Moon River Festival Sets Sail: Why Chattanooga's Beloved Fest Is Moving to a Cruise Ship

The beloved Moon River Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee is setting sail - literally! In this episode of The What Podcast, hosts Barry Courter and Bryan Stone sit down with Drew Holcomb, founder of Moon River, and Jeff Cuellar, CEO of Sixthman, to talk about the bold decision to move the festival from the banks of the Tennessee River to a cruise ship at sea. They discuss the challenges that made the Chattanooga version unsustainable, the emotional weight behind that choice, and why "Moon River at Sea" could be the next evolution of boutique music festivals.

From weather risks and financial realities to the excitement of an immersive fan experience on the ocean, this conversation goes deep into what it takes to produce a modern festival in a changing world. Drew shares personal insight into what Moon River meant to him and the city, while Jeff explains how Sixthman plans to bring that same community spirit to the high seas.

Listen to this week's episode with Drew and Jeff here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

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CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:55) Moon River at Sea with Drew and Jeff

(01:04:44) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Bonnaroo Gumbo

Saving Moon River: How the Festival Overcame a Sunday Rainout

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