Promoter Behind Rock Exploring April Music Festival in Northport, City Says

Northport has opened talks with the promoter behind Rock the South and other major regional events about bringing a music festival to the area around Kentuck Park next spring.

The Northport City Council voted Monday to authorize City Administrator Tera Tubbs to negotiate a contract with Peachtree Entertainment for an April festival. Any agreement Tubbs reaches will go back to the council for final approval.

"They are looking at doing a music festival in the month of April, around the 10th," Tubbs told the council. "They have experience all over the South doing this. They do Rock the South, they do Auburn Rodeo, and several others."

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Speaking to the Thread before the meeting, Tubbs said the promoters had already toured the city.

"They came and looked around Northport, and they're very excited about hosting a music festival here. They love the area around Kentuck Park," Tubbs said.

At the council's work session earlier Monday, Tubbs said the group has been producing events for almost two decades and told council members the details of their vision for Northport are still to be worked out.

"I'll talk with them about exactly what they want to do and bring it back to you with whatever the proposal is," she said.

Peachtree's festival portfolio includes Rock the South in Cullman, which began in 2012 as a one-time benefit for survivors of the tornadoes that struck Alabama but has grown into a highly anticipated annual event that will move to Decatur in early October.

The company also announced a partnership with Auburn University last year to bring "major live music experiences to Neville Arena and Jordan-Hare Stadium."

Mayor Dale Phillips said the festival fits the kind of city Northport wants to be, but stressed that the plans are preliminary.

"That's something that's being discussed. We have a lot of things going on. We want people to have activities. We want things to be fun. We want Northport to be a fun place, but we also want it to be a growing place," Phillips said. "Nothing's been determined. We're just in the early stages. But Tera is doing a great job on it, and I'm excited about working with those folks."

Kentuck Park hosted the Kentuck Festival of the Arts for almost 50 years, but the event moved to Tuscaloosa's Snow Hinton Park in 2024 after negotiations between organizers and Northport officials broke down, and a long-term contract will keep the Festival in the Druid City for years to come.

For more exclusive coverage of news in Northport and across West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.