Music City Food + Wine Festival Announces Riverfront Park Move

Pictured (L-R): Ken Levitan, Mayor Karl Dean, Kings of Leon’s Nathan Followill, Caleb Followill and Jared Followill, Butch Spyridon. Photo: Kelsey Grady.

The third annual Music City Food + Wine Festival will be held Sept. 19-20, 2015 with afternoon events moving from Public Square Park to The Green at Riverfront Park. Evening events will continue in the soon-to-be-remodeled Walk of Fame Park.

The musical lineup for Saturday, Sept. 19’s Harvest Night celebration is expected later this summer but will again be curated by the Kings of Leon. The weekend will bring together superstars of Nashville’s local culinary scene with acclaimed national and regional chefs, wine and spirits experts for cooking demonstrations and panel discussions. The Harvest Night signature event pairs dishes from world-renowned chefs and top musical talent.

The announcement was made this afternoon when rocker group Kings of Leon joined chef Jonathan Waxman, Vector Management’s Ken Levitan and Andy Mendelsohn, and C3 at Waxman’s new Baja Sexton in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

“This third year means the event is growing and–in our book–is here to stay!” said Butch Spyridon, president and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation.

“The park will be ready ahead of time and should be a great location for it,” said Mayor Karl Dean. “One of the most interesting observations in my eight years as mayor of Nashville is watching the culinary scene of Nashville explode–something that has happened organically. The restaurants mean so much to our city. It reflects the increased diversity of our city. The diversity of the food is part of that attraction and one of the benefits.”

“We are honored to host some of the best and brightest chefs once again and to provide a delicious forum in our backyard for residents and visitors alike to experience the best that our city has to offer,” said Levitan.

“We’re hitting our stride as we enter into our third year!” said Mendelsohn.

“As our third Music City Food + Wine Festival approaches, it reinforces how proud I am to be a member of Nashville’s amazing and vibrant culinary community,” said Waxman.

Tickets went on sale this morning, May 13 at 10 a.m. CT. Weekend passes are available for $500/ea. Day/night passes are available starting at $150/ea. Information here. Must be 21 years of age or older.

The Grand Taste includes (additional announcements expected):
Kahlil Arnold (Arnold’s Country Kitchen)
Roderick Bailey (The Silly Goose)
Matt Bolus (404 Kitchen)
Carey Bringle (Peg Leg Porker)
Tyler Brown (Capitol Grille)
Maneet Chauhan (Chauhan Ale & Masala House)
Trey Cioccia (The Farm House)
Rene De Leon (Le Sel)
Lisa Donovan (Buttermilk Road & Husk Nashville)
Matt Farley (The Southern Steak & Oyster and The Acme)
Jay Flatley (Tavern)
Giovanni Pinato (Giovanni Ristorante)
Sarah Gavigan (Otaku South)
Robert Grace (Kayne Prime)
Josh Habiger (Strategic Hospitality)
Hal M. Holden-Bache (Lockeland Table)
John Lasater (Hattie B’s Hot Chicken)
Dale Levitski (Sinema Nashville)
Chris Lewallen (Silo); Andrew Little (Josephine)
Duane Loftus (Merchant’s Restaurant)
Todd Alan Martin (The Treehouse)
Jason McConnell (McConnell Hospitality Group)
Margot McCormack (Margot Café & Marche)
Trevor Moran (The Catbird Seat)
Deb Paquette (Etch & Truss Restaurant)
James Peisker and Chris Carter (Porter Road Butcher)
Nick Pellegrino (Mangia Nashville)
Jeffrey Rhodes (Pinewood Social)
Nick Seabergh (The Sutler Saloon)
Kaelin Ulrich Trilling (Bajo Sexto Taco)
Tandy Wilson (City House)
Karl Worley (Biscuit Love Brunch)

Harvest Night chefs include:
Chris Bianco (Pizzeria Bianco)
Sean Brock (Husk)
Graham Elliot (Graham Elliot Bistro)
Kelly English (Restaurant Iris)
Carla Hall (Carla Hall’s Southern Kitchen)
Linton Hopkins (Holeman & Finch Public House)
Mike Lata (FIG & The Ordinary)
Daniel Lindley (Alleia Restaurant)
Tim Love (Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Woodshed Smokehouse, Queenie’s Steakhouse, Love Shack & White Elephant Saloon)
Matthew McClure (The Hive)
Marcus Samuelsson (Red Rooster Harlem, Ginny’s Supper Club, Streetbird Rotisserie)
Aarón Sánchez (Paloma & Johnny Sanchez)
Michael Schwartz (Michael’s Genuine)
Levon Wallace (Cochon Butcher)
Jonathan Waxman (Adele’s by Jonathan Waxman, Bajo Sexto Taco & Barbuto)
Andrew Zimmern (Chef & TV Personality)

Cooking Demonstrations:
Chris Bianco
Graham Elliot
Carla Hall
Linton Hopkins
Mike Lata
Tim Love
Marcus Samuelsson
Aarón Sánchez
Michael Schwartz
Levon Wallace
Jonathan Waxman
Andrew Zimmern

Read MusicRow‘s coverage of past events here.