mvyradio Rhythm & Roots

We took mvyradio on the road for The Rhythm & Roots Festival 2009! We were at Ninigret Park in Charlestown, Rhode Island all weekend long, bringing all the excitement of this amazing event to you.

To most people Labor Day weekend signals that the summer is over, but to quite a few people in New England, it means that it’s time for an annual Mardi Gras style celebration, where thousands of people from all over the United States gather in Rhode Island every year to listen to a wide spectrum of roots music, dance to a variety of rhythms, and savor gourmet food and drink in a truly festive setting with four stages of music.

Held each year at beautiful Ninigret Park in the ocean side community of Charlestown, RI, the Rhythm & Roots Festival draws approximately 10,000 people over the course of the weekend with the largest percentage of attendees coming from New England and the east coast corridor between Boston and New York, and about one third of the festival attendees from other parts of the country. An attraction for the whole family, the festival also has a state of the art playground, swimming pond and four stages which offer plenty to do for everyone. 

Barbara's Blog

Sunday September 6th 10:50 PM

The audience response to Great Big Sea is huge! 

Everyone seems to know the songs AND all the lyrics to the songs --it's crazy!  After an hour and a half set, the band just left the stage with the crowd screaming "Great Big Sea! Great Big Sea! Great Big Sea!".  Back up for an encore and another song that the crowd knows and is singing along to.  In all the time we have been coming to Rhythm & Roots, we have never seen and heard so much recognition and such a vocal response to a band.  It was their first appearance at the Rhythm & Roots and they seemed to love it and as they finished their set, they asked to come back.

And with that, it's a wrap. We are going to finish and pack up and head on down the road.  Thanks for reading, listening and looking at the pictures.  Thanks to Chuck and all at Rhythm & Roots and Klondike and his sound crew, thanks to all the mvyradio on the road crew, both here, there, and everywhere.  Thanks to the musicians.  We love Rhythm & Roots!!!

Sunday September 6th 9:15 PM

There's a feeling of quiet anticipation backstage as we all await the start of Great Big Sea's set.  This band from Newfoundland has a loyal following and soon the place will be afloat with their high energy, raucous show.  Lots of folks have stayed on to enjoy the experience and the full moon is adding just the right touch to this cool early September night.  Okay...here's a roar from the crowd, here comes Great Big Sea!!  I'm going out to listen...

Sunday September 6th 7 PM

As one act follows the other at Rhythm & Roots '09, the talk in the trailer is about how completely unique this festival is.  Chuck Wentworth, long-time Rhythm & Roots Chief, has outdone himself again, booking artists and scheduling them in such a way that compliments each act, and moves the day along as a journey through today's rich, vibrant and diverse roots music world.  It feels like a music history lesson every time an artist takes the stage; my mind starts spinning like a dancer in the crowded Dance Tent and my heart fills with gratitude for the music.

Sunday September 6th 3 PM

It's a pretty mellow day, rolling on slow and low.  Slide guitarist Papa Mali just ripped through a set of his own brand of swamp, funk, electric and joyful noise.  He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana and now lives in Austin, Texas.  There is a strong and long-time musical connection between Louisiana and Texas and it's great to hear it played out time and time again here at Rhythm & Roots. 

Big Sandy & The Fly-rite Boys played on the main stage today and in the dance tent yesterday.  I sat down with Sandy in the mvy trailer for an interview and he talked about how different it is to play to a dancing audience as opposed to an audience that is mostly seated and listening.  He says the dancers do most of the work for him.  The early afternoon crowd loved Sandy!

Sunday September 6th 11 AM

We're back at it this morning, on site and ready for another day.  There is a guy sitting under the tent in the backstage area, playing the accordion.  His solitary Sunday morning warm-up is the perfect accompaniment to my writing here.  He may be from Great Big Sea.  Joe said he talked with Sean and Alan of band --they're already here for their headlining set tonight. 

In an hour Corey Ledet, will be on stage for the third year in a row, and he is going to start the day at 12 noon.  We're looking forward to seeing Big Sandy; he was here a couple of years ago with Los Straitjackets, and he plays at 1:15.

Saturday September 5th 11:50 PM

Hot Tuna just finished the night with a rousing hour and forty-five minute set.  Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, teenage friends who joined Jefferson Airplane in the 60's and formed Hot Tuna in the '70's, play together with such ease, familiarity and skill that you feel lucky to be in their presence.  Their bus just left the park and all is quiet now in our neck of the woods.

Asleep At The Wheel played before Hot Tuna and their set was also absolutely exceptional, with Ray Benson's strong and steady voice and presence commanding the entire festival grounds.  Seeing these seasoned musicians sail through their performances tonight made such an impression on me.  I have so much admiration for all the time and talent that has gone into their music!

Saturday September 5th 5:45 PM

I was just  out in front of the stage taking in Tab Benoit's set --man what a guitar player!  The light is beautiful now, that soft early evening light that makes everything look and feel just right.  Tab is from New Orleans and like many who have played here this weekend, he is a roots music player who combines may styles of music in his performances and on his records --Blues, Cajun, Rock.  The crowd loves him and the dance tent is full of happy dancing feet!

Saturday September 5th 12:05 PM

As Saturday morning turns into afternoon, we are enjoying the sunshine and another set from Southern Florida's Nouveaux Honkies. We have been on site recording and streaming performances for the last few years, and every year there are bands that we hear for the first time, as with The Nouveaux Honkies and many that we happily meet up with again, like The Duhks.  Rebecca Dawkins from the Honkies and Tania Elizabeth from The Duhks, both great fiddle players in their respective bands, were chatting backstage and they gave us a smile.

There is a full slate of performances today and tomorrow.  Tonight, we'll feature Asleep At The Wheel and Hot Tuna live!  Listen at 7:30 for the live performances, and all weekend long at www.mvyradio.com and 92.7 and 96.5 mvyradio.

Friday September 4th 10 AM

The Lee Boys are working the Friday night Rhythm & Roots crowd into a frenzy!  "Sacred Steel" is a unique form of gospel music that is hard-driving and infused with rhythm and blues, funk, rock, jazz and hip-hop.  The Lee Boys consists of three brothers and three nephews, all of whom started playing music at the age of 7 in The House of God Church in Florida.  The pedal steel guitar has became central to the sound of this music and Roosevelt Collier, pedal steel player in this band has his name "Roosevelt" emblazoned on his instrument.  After The Lee Boys play their set, they will be joined by the Travelin' McCourys who preceded them tonight on the main stage here at Rhythm & Roots.  Their jams are said to be amazing!

Friday September 4th 5:00 PM

Nouveaux Honkies have kicked off Rhythm & Roots 2009 and I don't think there will be any problem for them with the "first act of the festival" slot.  They're confident and sure and they're setting just the right tone for a Friday night --adventurous, and true to the spontaneous down-home feeling that is the hallmark of this festival.  They are from Salerno in southern Florida and this is their first Northeast appearance.  They are taking a run through "Mystery Train" as the field in front of the stage starts to fill up.

Friday, September 4th 12:30 PM

We have had all kinds of weather at Rhythm & Roots, but we'll gladly take this kind!  The sun is shining, there's a cool breeze blowing and everyone is engaged in their on bit of preparation for the weekend.  Being at a festival early, when the field is empty and the stage and sound are being set is like being out on the street, alone early in the morning, before people are up and running.  There's a feeling of peace and beginning and becoming.  It's our own little world until everyone else shows up.

Friday, September 4th 11 AM

As the sun rose on southern New England and beyond this morning, many Rhythm & Rooters headed toward Ninigret Park in cars and campers, loaded with everything from kayaks and fishing rods to sleeping bags, tents and camping stoves.  Joe and I, the first of the mvyradio on the road crew on the scene, got here at 8 AM.  We went out to the parking lot, where all the campers were lining up, and handed out mvy lanyards with the weekend schedule cards attached.  It was a great way to say hi to folks and get the vibe --sleepy, soft and ready to roll.  There were a few small groups of musicians, with instruments in hand, warming up for what will be a weekend of jamming in the campground.  As it is with many roots and bluegrass festivals, there's a whole lotta playing going on separate from what is happening on the stages.