River Falls Days: Wide-ranging bands come to play from New Richmond, southeast MN and metro and provide a whole ‘Chunk’ of quality music, so also Car Cruze on in

River Falls Days is all about the music, among other attractions, and it is kicked off by the technically solid sounds of Uncle Chunk, which cross all popular genres, then goes more country, first with a band hailing from just up the highway, Rural Route 5, then finally, a group with another hit-the-road-type name that got its start in the winding byways of southeast Minnesota, Lost Highway.
Now, with summer in full gear and these three bands congregating in River Falls, it might be time to rock the Kinni. The theme for this year’s River Falls Days — which runs the weekend of July 7-10 — is Adventures on the Kinni, referring to the noted local trout stream. An addition draw for the festival, this year, is Sunday’s smokin’ Car Cruze-In, where everything from classic cars to your hot rod or cycle can take center stage.
The fest is in its 42nd year and is seen as something that people from a wide area make it a point to see and hear, and is viewed by many as a Homecoming of sorts, especially by former students of UW-River Falls.
Each year, the community celebration is held in spacious Heritage Park, darn near the banks of the scenic Kinnickinnic River.
The live music in the park includes the pop, rock and country sounds of Uncle Chunk on Friday, July 8 from 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. (with no cover charge), and then it steers more to country in particular with Rural Route 5 on Saturday from 7-9:30 p.m., and then Lost Highway from 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. There is also other live music to be found around town, at various bar and grill venues, during River Falls Days, so you can make a night of it.
These are bios of the headlining musical acts:
— Uncle Chunk is a popular and regular headliner of many local and area fests, and a fan favorite. The band lists covers of more then 80 different bands on their 115-song play list, which is heavy on Green Day and also includes a trio of songs each by Nickelback, Creed and Good Charlotte — both their tried and true favorites and some from deep in the vault — and even seven originals. Other groups that appear on the set list multiple times are Maroon 5, 3 Doors Down, Zac Brown Band, INXS, Seether, Weezer, Matchbox 20, All American Rejects, Finger 11, Kid Rock, Jet, Bowling for Soup and Blink 182. For more than 20 years now, they also cover the best from all genres such as rock, pop and country, they say, and back it up by virtue of the gigs they get.
— A self-described rockin’ county band out of neighboring New Richmond, Rural Route 5 plays everything from Merle to Miranda, from Cash to Aldean. There are more than two dozen artists on the premium selections part of their play list, and they include their own country twists on old favorites such as Fishin’ In The Dark and Sweet Home Alabama.
Rural Route 5 debuted to a packed crowd in May of 2013 at The SPACE in New Richmond. Since that gig, the band has been, again, rockin’ out to packed crowds all over from saloons to shed parties, and from private parties to summer festivals like River Falls Days, where it has played before. You will hear everything from country classics to modern country hits, and even a few songs that weren’t country before, but they are now, they say. The up-tempo set lists will get crowds off their feet and on the dance floor, they add as hey, they bring the party despite being a whole range of ages.
— Since their inception in 2009, Lost Highway has proven to be one of the Upper Midwest’s top country bands. From opening shows for national acts such as Hank Williams Jr., Clay Walker and Josh Thompson, to playing many outdoor festivals such as this weekend in River Falls, or entertaining capacity crowds in the hottest venues in the area, Lost Highway’s commitment to country music and electrifying the audience is evident, they say.
Lead vocalist Jesse Steberg has learned not to take things for granted, as is reflected in their songs, as seven years ago he broke his neck while snowmobiling. The accident left him stunned and silenced, and it took him two years to get his singing-voice back. But get it back, he did.
As if on cue, at one point Steberg crossed paths with high school classmate Matt Schwake, who was refining his guitar playing, and they literally started a garage band. Within a week, a freshly formed group of comrades began to play and soon uploaded videos of their acoustic performances recorded in — you guessed it — a garage for YouTube.
The band was officially formed seven years ago and named after Hank Williams’ 1948 croon “Lost Highway,” written by Leon Payne. Performing eight or more times a month, Steberg says the six-piece band is busier now than ever. From sharing the stage with a group of national acts, to playing outdoor festivals We Fest and Country Fest, the group has continued to grow its group of fans from the Midwest. We suggest becoming one of them this weekend in River Falls.
— Also gaining attention in conjunction with River Falls Day is the Car Cruze-In 2016 on July 10 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. All cars and cycles are welcome, and if you’ve seen peoples’ rides on the local highways and byways, you know there are a lot of creative design twists to by taken on anywhere from two to four wheels. It’s recommended that you take the afternoon and enjoy a summer ride as you “cruze the loop” in downtown River Falls. The Cruze-In is hoped to draw some of the many fans who go from such car show to such car show and exhibit or spectate all through the summer — and some might even be from Lost Highway country — as well as some new lovers of classic cars. They can then also go from event to event and take in the duration of the fest.
River Falls Days is a free, family-friendly event that has a carnival-like atmosphere (a few roadies included) with tons of food and entertainment. Festivities include a 6:30 p.m. Friday parade from Main to Second streets with floats having the river-based theme in mind, Saturday morning 10-K and two-mile races and Kid’s Fun Run, live music acts and outdoor dancing, food vendors and Miller Beer Garden, Sunday fireworks at dusk at Hoffman Park, carnival rides and more. The tradition is seen as a great event to celebrate the city of River Falls.
For more information on the various activities, visit this website: http://www.rfchamber.com.