ANNUAL RHYTHM & ROOTS FESTIVAL WILL RETURN TO
NINIGRET PARK IN CHARLESTOWN, RI FOR 2009!

After much uncertainty due to proposed changes by the Town Council, the annual Rhythm & Roots Festival is confirmed to return to Ninigret Park in Charlestown, RI for 2009.  Festival producers had begun to explore other sites to hold the annual festival which annually has drawn approximately 10,000 patrons to Charlestown each Labor Day weekend for the past 10 years.

Proposed was a change from a flat fee schedule to a percentage of the gate plus a stipulation by the town to audit the books of event producers of all of the major events held annually in the park.  Those included the Charlestown Seafood Festival, The Big Apple Circus and the Ocean State Reggae Festival in addition to Rhythm & Roots.

With a recent change in the makeup of the members of the Town Council, Rhythm & Roots producers, Chuck Wentworth and Mary Doub found a group that was willing to work with the events held in the park and who understood the potential impact of the economy on the festival’s survival.  According to Wentworth, in the past year, Rhythm & Roots has lost its four major sponsors and are in the process of searching out some new sponsors to help finance the future of the festival.

As of January 26th Rhythm & Roots along with the two other Ninigret Park events have agreed to a small increase of $500 in fees for 2009.  In the coming months all three will be negotiating with the Parks & Recreation Department and Town Council for a 3 year contract that will be fair to all parties.