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A river flowing out of the image with the words 'Headwaters: Your source for great music. Weekdays 9-11am' with the KAXE logo in the bottom left corner.
Headwaters

2025 Grand Rapids Riverfest lineup revealed; tickets on sale next week

By Kari Hedlund
Published April 25, 2025 at 1:04 PM CDT
Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Grand Rapids Riverfest in the Grand Rapids Area Library parking lot on the banks of the Mississippi River. Riverfest is a collaboration of KAXE and the city of Grand Rapids, thanks to the support of headline sponsor Grand Rapids State Bank and several other business supporters.
Jordan Weis / Weisguy Images
/
Special to KAXE
Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Grand Rapids Riverfest in the Grand Rapids Area Library parking lot on the banks of the Mississippi River. Riverfest is a collaboration of KAXE and the city of Grand Rapids, thanks to the support of headline sponsor Grand Rapids State Bank and several other business supporters.

KAXE is proud to present the 5th annual Grand Rapids Riverfest lineup to you: Courtney Barnett, Margo Price, Jeremie Albino and Alan Sparhawk!

GRAND RAPIDS — The Grand Rapids Riverfest lineup is out!

Headlining the festival is Courtney Barnett, an Australian musician who blew onto the scene in 2015 following her double EP in 2013. Rye humor in lyrics, unique delivery and guitar-shredding skills mark her as a standout performer. She has played Coachella (twice) and Bonnaroo, headlined Glastonbury and is now coming to Grand Rapids, Minnesota!

Margo Price has already had an incredibly varied and vast career since her debut album in 2016. She is known to put on a performance that may quite possibly literally knock your socks off. Price finished recording an album in November, so fingers crossed we’ll be hearing new music from her ahead of Riverfest!

A poster with a circle image representing a vinyl with fish and other aquadic life throughout, Grand Rapids Riverfest is at the top with the lineup including Courtney Barnett, Margo Price, Jeremie Albino and Alan Sparhawk at the bottom over a beige background.
Emily Bujold
/
Contributed
The 5th annual Grand Rapids Riverfest is on Saturday, September 6, 2025 with artwork by Emily Bujold.

Jeremie Albino is a newer voice to us at KAXE, but he’s been on the scene for more than a minute. He’s a northern neighbor from Toronto with soul that doesn’t quit. He was recently signed to Easy Eye Records, Dan Auerbach’s label, where he recorded with the top musicians in Nashville for Our Time in the Sun.

Starting our day off right at Riverfest is a name very familiar to us all, whether through his band Low or solo work — Alan Sparhawk! He’s been embarking on a new musical journey these past few years, and in May, he's coming out with a new album backed by Trampled by Turtles (the first Riverfest headliner).

Early bird tickets go on sale Friday, May 2, at 8 a.m. and are available until May 16. Ticket prices increase on May 17.

KAXE members receive an additional discount through May 16. Not a member yet? Join here! Have questions about your membership status? Email heather@kaxe.org.

A stage with "Grand Rapids Riverfest" above it. Red, yellow, and white lighting crisscross the stage a band visible. From behind the crowd is illuminated.
1 of 15  — Spoon - Riverfest 2024 - Crowd
The crowd at Grand Rapids Riverfest watches headliner Spoon on Sept. 7, 2024.
Jordan Weis / Weisguy Images / Special to KAXE
A woman wearing red pants, black shirt and sunglasses plays guitar beside a microphone with leaves wrapped around the stand.
2 of 15  — Sarah Jarosz - Riverfest 2024
Sarah Jarosz plays guitar during her Riverfest set on Sept. 7, 2024 in Grand Rapids.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A crowd of people facing a large stage screens to the left and right. A blonde man singing into a microphone is visible on the screens. A banner over the stage reads "Grand Rapids Riverfest."
3 of 15  — Spoon and Crowd - Riverfest 2024.
Headliners Spoon play to a packed crowd at Grand Rapids Riverfest on Sept. 7, 2024.
Jordan Weis / Weisguy Images / Special to KAXE
People listen to music Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Grand Rapids Riverfest in the Grand Rapids Area Library parking lot on the banks of the Mississippi River.
4 of 15  — Crowd and Screens - Riverfest 2024
People listen to music Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Grand Rapids Riverfest in the Grand Rapids Area Library parking lot on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Jordan Weis / Weisguy Images / Special to KAXE
A child sits on shoulders for a better view Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Grand Rapids Riverfest in the Grand Rapids Area Library parking lot on the banks of the Mississippi River.
5 of 15  — Child on shoulders - Riverfest 2024
A child sits on shoulders for a better view Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Grand Rapids Riverfest in the Grand Rapids Area Library parking lot on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Jordan Weis / Weisguy Images / Special to KAXE
A crowd of people standing in lines between food trucks.
6 of 15  — Vendor area - Riverfest 2024
Spectators fill the vendor area between sets at Grand Rapids Riverfest on Sept. 7, 2024.
Jordan Weis / Weisguy Images / Special to KAXE
A man wearing a black jumpsuit, green hat and sunglasses plays guitar behind a microphone.
7 of 15  — Shakey Graves - Riverfest 2024
A focused Shakey Graves performs at Riverfest on Sept. 7, 2024 in Grand Rapids.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A person wearing an orange beanie hat and a purple crewneck sweater. She is holding a paper plate of food.
8 of 15  — Riverfest Attendee - Riverfest 2024
A Riverfest attendee shows off her food and Riverfest sweatshirt on Sept. 7, 2024.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A woman with long brown hair singing into a microphone while playing guitar. She is wearing a light brown jacket and glasses.
9 of 15  — S.G. Goodman - Riverfest 2024
S.G. Goodman performs on Sept. 7, 2024, at Grand Rapids Riverfest in Grand Rapids.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A crowd of people and a large stage photographed from the side. The time of day is dusk, a crescent moon is in the sky.
10 of 15  — Crescent Moon - Stage - Riverfest 2024
Night falls on Shakey Graves and his fans at Grand Rapids Riverfest on Sept. 7, 2024.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
S.G. Goodman is seen on the big screen Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Grand Rapids Riverfest in the Grand Rapids Area Library parking lot on the banks of the Mississippi River.
11 of 15  — SG Goodman screen - Riverfest 2024
S.G. Goodman is seen on the big screen Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Grand Rapids Riverfest in the Grand Rapids Area Library parking lot on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Jordan Weis / Weisguy Images / Special to KAXE
An overhead photo of a crowd of people in front of a large stage that says "Grand Rapids Riverfest" on a banner at the top. There is a band playing on the stage with purple lighting.
12 of 15  — Shakey Graves, Drone Shot - Riverfest 2024
The crowd during Shakey Graves' performance at Grand Rapids Riverfest on Sept. 7, 2024.
Jordan Weis / Weisguy Images / Special to KAXE
A drone photo of a city with a river running through it. In the top of the image the sun is setting behind a cloudy sky.
13 of 15  — Sunset - Drone Overhead - Riverfest 2024
The sun sets over Grand Rapids Riverfest on Sept. 7,2024.
Jordan Weis / Weisguy Images / Special to KAXE
A man wearing a blue "Volunteer" shirt watches a band play on stage.
14 of 15  — Riverfest 2024 - Volunteer
A Riverfest volunteer takes a break to watch Corey Medina & Brothers.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
Shapes of three people sitting on bleacher and waving their arms. The sun is directly behind them making it impossible to see their features, just dark shapes.
15 of 15  — Audience - Sun - Riverfest 2024
The sun goes down behind Grand Rapids Riverfest attendees on Sept. 7, 2024.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE

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Kari Hedlund
The Music Director at KAXE since 2014, Kari (pronounced Car-ee) Hedlund reviews music on the daily. She hosts Headwaters every Wednesday (9 a.m. and 10 p.m.) and some Mondays, and is co-host to Heidi Holtan on the Thursday Morning Show.
See stories by Kari Hedlund