The 13th annual Rhythm and Roots Festival will kick off with sounds of blues guitar, accordion, saxophone, and a little cowbell this Labor Day Weekend, Friday night, all day Saturday and Sunday, Sept 3-5 at Ninigret Park in Charlestown RI.
19 bands that range from Texas swing, country, Louisiana Cajun and zydeco, to gospel and bluegrass music. Scheduled are festival favorites Donna the Buffalo, Steve Riley, and Marcia Ball. Dave Alvin, Danny Barnes Trio and others will play into the night.
Some highlights:
Marcia Ball. The queen of Southern boogie-woogie and blues, she has one foot in Texas and the other in New Orleans, her pounding piano incorporates influences from Professor Longhair to Bob Wills.
Li’l Freddie King. From New Orleans by way of Mississippi, Freddie just celebrated his 70th birthday. Close your eyes while he plays and you’ll be in a small, sweaty club in New Orleans upper ninth ward sipping an Abita.
Bonerama. You’ll rethink the trombone as a heavy metal instrument after hearing the sonic assault of 3 trombones played through special effects pedals doing versions of Hendrix and Led Zep tunes mixed with their background in New Orleans funk. Highlight: their killer versions of the Beatles Helter Skelter and the Allmans Whipping Post.
Donna the Buffalo. A perennial favorite in the Dance tent, the band keeps the dance floor filled throughout their set.
Robert Randolph with his Family Band offer hard rocking music with his gospel tinged pedal steel guitar. Look for various relatives in his tight band, including a sister and a cousin on bass
C. J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band. C. J. is the son of legend and king of zydeco, Clifton Chenier, is now putting his own mark on the zydeco tradition.
Rhythm and Roots is a family friendly event with a kid’s stage and play area, and a supervised swimming pond. Camp sites available along with three stages, including the main stage, and a workshop tent. The dance stage offers free Zydeco and Cajun dance instruction throughout the day. There are food and vendors with a variety of items for sale.
For a complete listing and other information, go to www.rhythmandroots.com.
