Mississippi River Festival
Encyclopedia
The Mississippi River Festival (aka MRF
) was a summer outdoor concert series held during the years 1969-1980 on the campus of Southern Illinois University
in Edwardsville, Illinois
. The Festival was notable due to its central midwest location, the natural ambience of its outdoor venue, and the consistent high quality of performers. MRF consisted of a variety of popular rock, folk, bluegrass, and classic music performers. The more popular groups, such as The Who
, Yes
, Chicago
, The Eagles, and The Grateful Dead
shows were heavily attended. Some shows attracting crowds in excess of 30,000. It is noteworthy that Jackson Browne
appeared as both a backup band
(for Yes in 1972 and America in 1973)and ultimately, as a lead act in 1977. He also wrote two of his songs for the live Running on Empty
album in a nearby Holiday Inn
at the intersection of I-270 and Illinois Route 157. It is estimated that over one million visitors attended MRF over 12 summers.
. The mini-roadtrip to the site and meeting friends in the parking areas around the venue were favorite parts of the experience. The parking experience being a 70s youth version of tailgating.
The majority of audience sat on "the lawn" on blankets. Two pathways flanked the lawn area running from the entrance area to the stage area providing a permanent pathway for movement and finding your "spot" in an otherwise sea of blankets. There were restrooms on either side of the venue. For those who attended, there are fond memories of all day outdoor parties with friends and the opportunity to see top concert talent.
, President and founder of Heil Sound as well as production adviser to national touring groups, such as the Grateful Dead
and the Who
provided sound production for seven years. Ed Drone, of Heil Sound mixed the house sound 6 nights a week for seven years.
Edwardsville website.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville commemorated the 40th anniversary of the first season of the Mississippi River Festival with a picnic and dedication of a plaque at the festival site on June 13, 2009
MRF
MRF is an acronym which may refer to:Organizations* Medical Response Force* Movement for Rights and Freedoms, a Bulgarian political party* Mobile Riverine Force * Morgellons Research Foundation...
) was a summer outdoor concert series held during the years 1969-1980 on the campus of Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, commonly abbreviated SIUE, is a four-year coed public university in Edwardsville, Illinois about from St. Louis, Missouri. SIUE was established in 1957 as an extension of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and is the younger of the two largest...
in Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,293. It is the county seat of Madison County and is the third oldest city in the State of Illinois. The city was named in honor of Ninian Edwards, then Governor of the Illinois...
. The Festival was notable due to its central midwest location, the natural ambience of its outdoor venue, and the consistent high quality of performers. MRF consisted of a variety of popular rock, folk, bluegrass, and classic music performers. The more popular groups, such as The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
, The Eagles, and The Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
shows were heavily attended. Some shows attracting crowds in excess of 30,000. It is noteworthy that Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
appeared as both a backup band
Backup band
A backing band or backup band is a musical ensemble that accompanies an artist at a live performance or on a recording. This can either be an established, long-standing group that has little or no change in membership, or it may be an ad hoc group assembled for a single show or a single recording...
(for Yes in 1972 and America in 1973)and ultimately, as a lead act in 1977. He also wrote two of his songs for the live Running on Empty
Running on Empty (album)
Running on Empty is the fifth album by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne. Released in 1977, the album reached #3 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart in 1978 and stayed on the charts for 65 weeks...
album in a nearby Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn is a brand of hotels, formally a economy motel chain, forming part of the British InterContinental Hotels Group . It is one of the world's largest hotel chains with 238,440 bedrooms and 1,301 hotels globally. There are currently 5 hotels in the pipeline...
at the intersection of I-270 and Illinois Route 157. It is estimated that over one million visitors attended MRF over 12 summers.
Logistics
The outdoor venue was located on a hill forming a natural amphitheater characterized by a large circus like tent and an acoustic shell at the bottom of the hill and a single entrance area at the top of the hill. Students were able to attend shows at a student discount. The MRF site was designed by the late George Anselevicius and by George Dickie. The tent area contained approximately 1,900 director's style chairs arranged on a white gravel rock surface. Although there was a minimal amount of permanent structures at the venue, the entrance, concession stands, and restroom areas were decorated with large canvas sails designed by Gyo ObataGyo Obata
Gyo Obata is a significant American architect, the son of renowned painter Chiura Obata and his wife, Haruko Obata, a floral designer. In 1955, he co-founded global architectural firm HOK . He lives in St. Louis, Missouri and still works in HOK's St. Louis office...
. The mini-roadtrip to the site and meeting friends in the parking areas around the venue were favorite parts of the experience. The parking experience being a 70s youth version of tailgating.
The majority of audience sat on "the lawn" on blankets. Two pathways flanked the lawn area running from the entrance area to the stage area providing a permanent pathway for movement and finding your "spot" in an otherwise sea of blankets. There were restrooms on either side of the venue. For those who attended, there are fond memories of all day outdoor parties with friends and the opportunity to see top concert talent.
Sound Production
Bob HeilBob Heil
Bob Heil is an American sound and radio engineer most well-known for creating the template for modern rock sound systems. He founded the company Heil Sound in 1966, which went on to create unique touring sound systems for bands such as The Grateful Dead and The Who...
, President and founder of Heil Sound as well as production adviser to national touring groups, such as the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
and the Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
provided sound production for seven years. Ed Drone, of Heil Sound mixed the house sound 6 nights a week for seven years.
Further reading
Efforts to resurrect this popular event have, unfortunately, been met with challenges mainly due to funding and other limitations of producing such an event in today's environment. The history of the event and an extensive collection of black-and-white photos has been captured in the book The Mississippi River Festival. Additional history and video assembled by Dr. Stephen Kerber is available on a virtual exhibit of MRF located on the Southern Illinois UniversitySouthern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
Edwardsville website.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville commemorated the 40th anniversary of the first season of the Mississippi River Festival with a picnic and dedication of a plaque at the festival site on June 13, 2009