FITCHBURG, MA – August 21, 2025 – The Fourth Annual River City Rhythm and Rock Festival (RCRRF) returns to Fitchburg this year with its most ambitious lineup yet, featuring vibrant talent, expanded vendor offerings, and increased support from sponsors and community partners. The beloved festival continues its mission to celebrate diverse musical genres while providing a platform for underrepresented creatives in North Central Massachusetts.
TL;DR: RCRRF 2025 expands to two days with a new Friday showcase at Canvas, featuring both veteran festival founders and emerging talent, plus enhanced programming across Mill Street and Riverfront Park.
NEW FOR 2025: Friday Showcase at Canvas Creative Hub
For the first time in the festival’s history, RCRRF extends to include a Friday showcase at Canvas, the new creative hub located on Main Street in the former Tryst location. The showcase runs from 6 to 10 PM and will feature a unique “reverse cover” with the first 50 attendees receiving $5 upon entry.
Hosted by Yo Daddy Doe and headlined by Joe Grizzly, both founding members of RCRRF, the Friday showcase provides a platform for emerging artists including ProZach, Versatille, and BigBoss alongside the festival’s veteran performers. This expansion reflects the festival’s growth and commitment to nurturing up-and-coming voices in the local music scene.
Canvas’s prime location next to Cushing Street and Mill Street Stage, directly across from Riverfront Park, positions it perfectly to kickstart a weekend celebrating the creative energy surrounding the Dickinson building and Downtown Fitchburg.
Mill Street Integration: The Openest Mic Partnership
RCRRF 2025 marks the first integration of an open mic component through a partnership with The Openest Mic, a traveling third place led by poet Laura DiCaronimo and Tyler Hopp that has been transforming the North Central MA scene. “The Openest Mic Presents: The Festivalest Mic” begins at 2:15 PM on Mill Street with host Laura, featuring headliner Logan Rau (comedian) and Worcester based hip-hop acts Death Over Simplicity and Weapon ESP (4:00 PM), followed by the continuation of The Cellar Mill Street music series with One Headlight. The Cellar outdoor beer garden opens at 5 PM.
Musical Lineup Highlights
The festival opens with K Fingers (2:00 PM) with jazz, followed by the traditional Thurston Consort Duo (2:30 PM), who played an instrumental role in the festival’s inception, providing chamber music for early risers and classical music fans. The day builds in energy and diversity from there.
Returning favorites include Tasteless Jack (3:45 PM), Merrick Henry (4:40 PM), Provenance (6:05 PM), NEWCENTURY (7:10 PM), AV-8 (8:25 PM), Q-Furb (8:05 PM), and Freddy Stone (9:20 PM). New highlights feature Troubles with Parachutes (3:05 PM), Vile Impulse (5:20 PM), Brandie Blaze (7:40 PM), and Fewch & Dinero Lifestyle (8:45 PM).
Community Attractions & Activities
The festival maintains its beloved community features, including the Nick Nogueira Beer Garden and food trucks. Fidelity Bank’s Frosty Flyer returns with free ice cream for attendees, while two bouncy houses for children will be staffed by Youth Innovation Center peer mentors and staff, who are also celebrating their first anniversary.
Great Wolf Lodge provides an exciting raffle opportunity – all attendees receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win four waterpark passes to the resort.The Youth Innovation Center provides additional activities aligned with their mission, creating intergenerational engagement throughout the festival grounds. A diverse Vendor Village offers shopping and food options, expanding on previous years’ offerings.
Vendor Village Expansion
This year’s vendor lineup includes established local businesses and emerging entrepreneurs. Highlights include choripan and beverages by Centro Celeste, a nonprofit strengthening the Latino community, Gems & Jewels, a BI-POC/Queer-led radical arts initiative, and mini escape game by Curious Escape Rooms, North Central Mass’s first immersive escape room company. Food vendors include El Punto Latino and DAT’S FIRE BBQ, alongside creative entrepreneurs ranging from 18-year-old sound engineering student Kats Kreations, cotton candy by Monte’s Candy Clouds to multi-generational businesses like Henna Artistry.
Sponsor Recognition
RCRRF gratefully acknowledges support from our Gold Level Sponsors: MassDevelopment/TDI, Mass Cultural Council, Nick Noguiera Photos, and Fidelity Bank. Silver Level Sponsors include The Openest Mic, Enterprise Bank, and Great Wolf Lodge. Bronze Level Sponsors include Fitchburg Fiber, NewVue Communities Inc, Three Pyramids Inc, The Cellar, and Making Opportunities Count Inc. Event Background
River City Rhythm and Rock Festival was created to address the lack of music festivals supporting arts and culture from underrepresented creatives. The festival provides a platform for multi-genre artists, particularly hip-hop performers, to showcase their talents within their community while promoting creative placemaking and accessible live performances in Fitchburg.
Since its grassroots inception, RCRRF has grown through community support and strategic partnerships, including grants from the Fitchburg Creative City Partnership and the Center for Community Progress.
Event Details:
● Date: August 30-31, 2025
● Friday Showcase: Canvas Creative Hub, 6-9 PM (326 Main Street, former Tryst
location)
● Saturday Main Event: Riverfront Park and Mill Street, Fitchburg, MA, 2-10 PM
● Admission: Friday showcase offers $5 to first 50 attendees; Saturday event details TBA
● Info: Visit www.coff33corp.org/rcrrf or follow Coff33Corp on social media
For more information, contact:
Derek Craig
Chief Visionary Officer, CoFF33 Corp
Email: Derek@coff33corp.org
Website: www.coff33corp.org