Now
in its second year, the River Roots Live lineup has grown by half -
from 12 bands in 2005 to 18 this year. And it's also a stronger
group of artists.
The inaugural festival seemed geared to Boomers, with its biggest names - Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, and Little Feat - planted firmly in the 1970s. This year's version boasts one bona fide commercial giant (The Black Crowes) and one artistic triumph (Alejandro Escovedo, named by Paste magazine as one of the 100 greatest living songwriters).
This week's River Cities' Reader features interviews with four festival performers: Bo Ramsey, Susan Tedeschi, Umphrey's McGee, and Alejandro Escovedo. Past interviews with Junior Brown and Martin Sexton can be found below.
As for the media-shy Black Crowes, their public-relations firm said the band wasn't doing interviews for this tour. The band's leaders - brothers Chris and Rich Robinson - rarely indulge the press, but given the band's tumultuous recent history, with two members leaving in a two-week span late this summer, that's understandable.
But by most accounts, the Crowes haven't been greatly diminished by the lineup changes. An article earlier this month in JamBase (http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=9140) seemed pleasantly surprised by a Rhode Island show: "Many expected this tour would be canceled. Most bands would have hit the skids in having to fill not just one, but two key members' holes. The Black Crowes have not only risen to the occasion, but they have taken it head-on by not playing it safe ... ."
Although the River Roots Live lineup has grown, the festival still runs only two days. Organizers have added a second stage to allow for continuous music, with one act playing while another is setting up or tearing down.
Also new this year is the festival's partnership with Living Lands & Waters. The environmental/river-cleanup organization will be receiving a portion of the festival profits, River Music Experience President and CEO Lon Bozarth said following a July press conference.
The festival will also feature an art and scooter exhibit with between 60 and 70 Vespas and artwork from Eric Mart, Antonio Carpenter, Heidi Hernandez, Scott Krulik, and Dean Wright. The show, called Cut Burn Create, will be on the festival grounds both Friday and Saturday.
To learn more about the festival, see the information on this page, or visit the River Roots Live Web site (http://www.riverrootslive.com).
Festival
Web site:
(http://www.riverrootslive.com).
Tickets: Two-day passes are available online and at Co-op Records and Hy-Vee stores for $50. Single-day tickets are available online and will be available at the gate for $25 for Friday and $35 for Saturday. Children 12 and under are admitted free with an adult.
Camping: Camping is available for a $10 permit fee on a first-come, first-served basis at Centennial Park, two blocks west of the festival site. For more information, visit the River Roots Live Web site.
Pre-Fest Show: Festival performers Hackensaw Boys will play at the Redstone Room in the River Music Experience at 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 21.
Late-night shows: The Redstone Room will be host special shows following River Roots Live. Justin Morrisey & Friends will perform starting at 12:30 a.m. after Friday's session, and the jam super-group Drop Q will take the stage after Saturday's shows.
River Roots Live Lineup
Friday, September 22
5 p.m.: Girlyman (http://www.girlyman.com)
5:30 p.m.: The Nadas (http://www.thenadas.com)
6:30 p.m.: Junior Brown (http://www.juniorbrown.com, 2005 interview - Reader #541)
7:30 p.m.: Lil' Brian & the Zydeco Travelers (http://www.lilbrian.com)
8:30 p.m.: Martin Sexton (http://www.martinsexton.com, 2004 interview - Reader #495)
9:30 p.m.: Bo Ramsey (http://www.boramsey.com, interview - Reader #599)
10:30 p.m.: Susan Tedeschi (http://www.susantedeschi.com, interview - Reader #599)
Saturday, September 23
11:30 a.m.: Family Groove Company (http://www.familygrooveco.com)
12:30 p.m.: Sunnywheat (http://www.sunnywheat.org)
1:30 p.m.: Scott H. Biram (http://www.scottbiram.com)
2:30 p.m.: Ernie Hendrickson & the Make Believe (http://www.themakebelieve.com)
3:30 p.m.: The Gourds (http://www.thegourds.com)
4:30 p.m.: Groovatron (http://www.groovatron.com)
5:30 p.m.: Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk (http://www.dumpstaphunk.com)
6:30 p.m.: Hackensaw Boys (http://www.nettwerk.com/player/hackensawboys/)
7:30 p.m.: Umphrey's McGee (http://www.umphreys.com, interview - Reader #599)
9 p.m.: Alejandro Escovedo (http://www.alejandroescovedo.com, interview - Reader #599)
10 p.m.: The Black Crowes (http://www.blackcrowes.com)
