenny Metcalf from Los Angeles, California, who has also been featured on AXS TV’s The World’s Greatest Tribute Bands. Ko-Ed KISS from Hollywood, California delivers the first “coed” all-star KISS tribute in the world at 9:30 p.m.
Additional events added to the all-new PortFest on Saturday, June 10 include the Unity Health Harris Medical Center Run Lizard Creek Obstacle Mud Run, Hoopfest 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, Jackson’s Funeral Home Jerry Hulett Memorial Car, Truck and Bike Show, all new Greenway Equipment Hunting & Fishing Village, Greenway Equipment Agri Village and Art Village, VIP area, Arkansas Steel Associates Children’s Village, Farmers Electric/Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Fireworks Show and much more.
PortFest faced a new reality in early 2016 when Riverfest, the state’s largest festival, moved to the traditional weekend of Portfest. Coupled with increased cost of entertainment in recent years, PortFest directors took a proactive approach to reinventing the festival while still offering great entertainment to festival supporters in the region.
Festival tickets will go on sale by May 1, 2017. For more information, go to www.portfest.org, call the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce at 870-523-3618 or email director@newportarchamber.org.
