After a decade, the classic rivalry between LSU and Tulane will return to the Superdome, and Rival Fest will be there to welcome it home.
Rival Fest, a music festival that features local artists, will be held at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans on Friday.
“I helped Aric Webb, who owns Rival Fest, book the music artists,” said Stephen Rehage, former LSU football player. “I did whatever he needed me to do to get those bands.”
Rehage also manages Dan Dyer, who will perform at the event.
Cowboy Mouth and the Benjy Davis Project will headline the evening. Lauren Barrett, New Orleans native, will have an acoustic performance during happy hour. A tag team DJ duo – DJ Jive and DJ Kemistry – will perform as well. Frenchy, a New Orleans artist known for painting live depictions of events, will create the art for the Rival Fest posters and T-shirts. And MTV’s “MADE” will film a segment for its upcoming season.
Chuck Corcoran and Webb, University alumni, own GuRoux Marketing Group, a company focused on entertaining and advertising.
“We started the company in March,” Webb said. “Rival Fest is our first event.”
Webb and Corcoran brought in their childhood friend, Steve Ballard, to partner with their company. Ballard owns WOW Cafe and Wingery with his two brothers.
Webb said he wanted to create a unique marketing experience where people can listen to music and sample products from advertisers. Along with chicken wings from WOW, the festival will feature video games and other food and drinks.
“There will be a lot of companies here,” he said. “People initially assume it’s just a concert, but it’s not.”
The Abita Brewing Company will present its “Beer Garden” in which Abita will offer all of its available draft beers.
“The garden should be a relaxing place to enjoy all of the great beer,” Webb said.
Electronic Arts will sponsor a gaming lounge featuring Madden football.
“The gaming lounge will have former LSU and Tulane football players that you can play against,” Webb said. “High scores can win copies of Madden NCAA and NFL.”
The festival will also feature a happy hour, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., when the majority of samplings will be free.
Webb said there are many reasons why he wanted this event to be in New Orleans.”I see companies that are intimidated by New Orleans because they see they have to work really, really hard to be a success,” he said. “I want to bring those companies here and show them that they can establish business here.”
Webb said the city is in a “funk” and Rival Fest will help the city “get back to its roots and party.”
Ballard said he will cooperate again with Webb for Rival Fests in the future.
“Aric has created a brand, and hopefully we will take it to other rivalries like OU and Texas or Georgia and Florida,” Ballard said.
Webb said he will consider setting up the festival for more LSU rivalries and others around the South in the future.
Rehage said Webb’s idea is a “great concept.”
“Rival Fest is happening at the perfect time,” he said. “LSU and Tulane are playing in the Superdome for the first time in 10 years. It’s a great way to support the city.”
—Contact Ashley Norsworthy at [email protected]