Rhythm & Roots Festival

Ninigret Park 

Old Post Rd [Rt 1A], Charlestown, RI   (view map)

DAY ONE The first night of the Rhythm & Roots Festival is usually a nice warm-up for the action to come. The dance tent teems with twirling two-steppers — Jesse Lege & Bayou Brew, Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie, and the weekend’s host band, the Pine Leaf Boys, will provide the soundtrack there — and the main stage gallops with outfits doing what they do best: rocking the house — or, in this case, the park. Donna the Buffalo are the headliners (9:30 pm); the versatile jam band does many things well, especially fueling a rhythmic engine. Sarah & the Tall Boys kick things off at 5 pm; the Gourds and Roddie Romero & the Hub City All-Stars will also stomp ’n’ holler at Ninigret Park, Rt 1A, Charlestown | $35 | 888.855.6940 | rhythmandroots.com DAY TWO The Rhythm & Roots Festival often reaches outside the realm of fiddle and squeezebox music — it’s smart to look around the corner when you’re trying to sustain the vitality of your annual event. Two acts best fit that slot during today’s 12-hour blast: Carolina Chocolate Drops and Hugh Laurie & the Copper Bottom Band. The former is a spirited string band which knows how to bring the frenzy: the fiddle is scratched with abandon, the banjo is smacked around, and the jug is blown with mucho gusto. The latter is fronted by that guy from House, who is an accomplished pianist and has a crack band (plus a spotlight-stealer in Sister Jean McClain), and is easily the most . . . interesting booking in the Fest’s history. Other standouts: La Bottine Souriante, an 11-member outfit from Quebec; the soulful Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound; and the genre-jumping Duhks. Since this is the umpteenth edition of the R&R Fest, you should know the rest. There’s storytelling for families by Marc Levitt and Len Cabral, great NOLA food options, and intimate workshops (slide guitar, cello wizardry, songwriting, et al). Dig in and enjoy a fun-packed day at Ninigret Park, Rt 1A, Charlestown | $60 | 888.855.6940 | rhythmandroots.com DAY THREE The Rhythm & Roots Festival keeps mixing it up down the home stretch. David Bromberg will lead his big band through their wry changes (he’ll also co-host a guitar workshop at 4:45); Nanci Griffith will turn the volume down a tad; and Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys will inspire dance fever on the main stage (5:45) and at the fest-closing fais do do (10 pm). There’s a lot more of everything — music, kids’ stuff, workshops; get the whole lineup, set times, and all the other details at rhythmandroots.com

featuring Hugh Laurie & the Copper Bottom Band + Nanci Griffith + the David Bromberg Big Band + Carolina Chocolate Drops + the Duhks + Donna the Buffalo + Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sounds + Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie + Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic + the Gourds + Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys + Blackie & the Rodeo Kings + Roddie Romero & the Hub City All Stars + Johnny Nicholas & Hellbent + Sarah & the Tall Boys + Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp + Jesse Legé & Bayou Brew + Golden Triangle [featuring David Greely & Sam Broussard of the Mamou Playboys and Johnny Nicholas] + the New Orleans Suspects + Tornado Rider + La Bottine Souriante + Poullard, Frank & Friends + Magnolia + Planet Zydeco + host band the Pine Leaf Boys + workshops + a family tent + more