The final day of the 2025 installment of RiverBeat Music Festival dawned blustery and chilly but the sun was out and the fans were ready for one last day surrounded by amazing music. From an early start filled with jazz, brass and indie rock to an evening of pop hits and dancing, Sunday had a little something for every type of fan. As usual, Atlas was in the center of the action and we’ve put together our favorite moments from day three!
Ladies of RiverBeat Capture the Crowd
All eyes were on the ladies of Sunday’s lineup, starting strong in the late afternoon with Gayle on the main stage. The budding alt-pop princess is fresh from a viral TikTok hit and a successful stint as Taylor Swift’s tour opener and marked Memphis as her first show of 2025. At only 20 years old, Gayle is a force onstage, playing guitar and stretching into the stratosphere with her powerful vocals on songs like “leave me for dead” and “i don’t sleep as good as i used to”. Her impressive range and confident stage presence charmed the audience immediately and the set closed with that impossible to escape track that is “abcdefu”.
Later on in the evening, indie trio Khruangbin bathed the Bud Light Stage crowd in bright colors and mesmerized their audience with a unique blend of musical influences. While the band is three, it was bassist Laura Lee Ochoa who commanded attention with her fluid dancing and musical prowess. The band performed without vocals and seemed to read each other’s minds as they moved in perfect sync across the stage, drawing in passersby with their hypnotic performance- a stunning conclusion to that stage for the weekend.
Mystical, Magical Afternoon with Benson Boone
Love him or hate him, Benson Boone draws a crowd and his young Memphis fans waited all day at the main stage for a chance to see the up and coming star perform at golden hour. Backed by a picture-perfect sky and a stellar band, Boone quite literally bounded onstage to perch atop his piano to kick off the set with “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else” and “Cry”.
The fans were absolutely beside themselves as Boone launched into the first of many flips throughout the set and landed without missing a note. The sun peeked out from behind the clouds to bath the main stage in warm light and framed the rest of Boone’s set perfectly. His classic jeans and western-inspired jacket invoked an Americana energy and he channeled every ounce of that rockstar spirit into “Mystical Magical” and “Young American Heart”- both from his upcoming album. After expending all of the fans’ emotions, Boone wound down his performance with a powerful rendition of the hit song “Beautiful Things” and rode off triumphantly into the sunset.
Anderson .Paak’s Silky Smooth Headliner
Attendees only had one more chance to dance before the weekend was over and Anderson .Paak was more than up to the challenge as the festival’s closer. Joined by The Free Nationals, Paak glided onstage to treat the audience to every song from Malibu– and a whole lot more. “Heart Don’t Stand a Chance” had him flanked by his two stunning dancers and took the crowd on a walk through the park right into the rest of the set.
Paak also took a seat behind his drum kit, bashing away for several songs while still singing note perfect throughout. The evening chill was no match for the heat generated by a moving audience and Paak was determined to keep everyone on their feet- and he never let his huge grin falter as he watched the fans dance groove along with him.
He even emerged in his iconic Silk Sonic wig, performing “Leave the Door Open” before the set came to a reluctant close. As was the weekend’s tradition already, RiverBeat played him off with a fireworks spectacular, ending another incredible year at Tom Lee Park.
RiverBeat Music Festival married incredible music with Southern culture, food and much more for an unforgettable weekend for both the artists and the fans. Memphis showed real love towards the community and all of the performers that came out to grace the many stages and this lineup will be one to beat as we eagerly await the announcement for 2026.
