2026 Lineup & Schedule

RIVERFEST AT SALISBURY BEACH
Saturday, August 22, 2026 | 12:00-6:00 PM
Broadway Boardwalk, Salisbury Beach, MA

RIVERFEST 2026 SCHEDULE

TIME ARTIST
12:15 – 1:00 PM GAVIN MARENGI
1:30 – 2:30 PM FANTASTIC CAT
3:00 – 4:00 PM BUFFALO TOM
4:30 – 6:00 PM SPIN DOCTORS

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

SPIN DOCTORS have for more than three decades remained one of the most recognizable and enduring bands to emerge from the alternative rock explosion of the early 1990s. Formed in New York City, the group built a loyal following through relentless touring and energetic live performances before breaking into the mainstream with their landmark 1991 debut album, *Pocket Full of Kryptonite*.

Fueled by the massive hit singles “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” the album became a multi-platinum success and helped define an era of rock radio. Their infectious blend of rock, funk, blues, jam-band improvisation, and pop hooks earned the Spin Doctors fans around the world and established them as one of the decade’s most distinctive acts.

At the heart of the band’s sound is the dynamic chemistry between vocalist Chris Barron, guitarist Eric Schenkman, bassist Mark White, and drummer Aaron Comess. Together, they created a catalog of songs that continue to resonate with audiences and inspire new generations of listeners.

Today, Spin Doctors remain a powerful live act, bringing the same high-energy performances and musicianship that first made them favorites on club stages, festival grounds, and concert venues across the country. Their shows combine beloved hits, deep cuts, and spontaneous musical moments that showcase the band’s roots as accomplished performers and improvisers.

Whether you’re reliving the soundtrack of the ’90s or discovering them for the first time, Spin Doctors continue to prove why their music remains timeless, vibrant, and as engaging as ever.

 

BUFFALO TOM emerged just as the college rock of the 1980s metamorphosed into the alt-rock explosion of the ’90s. They have withstood shifts of fortune and style to become one of their generation’s enduring rock bands. Over time, the Boston trio tempered the full-throttle guitar roar that got them pegged as “Dinosaur Jr. junior” upon the release of their self-titled debut album in 1988, an evolution that happened quickly. Let Me Come Over, the 1992 album that broadened their audience in the U.S. and the U.K., was anchored by the aching ballad “Taillights Fade.” During the ’90s, Big Red Letter Day and Sleepy Eyed kept Buffalo Tom in the orbit of the alt-rock mainstream on both sides of the Atlantic. Following the 1998 release of Smitten, the band went on a hiatus that lasted nearly a decade. After the 2007 release of Three Easy Pieces, Buffalo Tom remained an active band, touring periodically and releasing such new albums as 2018’s Quiet and Peace and 2024’s Jump Rope every few years.

 

FANTASTIC CAT:  Dubbed “the Harlem Globetrotters of Americana” by Rolling Stone and “The Wu-Tang Clan of folk rock” by The Village Voice, Fantastic Cat is, much like pornography, better seen than described. Featuring four widely lauded singer/songwriters who trade vocals and swap instruments on nearly every tune, the band emerged to broad critical acclaim with the release of their irreverent debut, The Very Best of Fantastic Cat, which earned the group their first national TV appearance, sold out headline dates around the US and Europe, a performance at the Sundance Film Festival, and a song in the Paramount+ series Tulsa King. Two years later, they followed it up with the similarly celebrated Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat, which featured an appearance from Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz, landed the band dates with Dawes and Lucius, and prompted WFUV to declare them “one of the best Americana and rock bands to tumble out of New York over the last few years.”

Now, Fantastic Cat has defied the odds—and their therapists’ strong urging—to return with their third and most-likely-to-prompt-a-lawsuit-from-the-Meat-Loaf-estate album yet, Cat Out Of Hell. Produced by the band and mixed by D. James Goodwin (Goose, Kevin Morby, The Hold Steady), the collection elevates Fantastic Cat’s trademark blend of craftsmanship and chaos to new sonic heights, capturing the freewheeling, lightning in a bottle energy of their must-see live show and channeling it into a ramshackle house party full of existential searchers, desperate romantics, and barstool philosophers.

Individually, each member of Fantastic Cat boasts their own impressive resume including appearances everywhere from the New York Times and the Tiny Desk to Bonnaroo and Cayamo. NPR said Anthony D’Amato “sings and writes in the tradition of Bruce Springsteen or Josh Ritter.” Pitchfork called Brian Dunne’s new album “wise and poetic,” declaring that “every song sounds like his life depends on it.” Paste proclaimed Don DiLego’s latest record a “stunner,” and Rolling Stone hailed Mike Montali’s band, Hollis Brown, as “the soundtrack for a late-night drive through the American heartland.”

Together, they form a four-headed songwriting hydra, one with the lush harmonies of CSNY, the playful wit of The Traveling Wilburys, and the relentless interpersonal strife of the Eagles.

 

 

GAVIN MARENGI is a singer-songwriter hailing from Salisbury, Massachusetts, and a true hometown enthusiast. His deep connection to his small town roots and his formative experiences growing up shape the heartfelt narratives woven into his songs. Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of genres, Gavin’s music is a captivating fusion of Americana, Classic Folk, Southern Rock, and Outlaw Country. Gavin possesses an extraordinary talent that captivates audiences wherever he performs, leaving them spellbound by his impressive guitar skills and soulful, raspy voice.

 

LINEUP SAMPLER