Robert Randolph and the Family Band, a funk and soul roots band from New York City, and Clinton Fearon and the Boogie Band, a roots reggae band from Seattle, are the highlighted musical guests for the 7th annual River City Roots Festival to be held August 24-26 in the streets of Downtown Missoula.
This year’s Roots Fest will also feature a Friday night bout with the Hellgate Girls Roller Derby, as well as a build-your-own boat river float on Saturday. The River City Roots Festival is Missoula’s signature celebration of the city we live in.
“This year’s line-up is, by far, the most diverse we’ve had since Roots Fest was born in 2006,” said Ellen Buchanan, Chairman of the River City Roots Festival Committee. “Robert Randolph and the Family Band has toured all over the country and Europe. Clinton Fearon and the Boogie Brown Band had an exceptional showing at the Montana Folk Festival a couple of years ago. Sol Driven Train played a great show at Roots Fest in 2010.”
The 2012 Roots Fest Schedule of Events is better than ever:
Friday, August 24, 2012
10 am-6 pm ……… ROOTS FEST SUMMER SALE …………………………………… Downtown Missoula
6 pm & 7 pm …….. HELLGATE ROLLER GIRLS BOUT …………………. West Front Street Parking Lot
Saturday, August 25, 2012
8 am-1 pm ……….. SATURDAY MORNING MARKETS ……………………………. Downtown Missoula
10 am-6 pm ……… ROOTS FEST SUMMER SALE …………………………………… Downtown Missoula
11 am………………. CLASH OF THE CLARK FORK FLOAT ……….. Jacob’s Island to Brennan’s Wave
11 am-7 pm ……… ART SHOW ………………………………………………………………………. Main Street
12-6 pm …………… CHILDREN’S FUN FESTIVAL ……………………………………………………Caras Park
12-10 pm …………. FOOD COURT & BEER GARDEN OPEN ………………………………… Ryman Street
1-2 pm …………….. Dodgy Mountain Men ………………………………….. Main Stage on Main Street
2-3 pm …………….. The Box Cutters …………………………………………… Main Stage on Main Street
3-4 pm …………….. Miller Creek ……………………………………………….. Main Stage on Main Street
4:30-6 pm ………… Mike Beck & the Bohemian Saints …………………. Main Stage on Main Street
6:30-8 pm ………… Sol Driven Train …………………………………………… Main Stage on Main Street
8:30-10:30 pm ….. Robert Randolph & the Family Band ……………… Main Stage on Main Street
Sunday, August 26, 2012
9:30 am …………… 4-MILE RUN ………………………………………………………… Start at Circle Square
10 am-2 pm ……… CAROUSEL & MARKET FESTIVAL ……………………. New Park Lot in Caras Park
10 am-6 pm ……… ROOTS FEST SUMMER SALE …………………………………… Downtown Missoula
11 am-7 pm ……… ART SHOW ………………………………………………………………………. Main Street
12-6 pm …………… CHILDREN’S FUN FESTIVAL ……………………………………………………Caras Park
12-8 pm …………… FOOD COURT & BEER GARDEN OPEN ………………………………… Ryman Street
1-2:30 pm ………… Chele Bandulu …………………………………………….. Main Stage on Main Street
3-4:30 pm ………… Jawbone Railroad ………………………………………… Main Stage on Main Street
5-6:30 pm ………… Kane’s River ……………………………………………….. Main Stage on Main Street
7-9 pm …………….. Clinton Fearon & Boogie Brown ……………………. Main Stage on Main Street
The Clash of the Clark Fork is a new addition to Roots Fest this year and will feature a race of boats made of recycled materials. Participants can win awards for the Best Theme, the Best Wipeout and the Fastest Craft. Folks can register at Strongwater Paddle Shop at 614 South Higgins.
The Four-Mile Run will take place at 9:30 am Sunday morning. With a cap of 500 participants, folks can register online (www.rivercityrootsfestival.com) or at Runner’s Edge at 325 North Higgins. The race begins at Circle Square – where the traditional Farmers’ Market is located – and runs up the Rattlesnake Valley, down through Greenough Park and will finish in Caras Park this year.
The Children’s Fun Festival will rule Caras Park from 12-6 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Highlights include all the exhibits from the SpectrUM Science Learning Center plus nearly 30 non-profit kids’ organizations providing entertainment and exhibits for kids.
The Juried Art Show features 25 artists, mostly from Montana, as well as live glass blowing, live clay throwing, and a community mural project. The Art Show will be on Main Street from 11 am-7 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
Mountain Line will run all buses FREE of charge all day Saturday, Aug. 25th, and the Roots Fest is admission free both days. The music on Main Street begins at 1 pm both days, and folks are encouraged to bring festival chairs.
Following is an overview of each band performing at Roots Fest this year:
The Dodgy Mountain Men
Saturday 1-2 pm
Formed in 2010, this four-piece Missoula-based band brings together their distinct bluegrass, rock, folk and reggae mix into a unique electro-acoustic experience. With both original material and inspired covers, this band is sure to deliver their distinct sound to a widespread audience. Members of the band include Eric Bostrom, Jed Nussbaum, Scott Howard, and Clyde Netzley.
The Box Cutters
Saturday 2-3 pm
Mixing heavy rock and blues, the duo of Abe Jindrich and William Birkenbuel from Missoula aims to revamp the conventional stereotype and bring a new rock sound to their fans. This band will make the audience get up and rock with heart-pounding excitement.
Miller Creek
Saturday 3-4 pm
A jam rock band from Missoula, Miller Creek offers a unique blend of rock jam electronic and bit of down home country. Band members Mike Simmons, Tom Massie, and James Murphy offer electric excitement and elation.
Mike Beck & the Bohemian Saints
Saturday 4:30-6 pm
This old-fashioned guitar band, founded by Monterey County, Calif. native Mike Beck, has played together since 2002. Other band members include Tom Ayres, Marty Lydon, and Paul Montgomery. Performing Americana Roots Rock-inspired music, this band has a plethora of soulful original music that will find its way into each individual audience member.
ROOTS FEST READY TO ROCK THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN MISSOULA ADD 3-3-3
Sol Driven Train
Saturday 6:30-8 pm
Based in Charleston, South Carolina, this five-piece band features rotating lead vocalists and instrumental talent including horns, strings, and percussion. Driven by their Roots Rock influences, band members Ward Buckheister, Rusty Cole, Wes Powers, Russell Clarke and Joel Timmons bring a spirit of encouraging and upbeat music to their live shows, and this will be Sol Driven Train’s second appearance at Roots Fest, having played previously in 2010.
Robert Randolph & the Family Band
Saturday 8:30-10:30 pm
Keeping to their American Funk & Soul roots, this New York City band bridges the cultural gap for all ages by reaching back into the Sacred Steel tradition of music. Band members are Robert Randolph, Danyel Morgan, Marcus Randolph, Adam Smirnoff, Lenesha Randolph and Brett Haas.
Chele Bandulu
Sunday 1-2:30 pm
This six-piece reggae-inspired band from Missoula plays a mix of popular cover tunes and collaborative originals. Fusing traditional roots artists and their own unique music together provides a danceable, Montana-style reggae show that is sure to inspire the audience. Members include Matt Keenan, Andrew Kinter, Jim Axe, Bill Day, Chris Henderson, and Jaymi White.
Jawbone Railroad
Sunday 3-4:30 pm
This three-piece band from Bozeman, Mont. brings a rough and rowdy ride with Old Time and Bluegrass to their music. Members are Blaise Arsenault, Walt Burns, and Suzanne Ford. The mix of fiddle tunes, blues, and mountain music is sure to get the audience up and moving.
Kane’s River
Sunday 5-6:30 pm
This bluegrass quintet comes from all over the country and consists of John Lowell, Julie Elkins, David Thompson, Jason Thomas, and Ben Winship. Kane’s River’s strength lies in the diversity of the individual members and the way their original music is shaped by the big sky and wide-open spaces of the Western landscape.
Clinton Fearon & Boogie Brown Band
Sunday 7-9 pm
After settling in Seattle, Wash., Clinton Fearon formed the Boogie Brown Band with Izaak Mills, Nelson Miller, Bill Jones, Ire’, Leif Dalan, Mark Oi, and Alex George. Original lyrics and rock steady Roots Reggae rhythms comprise the basis for their music, appealing to people of all ages and from all walks of life.
Additional information about River City Roots Festival can be found online at www.rivercityrootsfestival.com or by contacting the Missoula Downtown Association via phone (406.543.4238) or email (mda@missouladowntown.com).
Roots Fest – Missoula’s Choice Festival of the Year Winner!