Meeting Again Under The Big Tree

I have come to view American music as one great big tree with many branches -- folk, blues, jazz, bluegrass, soul, zydeco, swing, and so on and so forth -- and in my experience there is no finer way to appreciate that than the Rhythm & Roots Festival.

The 11th annual edition will be held Friday through Sunday at Ninigret Park near Charlestown, Rhode Island, which is a mere octave or two from Interstate 95 at the Connecticut line and hard by the lovely Atlantic coast.

I've done a zillion music festivals over the years and none have the superb organization, great sound and laid back ambiance of the R&R. The food, drink and crafts are a cut above the norm and one of the small joys of these three-day extravaganzas is to see three generations of a family up and dancing.

This year's lineup is eclectic as usual and includes:

Marcia Ball & The LA/TX Revue
David Bromberg Quartet
The Robert Cray Band
Donna the Buffalo
Great American Taxi w/Vince Herman
Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks
Keb Mo
Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas
The Pine Leaf Boys
Ed Poullard, Preston Frank & Corey Ledet
Red Stick Ramblers
Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys

Incredible, no? Click here for more info. The DF&C and I would love to run into you there.