Now in its fifth year, the ab-fabulous Rhythm and Roots Festival returns to
Ninigret Park down in Charlestown this weekend and if you like a good time with
lots of great music and dancing, well, you should get your cheeks down to South
County. More than Newport or any of the other festivals in the area throughout
the summer, this one's a sure thing, full of amazing vibes and tons of happy
people. If it's nice weather, there's probably only one other place you'd
rather be. (You can decide just where that is exactly.)
"It's always an upbeat festival with bands that make you want to get up and
dance," says Steve Riley, who has been playing the festival with his band, the
Mamou Playboys, since producer Chuck Wentworth began booking it in 1988.
"There's a good variety of music that makes the day a real positive experience
-- and a great party."
Since the Festival started at Stepping Stone Ranch in Escoheag way back when,
the event has grown incrementally, to the point where people from all over the
East Coast are filling up the place. Last year, for example, I ran into a
busload of folks who came from DC because they'd heard through the grapevine
that the festival was the place to be.
The fact is, Chuck Wentworth, along with former partner Mary Doub, has turned
Rhythm & Roots into a highly anticipated Labor Day weekend bash, a great
way to end the summer. "It's growing every year," says Riley. "I look forward
to it because I have one last chance to get together with some good friends of
mine and do some jamming."
Riley and the Playboys often combine forces onstage, either on the mainstage
or in the festival's dance tent with some of their Louisiana comrades for a
little zydeco cha-cha. This year, Louisiana talent like Sean Ardoin, Balfa
Toujours, Nathan Williams, and Andre Thierry will be serving up some of that
deliciously piquant Cajun flavor.
"The festival is exactly what the name says it is," says Riley. "It's `rhythm'
and it's `roots.' It's powerful and it makes a pretty big impression on the
people who attend."
If you haven't attended yet, Rhythm & Roots 2002 will feature four stages
of music. The Mohegan Sun Main Stage will be headlined on Friday night by the
tenaciously tough-talkin' Candye Kane and the Swingin' Armadillos. On Saturday,
the Radiators bring their "Fishhead Music" to close the evening, and Delbert
McClinton headlines on Sunday. Spread across the weekend, you'll also get
Beausoleil, the Iguanas, the Dudes, the Derailers, and David Bromberg, among
others. In the evening the Dance Tent, a great time in its own right, presents
its traditional Fais Do Do dances along with some not-so trad funny business
and some great extended jams for your boogie pleasure. The Rounder Workshop
Tent gets up close and personal with many of the talented performers over the
weekend, while the Coca-Cola Family Stage will present storytelling, musical
performances, and a costume- and mask-making area for the Mardi Gras parade
which takes place around 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Also, relating to the
kid issue, all tykes under 12 are admitted free -- which means all you need to
do is bring a picnic and it'd be a pretty cheap day out.
Like many premier musical events that run more than a single night, Ninigret's
version is more than just music. It's an entire experience, folding food into
dance, people into great music, and an unexpected camaraderie you simply don't
get when you spend $50 for a ticket to Newport.
And more and more people are catching on. This year, if the weather
cooperates, Ninigret could see upwards of 10,000 people throughout the weekend.
"It's really almost like a homecoming for us," says Riley, "even though it's
not our home. We have so many fans there, and so many friends all come to see
the show from around the area. We like it because we get to spread out a
little, do some of our traditional stuff, and then do some of our rock
stuff."
Riley, who has had the Playboys together for 14 years now, recently returned
from a trip to Vancouver where they played and hung with David Hidalgo and Los
Lobos. "We really connected with them on a lot of levels," said Riley. "We've
both stepped out and did more rock stuff for a few years and then settled back
into traditional stuff."
Which is exactly what you'll get at Ninigret -- not just from the Playboys but
from just about everyone on the bill. This isn't a monochromatic acoustic
festival illuminating just one color in the musical rainbow. It's a sparkling,
multi-hued weekend of talented and entertaining folks. And if the weather's
nice, well, it could be yellow, green, and pretty rosey, too.
BACKROOM FESTIVAL. Over the last five years, the Backroom Music Fest has
quietly -- OK, maybe not so quietly -- become one of the area's largest
unsigned music nights. This year, that reputation is destined to grow into
legend with the arrival of Backroom Music Fest v. 2002. This Saturday, Lupo's
and the Met Café will serve up tons of awesome talent, beginning at 2
p.m. and costing just $10. You don't even have to be an adult to get in!
If you haven't seen it yet, here's the lineup. Put your eyes back in your head
and start planning your day . . . .
The Met Café presents the following bands: A.D.R. (2:30 to 3),
Overfiend (3:30 to 4), Pray4Nothing (4:30 to 5), Eastcide
(5:30 to 6), Noledge (6:30 to 7), Slugworth (7:30 to 8),
Soulshed (8:30 to 9), Times Expired (9:30 to 10).
Lupo's will feature Transparent (3 to 3:30), Lamotta (4 to
4:30), Hypnotic Kick (5 to 5:30), Imprint (6 to 6:30), 7th
Rail Crew (7 to 7:30), Blackstone Valley Crew (8 to 8:30),
Donnybrook (9 to 9:30), and Shed (10 to 10:30). State of
Corruption closes the show.
There will be a king-size raffle for some cool prizes, including tickets, gift
certificates and various sundries. As is customary, Uncle Pete has designed
T-shirts for the evening. Buy one or two, if only to prove that you lasted
through the entire event.
WANDERING EYE. The Fantastics have been hosting a series of
events this summer at the Green Room called Boombox Monthly Live. The nights
are hosted and DJed by the band and feature an assortment of guests. This
Friday (the 30th), the event will include live performances by the Fantastics
and Mahi Mahi, the newly formed drum/keyboard pair whose dance-damaged
noise ordinarily rocks the Olneyville warehouses. And you know what that means.
The band is also seeking out creative people to get involved in this eclectic
series, from musicians and producers to visual artists, lighting people, DJs,
and anyone else looking to pitch in. E-mail the band at
booking@thefantastics.net.
On Saturday (the 31st), the Jim James Band will be in their "hometown"
of Providence at the Green Room with Jon Tierney & the Truth.
E-mail me with all of your music news at big.daddy1@cox.net.
Issue Date: August 30 - September 5, 2002
