Last year’s &#8220American Idol” runner-up and Southern rocker Bo Bice will take the stage in place of country sensation Billy Currington Friday night, joining other headliners this weekend at Riverfest.

Currington was forced to cancel Monday due to an illness.

Bice will hit the North Stage, at China and Washington streets, at 10:30 p.m. Friday, the slot Currington was scheduled to fill.

Riverfest board member Erin Powell said the decision to book Bice, who released his debut album &#8220The Real Thing” in December, seemed natural.

&#8220He has a cross market and is able to appeal to young and old because of his ‘American Idol’ performances.”

According to ratings by Nielsen Media Research, FOX’s &#8220American Idol” was the most-watched show on television when Bice had his near-win. He lost to country singer Carrie Underwood by 134 votes in 2005, but has soared the charts since his album’s release. The Alabama native’s hits include &#8220Inside Your Heaven” and &#8220Vehicle,” a cover of the original song by Ides of March.

Riverfest president Josie Moody said she and the board are pleased with the replacement for Currington.

&#8220We are so excited we were able to find such an up-and-coming performer to replace Billy Currington,” she said.

Work on the North Stage and South stages will begin this afternoon and Washington Street will be blocked to traffic by 4 a.m. Friday, Moody said. Vendors will begin to fill Washington Street Friday afternoon and entrance gates with $15 tickets will open at 6 p.m. at South, Crawford and China streets. Entrances will also be located at Walnut Towers parking garage at Walnut Street and Horizon parking garage at Mulberry Street. Participants are encouraged to park at the garages.

Just hours before Bice’s performance, judges will name Vicksburg’s own &#8220idol” at the third annual Riverfest Idol, presented by Atwood Chevrolet and House of Awards, at 6:30 p.m. at the South Stage at Washington and South streets.

Entertainment will continue on the South Stage with The Chill and headline blues singer John Lee Hooker Jr. At the North Stage at China and Washington streets entertainment will begin with Earth Angels, Mustang Sally and new headline addition Bice. Southern Steel will begin playing at the Center Stage at Riverstage Plaza, followed by A.P.O., Dreamer and Thundercreek.

Main Street director Rosalie Theobald said this year’s festival furthers the positive attention to downtown by locals and people from all over.

&#8220You can’t put a price tag on that wonderful advertisement for downtown – to showcase what we have to such an array of people,” she said.

Riverfest will continue at 8 a.m. Saturday with the 38th Annual Vicksburg Arts & Crafts Show between Jackson and China streets, more live music and children’s activities. Moody said the Great Cats of the World will not be at the festival because of legal issues. All daily events are free and gates will open at 6 for Saturday night entertainment with tickets for $15. Headliners for Saturday night will be funkmaster Morris Day & Time and rock group Kansas on two stages at 10:30. For information on Riverfest, visit the Web site at www.riverfestms.com.