Mississippi River Music Festival (MRMF)

The Mississippi River Music Festival is the Midwest's most well known music festival. A dedicated group of St. Louis musicians and bands are taking on the challenge of bringing this festival back to the fans. They are looking for solo artists and bands to perform and showcase their original music over the 3 day event. 75-100 bands and artists will perform and 25 of these slots are reserved for Sonicbids artists. Artists will be compensated (starting at $50). /n/nThe Mississippi River Music Festival is the Midwest's most well known music festival. A dedicated group of St. Louis musicians and bands are taking on the challenge of bringing this festival back to the fans. This year will be the first since 1998 for the festival that was born on the campus of SIUE in 1969. They are booking exclusively through Sonicbids and are looking for 25 Sonicbids solo artists and bands to perform and showcase their original music over the 3 Day event in 5 difference venues in downtown Belleville, Illinois (just 20 min from Downtown St. Louis, MO). 75-100 bands and artists will perform.

Here's what selected artists will get:

• Artists will be compensated (starting at $50). This amount will be negotiated at the time of booking.


• Artists can sell their merchandise and keep 100% of the profits.


• All performers will receive free all-access wristbands to all venue events.


• A sound and lighting system, as well as a sound engineer will be provided at the venue, but artists are responsible for bringing their own instruments and any additional equipment.

The festival will take place in the following venues:

• The new Ground Floor - Main venue, 350 capacity


• Blue Agave - 150-200 capacity


• The Wine Tap- 250 capacity will hold the Acoustic Showcase


• Margaritas - 150-200 capacity


• Illegal Recordings - will feature up and coming artists showcase (all ages) 150 capacity

About the festival:

During its heyday in the era of the military draft and the unpopular war in Vietnam, the student revolution, Watergate, and the rise of the counter-culture the MRF brought remarkable entertainment to SIUE. It is doubtful that any other campus in America was visited by more of the legendary performers of popular music between 1969 and 1980.



Among the famous artists who appeared at the MRF were Joan Baez; The Band and Bob Dylan; the Beach Boys; Blood, Sweat, and Tears; Jackson Browne; the Butterfield Blues Band; Harry Chapin; Chicago; Judy Collins; Rita Coolidge; Jim Croce; David Crosby and Graham Nash; John Denver; the Eagles; Emerson, Lake, and Palmer; the Fifth Dimension; Dan Fogelberg; the Grateful Dead; the Guess Who; Arlo Guthrie; Iron Butterfly; Jefferson Starship; Janis Joplin; B. B. King; Kris Kristofferson; Gordon Lightfoot; Loggins and Messina; Dave Mason; Don McLean; Bette Midler; Joni Mitchell; the Pointer Sisters; Rare Earth; Helen Reddy; REO Speedwagon; Kenny Rogers; Linda Ronstadt; Todd Rundgren; Seals and Crofts; Rod Stewart; Stephen Stills; James Taylor; the Marshall Tucker Band; and Ike and Tina Turner.