A group of five mixed-talent individuals come together each year with a shared passion for music to plan Wetumpka’s largest, free one-day event with two stages and 10 bands.
The committee for Wetumpka’s annual River & Blues Festival works hard for nearly seven months planning, booking bands, raising money and recruiting volunteers. The current five were not all original members, as there has been some turnover, but this remains the core group over the last few years: Tiffany Robinson, Thad Hankins, Pat Whatley, Jim McGehee and Lynn Weldon.
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp3@FE 6:89E J62CD 28@[ w2?<:?D 925 D66? 2 +J564@ 32?5 2E |@?E8@>6CJ’D yF3:=66 u6DE:G2=[ H9:49 :D ?@ =@?86C 2C@F?5[ 2?5 96 E9@F89E :E H@F=5 36 7F? E@ 6I64FE6 E92E 4@?46AE :? 2 =@42= 6G6?E] p7E6C AC@>@E:?8 E96 :562 @? 9:D 3=@8[ w2?<:?D C624965 @FE[ 2?5 #@3:?D@? 2?5 (92E=6J 96=A65 7@C> E96 :?:E:2= 4@>>:EE66 E@ 4C62E6 E96 7C66[ 72>:=J\7C:6?5=J 4@>>F?:EJ 76DE:G2= H9:=6 DE2J:?8 ECF6 E@ E92E }6H ~C=62?D ;2KK 2?5 3=F6D 2DA64E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“a_`a H2D E96 7:CDE 6G6?E[ 2?5 E@ D2J H6 H6C6 DFCAC:D65 2E E96 >28?:EF56 H2D 2? F?56CDE2E6>6?E] ~G6C `_[___ A6@A=6 D9@H65 FA] pE E96 E:>6[ H6 5:5?’E C62=:K6 H92E 2 9@=6 H6 H6C6 >:DD:?8 :? (6EF>A<2[” D2:5 #@3:?D@?[ @?6 @7 E96 @C:8:?2= 6G6?E 7@F?56CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm#@3:?D@? :D 2=D@ E96 6G6?ED^E@FC:D> >2?286C 7@C E96 (6EF>A<2 >2J@C’D @77:46 2?5 7@F?5 96C 6G6?E A=2??:?8 324<8C@F?5 2?5 4@??64E:@? E@ E96 4:EJ E@ 36 96=A7F=]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x 2AAC@24965 E96 >2J@C[ 2?5 96 E9@F89E :E H2D 2 8C62E :562 2?5 D2:5 86E D@>6 A6@A=6 E@86E96C 2?5 7:8FC6 @FE 9@H E@ >2<6 :E 92AA6?] (:E9 9:D 3=6DD:?8[ :E 82G6 >6 E96 42A23:=:EJ E@ H@C< @? E96 6G6?E 2?5 7F?5C2:D6 7@C :E[” D2:5 #@3:?D@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 >2:? 8@2= 7@C >6>36CD @7 E96 4@>>:EE66 :D E@ 2=H2JD <66A E96 6G6?E 7C66] %96J 92G6?’E 492C865 2?JE9:?8 7C@> E96 368:??:?8 2?5 5@?’E H2?E E@ 92G6 E@[ D2:5 w2?<:?D[ H9:49 :D H9J DA@?D@CD 2C6 D@ :>A@CE2?E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|@DE @7 E96 ?62C=J Sb_[___ ?66565 E@ >2<6 E96 6G6?E A@DD:3=6 4@>6D 7C@> DA@?D@CD @C :?\<:?5 5@?2E:@?D 7C@> G2C:@FD 4@>A2?:6D 2?5 4:EJ 56A2CE>6?ED] #@3:?D@? :D 4@?DE2?E=J C64CF:E:?8 DA@?D@CD9:AD 2?5 7:?5D E92E D@ >2?J A6@A=6 2C6 H:==:?8 E@ 96=A @FE 2?5 DFAA@CE E96 4@>>F?:EJ] %96 8C@FA 92D 925 >2?J C6A62E DA@?D@CD H9@ 28C66 E@ 36 @? 3@2C5 7@C E96 7@==@H:?8 J62C 2=>@DE :>>65:2E6=J 27E6C E96 6G6?E :D @G6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%96 7:CDE E:>6 H6 2D<65 A6@A=6[ 2 =@E @7 DA@?D@CD H6C6 :>>65:2E6=J :? 2?5 2 =@E 2C6 DE:== H:E9 FD 6249 J62C] x 42?’E E2=< 6?@F89 23@FE E96 4@>>F?:EJ DFAA@CE] p =@E @7 A6@A=6 2C6 G6CJ 86?6C@FD 2?5 G6CJ 96=A7F=[” D2:5 #@3:?D@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|@DE @7 E96 4@>>:EE66 >6>36CD 92G6 2 H:56 C2?86 @7 E2=6?ED[ H9:49 :D H9J E96 E62> 4@>A=6>6?ED 6249 @E96C] %96J 2== G@=F?E66C E96:C AC@76DD:@?D @C A2DD:@?D 2?5 2== 92G6 52J ;@3D E@ <66A FA H:E9 2D H6==]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 2== 92G6 @FC =:EE=6 2C62D @7 6IA6CE:D6] p?5 H6 2== =@G6 :E] (6 H@F=5?’E AFE 2D >F49 E:>6 :? G@=F?E66C\H:D6 :7 H6 5:5?’E 92G6 E96 A2DD:@? 7@C E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 E96 6G6?E[” D2:5 #@3:?D@?[ H9@ 25>:EE65 D96 86ED E@ DA6?5 2 3:E >@C6 E:>6 @? :E E92? E96 @E96CD 3642FD6 E96 4:EJ 2==@HD 96C E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm#@3:?D@? 2?5 (6=5@? 3@E9 92G6 6G6?E A=2??:?8 6IA6C:6?46[ 2?5 (92E=6J :D 8C62E H:E9 8C2A9:4 56D:8? E@ 4C62E6 E96 25D[ =@8@D 2?5 D:8?286] w2?<:?D[ |4v6966 2?5 (92E=6J 92G6 2 A2DD:@? 7@C E96 >FD:4 D46?6[ D@ E96J D4@FE 6?E6CE2:?6CD 2?5 3@@< 6249 J62C’D A6C7@C>6CD] %96J ECJ E@ D9@H42D6 2 =@E @7 =@42= E2=6?E 3FE 2=D@ 3C:?8 :? C68:@?2= 2CE:DED] |4v6966 2=D@ 96=AD >2?286 E96 DE286 H9:=6 w2?<:?D 4@@C5:?2E6D E96 C6DE @7 E96 >2?J G@=F?E66CD ?66565 E9C@F89@FE E96 AC@46DD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“~?6 E9:?8 H6 H2?E E@ >2<6 DFC6 :D E92E E96 EJA6 @7 >FD:4 H6 49@@D6 7:ED :?E@ E96 EJA6 @7 >FD:4 H6 H2?E E@ 5@] xE 92D E@ 36 +J564@ @C 3C2DD 32?5[ D@ J@F 766= =:<6 J@F’C6 DA6?5:?8 E:>6 :? }6H ~C=62?D[” D2:5 w2?<:?D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmq6EH66? D4@FE:?8 D@4:2= >65:2 2?5 C6249:?8 @FE E@ A6@A=6 :? E96 >FD:4 :?5FDECJ[ w2?<:?D 2?5 E96 8C@FA =:DE6? E@ 2 E@? @7 A@E6?E:2= 2CE:DED 367@C6 4@==64E:G6=J 564:5:?8 @? E96 7:?2= A6C7@C>6CD] w2G:?8 2 DEC@?8 A2DD:@? 7@C >FD:4 2?5 4@>:?8 7C@> 2 72>:=J @7 >FD:4:2?D[ w2?<:?D D2:5 86EE:?8 E@ 962C 2 E@? @7 4@@= >FD:4 2?5 E@ D66 =@42= 2CE:DED A=2J 567:?:E6=J >2<6D E96 ;@3 H@CE9H9:=6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“u@C >6[ E96 D2E:D724E:@? E92E x 86E :D H96? E96 9625=:?6C’D A=2J:?8[ 2?5 H6’G6 2== 366? H@C<:?8 92C5 2== 52J] *@F =@@< @FE E96C6 2?5 D66 6G6CJ@?6 92G:?8 2 8@@5 E:>6j E92E’D E96 A2J@77] (6 6?;@J AFEE:?8 :? E96 H@C<[ 2?5 D66:?8 A6@A=6 92G6 7F? :D E96 C6H2C5[” D2:5 w2?<:?D[ H9@ 25565 E92E E9:D D92C65 G:D:@? 96=AD E96 E62> E@ H@C< H6== E@86E96C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 8C@FA DE2CED 3C2:?DE@C>:?8 :? y2?F2CJ E@ 7:?2=:K6 2 3F586E] p44@C5:?8 E@ #@3:?D@?[ E9:D :D 9@H E96J 42? E6== 9@H >F49 >@?6J :D 4@>:?8 :? 2?5 H92E E96J 42? DA6?5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(96? J@F 92G6 7:G6 DEC@?8\H:==65 A6@A=6[ D@>6E:>6D :E 42? 36 5:77:4F=E E@ 28C66 @? D@>6E9:?8[ 3FE 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 52J H6 =62C? E@ H@C< H6== E@86E96C[” D2:5 #@3:?D@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmw2?<:?D 28C665 2?5 D2:5 E96 4@>>:EE66 4@>6D E@86E96C H:E9 2 4@>3:?65 A2DD:@? 7@C H92E E96J’C6 5@:?8 2?5 >2<:?8 E96 6G6?E 2D 7F? 2?5 3:8 2D :E 42? 36 7@C 6G6CJ@?6 E@ 6?;@J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 2C6 2=H2JD :>AC@G:?8 @? E9:?8D[ 2?5 H6 ECJ E@ DA=FC86 @? D@>6E9:?8 ?6H 6249 J62C] %9:D J62C H6 92G6 2 =2C86C DE286[” D2:5 #@3:?D@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp=D@[ E96 6G6?E :D :?4@CA@C2E:?8 2 H2<63@2C5 4@>A6E:E:@? @? E96 32?<D @7 E96 r@@D2 #:G6C 7@C E96 D64@?5 J62C :? 2 C@H[ D:?46 =2DE J62C’D H2E6C 6G6?E H2D 2 DF446DD] #@3:?D@? D2:5 H2<6 3@2C56CD 4@>6 7C@> 2== @G6C E96 DE2E6[ 3FE >@DE 2C6 =@42=]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmpD:56 7C@> E96 32?5D[ H9:49 2C6 E96 >2:? 2EEC24E:@?[ E96C6 2C6 7@@5 G6?5@CD 2?5 2=D@ 7C66 <:5D’ 24E:G:E:6D[ DF49 2D 7246 A2:?E:?8[ 3@F?4J 9@FD6D 2?5 D=:56D] %9:D J62C[ E96C6 H:== 36 E96 255:E:@? @7 2 >6492?:42= 3F==]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96C6 H:== 36 2 ;FC:65 2CE D9@H @7 92?5>256 4C27ED[ 2?5 G6?5@CD 92G6 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ H:? D@>6 >@?6J 2?5 AC:K6D] q6:?8 4@>>:EE65 E@ BF2=:EJ[ #@3:?D@? 2?5 4@>>:EE66 >6>36CD @7E6? DA6?5 E96 H66<6?5D G:D:E:?8 @E96C 6G6?ED 2?5 2CE D9@HD E@ C64CF:E G6?5@CD[ H9@ AFC492D6 3@@E9 2C62D 2?5 2C6 49@D6? 62C=J :? E96 J62C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 6G6?E H:== 36 96=5 yF=J aa[ 2?5 2EE6?566D 2C6 6?4@FC2865 E@ 3C:?8 492:CD 2?5 4@@=6CD] ~?6 >FD:4 DE286 H:== 36 2E v@=5 $E2C !2C< H:E9 32?5D A=2J:?8 F?E:= e A]>] %96D6 2C6 6I4=FD:G6=J =@42= 32?5D[ w2?<:?D D2:5] %96 >2:? DE286 9@DED E96 9625=:?6C[ A6C7@C>6CD 3C@F89E :? 7@C E96 52J 2E E96 DE286 =@42E65 369:?5 E96 r:EJ p5>:?:DEC2E:@? qF:=5:?8] %96 9625=:?6C :D 2=>@DE 2=H2JD 7C@> }6H ~C=62?D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ w2?<:?D[ 3642FD6 E96J 2C6 A@=:D965 2?5 8F2C2?E66 E96:C G:D:@? :D :>A=6>6?E65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“pE E96 6?5 @7 E96 52J[ J@F =@@< @FE E96C6 2?5 D66 A6@A=6 92G:?8 2 8C62E E:>6[ H:E9 D>:=6D @? E96:C 7246D – J@F <?@H :E H2D 2== H@CE9 :E[” D2:5 #@3:?D@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
