20th Annual Rhythm and Roots Festival

The Rhythm & Roots Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary with an expanded schedule of American roots music that features headliners The Mavericks, Rosanne Cash, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and festival favorites, such as Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, who have performed every Labor Day weekend since Rhythm & Roots began.

The festival, to be held at Ninigret Park in Charlestown Sept. 1–3, is opening for the first time at noon Friday to squeeze in more music, food, crafts and dancing. More than 10,000 attendees are expected, some of whom have brought their families to Rhythm & Roots every year.

Along with Riley are musicians who played at the first Rhythm & Roots festival – Natalie MacMaster, Marcia Ball and Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys. Producer Chuck Wentworth says bands enjoy the vibe in Charlestown. “The music fans up here are great. They like and respect all kinds of music.”

From Cajun and zydeco to blues and swing, and everything in between, the festival presents a wide variety of styles that appeal to lovers of authentic roots music, and anyone who wants to have a good time, young or old. “You can dance to just about every band playing this year,” Wentworth says.