Rhythm & Roots returns to Ninigret Park Sept. 2-4

Posted 6/22/16

The 19th annual Rhythm & Roots Festival announces its spectacular all-star lineup for Sept. 2-4. Held every Labor Day weekend at beautiful Ninigret Park in the ocean-side community of Charlestown, …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Rhythm & Roots returns to Ninigret Park Sept. 2-4

Posted

The 19th annual Rhythm & Roots Festival announces its spectacular all-star lineup for Sept. 2-4. Held every Labor Day weekend at beautiful Ninigret Park in the ocean-side community of Charlestown, Rhode Island, the festival has become a destination event drawing more than 10,000 roots music and dance fans from all over the country.  Ninigret Park is located at 4890A Old Post Road, (just off U.S. Route 1) in Charlestown.

The theme for this year’s Fest will be new, newer and newest as two-thirds of the acts will be appearing at R&R for the first time. Debuting at R&R will be Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, hot on the heels of their new release, “Rehab Reunion,” coming out this summer. Lucinda Williams, nominated for Artist of the Year and Album of the Year by the Americana Music Association, will be showcasing her songwriting talents at Ninigret for the first time as well. Another newcomer to R&R is The David Grisman Sextet, with their unique blend of acoustic jazz and bluegrass dubbed “Dawg Music.” Taj Mahal will be returning to R&R with his trio, celebrating his 50th year of performing roots music.

A complete list of artists can be found at www.rhythmandroots.com/ws/pages/artists.php.

Beginning on Friday, the Rhythm Stage, sponsored by the Ocean House of Westerly, will feature an opening night “Blues Bash” starring Canadian Matt Andersen & the Bona Fide, three bands from Little Rhody, The Knickerbocker All Stars, Duke Robillard and Roomful of Blues, along with some Texas blues from the Willie J Laws Band. Saturday will feature Williams, Mahal, longtime festival favorites, Donna the Buffalo, a rare reunion of the all-female string band, Uncle Earl, plus Americana music newcomers Honeyhoney from Nashville, Australian husband and wife blues duo, Hat Fitz and Cara, and Asheville, N.C., country, bluegrass and Americana group The Honeycutters.

Sunday’s lineup includes Hornsby, Grisman, founding members of The Blasters, Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin, reunited after 25 years of playing apart. Also playing will be a mashup of the Mamou Playboys, Steve Riley and Kevin Wimmer, with Roddie Romero and Eric Adcock of the Hub City All Stars joining forces to front Orchestre Royal. Last year’s hit surprise, the Dustbowl Revival, will return, San Antonio’s hottest Conjunto band, Los Texmaniacs, and longtime folk, blues and jug band veterans, Jim Kweskin and Geoff Muldaur, are also on the bill.

The Roots Stage will feature two, two-hour blocks of themed sets during Saturday and Sunday evenings. On Saturday, fans will be treated by “The Ladies of Roots Music” and a “Western Swing All-Star Throwdown.” During the day, there will be performances from Sarah Potenza, Quiet Life, Kelsey Waldon, The Huntress and the Holder of Hands and Guthrie Brown and the Family Tree. Sunday will showcase “The Gulf Coast Sessions” and the “Rhythm & Roots Rookies,” with a number of up-and-coming bands from the Americana music scene. Also, Honeyhoney, Hat Fitz and Cara, The Occidental Gypsy Jazz Band, Quiet Life and the Suitcase Junket.

Don’t forget the ever-popular, always full Dance Stage with 4,400 square feet of wooden dance floor. Cajun and Zydeco music will be on tap from the festival’s opening right up to the close on Sunday night. The dance bands will be Orchestre Royal, Donna the Buffalo, longtime Louisiana faves, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, 2016 Grammy nominees, The Revelers, and the hottest young band from Southwest Louisiana, Cedryl Ballou and the Zydeco Trendsetters.

Lastly, we have our Family Stage featuring music, dance, storytelling and crafts. R&R has partnered with the Tomaquag Museum again this year and will feature Native American songs in addition to storytelling and crafts. The family stage also offers instrument and mask making workshops in the afternoons before the Mardi Gras Family Parades lead by Brass Band. At night, the family stage is the perfect place to watch some classic G-rated movies. There are two shows: one in the early evening for the younger kids and a later feature for the teens. For some more outdoor fun, families can go to the Ninigret Park’s new remodeled playground full of fun slides, see-saws, monkey bars and swings.

For tickets and information, go to www.rhythmandroots.com or call 1-888-855-6940.

The festival has camping available and the park contains a swimming area, nature trails and a recreational area for kids. Select food vendors will be offering Cajun and Creole cuisine, lobster rolls and freshly shucked oysters, BBQ ribs and chicken, Greek and Middle Eastern foods, beer, wine, assorted beverages and desserts.

Selected among the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association, Rhythm & Roots has been called “an incredible experience, a perfectly organized, flawlessly run major destination event that music fans from all over the country will be drawn to,” and the patrons who return each year – bringing newly made festival devotees – would agree.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here