Rhythm & Roots Festival Labor Day Weekend

Charlestown, RI at Ninigret Park – The Rhythm & Roots Festival returns for, yet another fun filled end of summer fais do-do!! The line-up includes some of the best Americana bands currently touring. Taj Mahal, Leftover Salmon, Asleep at the Wheel, Los Texmaniacs, Session Americana, CJ Chenier, Christine Ohlman, Johnny Nicholas and many others fill out the stellar Labor Day weekend dance card.

Folks who have attended Rhythm & Roots previously are aware that the Dance Stage serves up authentic zydeco and Texas dance hall acts all day and night. The dance floor is constantly jumping, and scores of potential dance partners line the perimeter of the action waiting to become your newfound friend. CJ Chenier and the Los Texmaniacs maintain the ability to get this reluctant dancer on the floor! I recently caught up with artist at-large, Johnny Nicholas, who plans to join Los Texmaniacs on the bandstand.

Johnny Nicholas, a Rhode Island native living in Texas, is a fan favorite at Rhythm & Roots each year. Early in his career Johnny worked with Duke Robillard. Robillard is regarded as the premier practitioner of the T Bone Walker blues guitar idiom. Walker’s Texas blues guitar permeates Johnny’s playing and very well may have prompted his move to Texas. During our conversation Johnny mentioned that he hosted a birthday party for Jimmie Vaughan and his old pal Eric Clapton attended, which is a testament to Nicholas’ chops as a musician. Johnny gained great exposure to the Texas dancehall style of music while a member of Asleep at the Wheel. One can be certain that Asleep at the Wheel will welcome Johnny to the stage this year at Rhythm & Roots. The trio Golden Triangle was born at Rhythm & Roots after Johnny jammed with David Greely and Sam Broussard. The group’s name is a reference to the area where Texas meets Louisiana. An inordinate number of vibrant musicians have emerged from the Golden Triangle and this combo is no exception. Spoiler alert, Mr. Nicholas has every intention of doing a tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Johnny like Aretha can bring a crowd to tears by merely sitting at the piano and delivering heart-felt vocals. Word to the wise, visit the merch tent to pick up Johnny’s latest double cd release filled with lost gems recorded with a who’s who in the blues!

The Beehive Queen, Christine Ohlman is another frequent attraction at Rhythm & Roots. Last year Christine and Sarah Potenza belted out a rousing gospel set to start the day. After several heavy rain showers the Lord saw fit to clear the skies that evening when Christine joined Rosanne Cash for a handful of tunes. When asked about her many wonderful collaborations Christine reflected with a smile, “Rosanne and John Leventhal have long been good friends, and with the fantastic Kevin Barry (J. Geils Band, Mary Chapin Carpenter) on guitar as well, we rocked and rolled. It’s always lovely to see them. Honestly, I think that the vast array of songs I know and my deep connection to several genres make it possible to just jump in, impromptu, sometimes, and I’m known for being super-prepared in situations where that’s called for. I just did a sold-out tribute to the songs of Doc Pomus at the Guthrie Center in Great Barrington with my friends Marshall Crenshaw and Willie Nile. Also, my ‘evenings of duets’ with Dr. John a.k.a. Mac Rebennack stand out. Mac plays, I sing, or we sing together. Superlatively deep! I just returned from 12 days in Muscle Shoals where I’m in a band with iconic bassist David Hood and do shows with Donnie Fritts, Travis Wammack, Spooner Oldham, John Paul White, Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay. Sometimes I think I’ve been onstage with everyone!” Once again Christine will serenade the Ninigret campgrounds Sunday morning as they wake. The Queen continued, “’Sunday School with Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez and The Sin Sisters’ will find me bringing a bigger aggregation to the “Gospel Tent” (Roots) with a gritty Americana-themed gospel show that will include everything from The Staple Singers to Percy Sledge and Sister Wynonna Carr. The tent will be rockin’! All of our CDs and a concert DVD will be on sale in the merch tent. Come on over and say hello to the Beehive Queen! I’d love to see everybody!”

Tickets and all pertinent festival information may be found at: https://rhythmandroots.com/

About Jim Carty: Mr. Carty has produced and hosted blues, jazz and American roots radio shows in Boston and Pittsburgh. He booked legendary acts such as Jay Geils, Big Jack Johnson, Ronnie Earl, Alvin "Youngblood" Hart, Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin to name a few. As a concert producer he has worked with members of the Allman Brothers, Guns and Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bad Company, Chuck Berry, Alice Cooper, Kiss and many others. Jim was proudly tapped as the host of the Centennial Celebration of the Blues at Tanglewood. He spent several years as an Old Lyme resident in his youth and he has recently returned home to the Connecticut Shoreline. Contact at: jcbc93@gmail.com