Rhode Island is the smallest state in the country, but it is home to two of the nation’s best known summer music festivals, Newport Folk and Newport Jazz. Both festivals have expanded their musical offerings in recent years well beyond what would what the festival names suggest and now support an increasingly wider range of music. Perhaps they are learning from a third iconic Ocean State Music Festival, Rhythm and Roots, which recently celebrated it's 26th Anniversary.
Rhythm and Roots has long been known for its meticulously curated, eclectic programming. The festival, which took place over Labor Day weekend, featured three days of diverse, inspired, absolutely terrific music. Upwards of 15,000 people came to Ninigret Park, in Charlestown to enjoy Blues, Jazz, Gospel, Folk, Country, Zydeco, Creole, Bluegrass, Americana, Rock, and much, much more, on three stages, with plenty of room to sit, stand, and especially to dance. Often associated with Duke Ellington, the famous aphorism, “There are simply two kinds of music, good music and the other kind,” was the rule of the day (and night) at Rhythm and Roots, and made for a fabulous weekend, as the "other kind," was simply non-existent.
Some highlights on the big stage: Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Rebirth Brass Band, Larkin Poe, Shemekia Copeland, and Old Crow Medicine Show, who closed out the festival with an exciting, energetic show. Emmylou Harris, a 14-time Grammy winner, may have been the singular high point of the festival on Saturday night, with a magnificent, inspired performance with her band the Red Dirt Boys.
But the highlights were by no means limited to the big stage, as stunning performances on the smaller stages by Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole, Pine Leaf Boys, and GA-20 had people dancing, exuberantly, well into the night.
Family friendly, convenient and fun, Rhythm and Roots is a festival for music lovers with open ears, and while smaller than it’s Newport cousins, it is easy to see why people come back year after year.
