Intro Text
Riverside Concerts and Rochester Parks & Recreation present forWARD 5, a neighborhood park concert at Cooke Park in Ward 5 featuring the Americana bands Delta Rae and Emma Hern on Wednesday, July 3 at 5 PM. Bring the kids down early to enjoy the Go Play! Explore! Mobile Recreation Trailor starting at 3 PM.
Delta Rae - Earthy familial country outfit Delta Rae skillfully juggle gospel-tinged country-rock, sensual blue-eyed soul, and harmony-laden Americana, resulting in an infectious, radio-ready sound that falls somewhere between Nickel Creek and Adele. Formed in 2009 as a four-piece around the talents of siblings Ian, Eric, and Brittany Hölljes, along with Elizabeth Hopkins, the North Carolina-based band expanded to a sextet the following year with the additions of Mike McKee and Grant Emerson. In 2011 the group inked a deal with Sire/Warner Bros. after a particularly impressive in-office audition for Seymour Stein, who was blown away by Hopkins and the Hölljes siblings' powerful voices. The resulting Carry the Fire, their major-label debut, arrived in 2012. Carry the Fire reached 11 on the U.S. Heatseekers chart and 13 on the folk chart. Delta Rae released their second album, After It All, in the spring of 2015. In 2017, the band released an EP, A Long and Happy Life, which featured the hit single of the same name. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi
Emma Hern - Nashville-via-Boston-via-Richmond belter Emma Hern is taking her Nashville-approved blend of Americana, soul, pop, and a touch of glam wide with her self-titled debut EP. Taking cues from legends like Aretha and Bonnie Raitt and placing them in the age of Kacey Musgraves and Taylor Swift, Emma Hern is bridging the time gap with her retro rock-soul sound and on-stage electricity. After graduating from Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music, Emma moved to Nashville looking to expand her musicality. Her first months were spent absorbing all that Music City has to offer and bringing life to her creative vision. She wasted no time integrating herself into the local music scene. Within the first year, Emma played a long list of prestigious Nashville venues and showcases, capping it off with a slot at Pilgrimage Music Festival, which Rolling Stone named The “Festival to Watch.”
CART captioning will be available here or via QR code in the park. Please bring a data-connected digital device (phone, tablet, laptop) to access this streaming service.
Assistance with CART will be available at the Public Music tent. Please contact Public Music for questions about additional accessibility accommodations.
when
Save the dates - we'll see you next year! 2025 dates:
June 4, 2025
June 11, 2025
June 18, 2025
August 13, 2025
August 20, 2025
August 27, 2025
Music begins at 5:30 p.m. and concludes between 7:45 and 8 p.m.
Food vendors will be onsite at 5 p.m. Come early to get food from local vendors and choose your spot in the park!
cost
Concerts are free and open to the public!
seating
Space in the park is available on a first come, first served basis. Come early to choose your spot! We do not allow the use of ropes or stakes to reserve space.
We encourage you to bring lawn chairs or blankets to the events; seats are not provided.
Items to bring
Coolers, food, drink, lawn chairs, blankets, and other items to make your experience more comfortable are welcome and encouraged. Please leave grills at home.
Concessions
Local food, craft beer, and beverage vendors will have a variety of options for sale. Vendors will be onsite at 5 p.m.
Surveys
Share your feedback to win a prize pack! Fill out a digital survey to be entered to win. The survey will be open from 5 PM until 7 PM day of show and can be accessed here, at Public Music tent, or via QR codes posted throughout the park. The winner will be announced from stage during the headlining act. Must be present to win.
Smoking
Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is strictly prohibited.
Weather Policy
Concerts will take place outdoors rain or shine. In the case of threatening weather, the concert may be delayed, postponed, or, as a last resort, cancelled.
For weather related updates the day of the event, please check our event updates page or social media accounts.
Bike Racks
Are available in the parks. Space is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis.
Restrooms
Portable restrooms will be available in the park.
Soliciting
In order to make our events enjoyable for all, we respectfully request that public and private parties refrain from campaigning or soliciting at the FORWARD concerts. We appreciate your consideration.
Opportunities
Bands
Every year, Rochester Public Music invites local and regional bands to apply to be opening acts for the FORWARD shows. Learn more here.
Vendors
Every year, Rochester Public Music invites local and regional food and beverage to apply to participate in the FORWARD events. Learn more here.
Other Opportunities
Are you looking for ways to contribute, sponsor or volunteer with Rochester Public Music? Visit the Support Rochester Public Music page to learn more.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.