Labor Day weekend to feature Rhythm & Roots Festival

Posted 8/21/14

One of the biggest music events in New England to take place on Labor Day weekend, the Rhythm & Roots Festival returns to Ninigret Park in Charlestown with a bigger than ever roots music lineup. …

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Labor Day weekend to feature Rhythm & Roots Festival

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One of the biggest music events in New England to take place on Labor Day weekend, the Rhythm & Roots Festival returns to Ninigret Park in Charlestown with a bigger than ever roots music lineup.  With 92 sets of music on five stages over two and a half days, festival-goers will get a full scope of roots music, dancing on two shaded dance floors, intimate artist workshops, Cajun and Zydeco dance instruction, an expanded variety of food and merchant vendors, and activities for kids such as instrument instruction at the Kids Cajun Academy (advance signup required), storytelling, mask making for the Kids Mardi Gras Parade, crafts and new this year pottery classes by the Mobile Arts Studio.

The festival draws patrons from over 24 states and of all ages in what can be described as an impromptu town in the park with camping available on site as well as in nearby town centers of Charlestown and Westerly. Rhythm & Roots, selected in 2007 as one of the “Top 100 Events in North America” by the American Bus Association has continued to expand by leaps and bounds since that time.

With an annual festival lineup of national talent in various genres such as Blues, New Orleans R&B, Americana, Swing, Cajun, Zydeco and various other types of roots music, festival-goers enjoy major acts as well as discover new artists they hadn’t known about, and often walk away with new favorites.  This year will be no exception as the festival opens on Friday night featuring three blistering stages of genre-blazing music with three diverse themes.

On Friday, Aug. 29 the festival kicks off at 4 p.m. with a Canadian Stage hosted by Leonard Podolak of festival host band, The Duhks; an Americana Stage hosted by Sarah Potenza (Sarah & the Tall Boys), who will also be featured throughout the weekend; and a Louisiana Dance Stage which will close with the beginning of the big weekend-long 25th Anniversary Celebration of Donna the Buffalo, who will be joined by special Louisiana guests along with Jim Lauderdale, whose new CD, “I’m a Song,” is currently climbing the Americana chart. Jim will also do his own set over the weekend. 

Friday night will also include The Duhks with their brand of “progressive soul-grass,” festival favorites and Grammy nominated bands, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys and The Pine Leaf Boys, and “Titan of the Telecaster,” Bill Kirchen with his band Too Much Fun. Then there’s the Travelin’ McCourys & Cody Kilby, a band which includes the sons of Del McCoury, whose band is the most awarded in the history of bluegrass – and the Dom Flemons Trio helmed by the former member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops will be featured throughout the weekend.

On Saturday, Aug. 30 Canadian Masters of the Fiddle with the internationally recognized Natalie MacMaster and husband, Donell Leahy will light up the stage with lightning fast, Celtic-meets-Cape Breton Island playing, joined by very special guests. Bluegrass-fused-with-rock jam band, Leftover Salmon also joins Saturday’s incredible lineup, along with “the best living zydeco singer and accordionist,” CJ Chenier, who will fill the dance floor for his entire set.  Terence Simien & the Zydeco Experience will also be among dancers’ favorites.  Among the bands debuting at the festival this year is 2013 Grammy winner, The Band Courtbouillon, featuring Wayne Toups, Steve Riley and Wilson Savoy, and three-time Grammy nominee, Chuck Mead with his country blues and rock style making for a powerful Saturday lineup. The Workshop Stage featuring intimate sessions with artists will kick into full gear on Saturday as well as the Family Stage with its wide range of activities for kids.

Just added for Sunday, Aug. 31 Rhythm & Roots is proud to present Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires. Described as “echo(ing) the evocative delivery of Otis Redding,” Bradley was “discovered” at 62 years old, performing as a James Brown impersonator and went on to release his first album in 2011. He has emerged from a life of poverty and family tragedy to garnering sold out performances backed by his “insanely tight six-man Extraordinaires.” The epic level of talent on Sunday continues with Anders Osborne whose style USA Today describes as “fiery anthems and tumultuous confessional songs punctuated with raw inspired guitar.”  Also on the lineup “Prince and James Brown’s musical love child,” A.J. Ghent, the funky twangin’ rap ‘n’ grass of Gangstagrass, and supergroup a la Travelin’ Wilburys, Southern Hospitality. 

Tickets are: Fri $40, after 8/15: $45;  Sat/Sun: $60, after 8/15: $65. Full weekend: $150, after 8/15: $165; Full festival (three-day) w/camping: $185, after 8/15: $200. Kids 12 and under are free. Senior discount (60+) at the gate. A special note: the Aug 24 concert with Forever Young at Ninigret Park, 4890A Old Post Rd, Charlestown, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., is free.

Rhythm & Roots is teaming up with the Rhode Island Center Assisting Those in Need (RI CAN), Charlestown Parks & Recreation, and festival-goers’ favorite food vendor, The Chili Brothers to provide the community with a free summer concert in the park, Sunday August 24 with award winning Neil Young tribute band, Forever Young.  The famous Chili Brothers jambalaya will be served up in memory of well-loved Chili brother, Avery Schold, who passed suddenly last year. All proceeds from a raffle and the sale of soda and water will go to RI CAN’s food bank. 

For more information, call Charlestown Parks & Recreation at 364-1222 or email vhilton@charlestownri.com.

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