Riverbend Music Center Photo: facebook.com/RiverbendMusicCenter

Riverbend Music Center and PNC Pavilion have released their tentative lineup for the 2025 season, with more additions expected.

Billy Idol and guest Joan Jett and the Blackhearts rock the stage for the first show of the season on May 21, with Pierce the Veil closing out the season on Oct. 19.

Riverbend has been a staple venue during the summer season since the mid-1980s, with artists ranging from Frank Sinatra to Trippie Redd performing in the Midwestern heat to often sold-out crowds.

The lineup was posted to Riverbend’s social media and was met with excitement particularly for Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan’s appearance on June 22. One user on Instagram reacted to the announcement with the social media stamp of approval — a fire emoji.

Others, however, had a less positive reaction to the lineup. On Facebook, several comments claim that Riverbend will be “going out of business” with this season’s calendar, with one user even stating that it’s the “same lineup from 1995.” Many are critiquing the lack of rock and hip-hop artists coming to Cincinnati, stating that the city “can’t seem to attract the big tours much anymore.”

Riverbend hit back at the hate comments, replying to one with the response, “Man, if you were part of our booking team, we’d go out of business yesterday.”

Below is the tentative lineup for Riverbend’s 2025 season:

May 21: Billy Idol with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
May 25: Breaking Benjamin and STAIND with Wage War and Lakeview
June 3: Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas with special guest Willie Watson
June 8: Avril Lavigne with Simple Plan and We the Kings
June 10: Barenaked Ladies with Guster and Fastball
June 13: Dave Matthews Band
June 14: Hauser
June 22: Outlaw Music Festival featuring Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Trampled by Turtles and Myron Elkins
June 23: James Taylor and His All-Star Band
June 24: Rick Springfield with John Waite, Wang Chung and Paul Young
June 26: Keith Urban with Chase Matthew, Alana Springsteen and Karley Scott Collins
July 8: The Lumineers with Hippo Campus
July 18: Dierks Bentley with Zach Top and The Band Loula
July 21: Beck with the Cincinnati Orchestra and special guest Molly Lewis
July 22: Pantera with Amon Amarth and Snafu
July 25: The Offspring with Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory
July 27: Kidz Bop Live
July 29: Cyndi Lauper with Jake Wesley Rogers
July 20: Big Time Rush with Katelyn Tarver and Stephen Kramer Glickman
Aug. 1: Luke Bryan with Avery Anna, Braxton Keith and Mae Estes
Aug. 3: Toto with Christopher Cross and Men at Work
Aug. 10: Nelly with Ja Rule, Eve and special guests
Aug. 14: Brit Floyd
Aug. 15: Thomas Rhett with Tucker Wetmore and The Castlefellows
Aug. 17: Volbeat with Halestorm and The Ghost Inside
Aug. 19: Styx and Kevin Cronin with Don Felder
Aug. 26: Whiskey Myers and Tedeschi Trucks Band
Sept. 10: Chevelle with Asking Alexandria and Dead Poet Society
Sept. 12: The Doobie Brothers with The Coral Reefer Band
Sept. 19: Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls
Sept. 23: Papa Roach and Rise Against with Guest Underoath
Oct. 3: Tyler Childers with Hayes Carll
Oct. 19: Pierce the Veil with Health, Ecca Vandal and Like Roses

For more information about Riverbend Music Center, visit riverbend.org.

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This article appears in Apr 2-8, 2025.

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