Mardi Gras Flyer
Nov 24th, 2009 |
Go Paperless – get on our email list
Nov 4th, 2009 |
Please be sure to sign up for our email list to stay on top of Lagniappe American Roots Music and Festival news. We are phasing out our postcard and flyer mailings, hoping you’ll all join us online to get the most recent news about;
The Cajun & Zydeco Mardi Gras Ball, Bayou n’ Boogie Festival in Smithfield, RI, Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, and the Rhythm & Roots Festival in Charlestown, RI
Rhythm & Roots Returns to Ninigret in 2009!
Feb 9th, 2009 |
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.
Rhythm & Roots Festival Looks for New Home in 2009
Apr 21st, 2008 |
The Rhythm & Roots Festival held annually on Labor Day weekend is actively seeking a new site at which to hold the event in 2009. The festival has been located at Ninigret Park in Charlestown, RI for the past ten years. Due to a number of proposed changes in the rules and regulations within the park, the Rhythm & Roots management feels that it has no choice but to seek a new home for the 2009 festival.
Festival co-producer Mary Tyler Doub states, “When we arrived at Ninigret Park ten years ago, we made a significant investment in the park’s infrastructure. Our intention was to make this site our permanent home. Proposed changes by the Town Council and the Parks & Recreation Commission have sent us a strong signal that we need to find a new location for next year. We are fully committed, though, to holding our 2008 festival at Ninigret Park in Charlestown.”
The festival is looking for a site of approximately 70 acres that can be used for a performance area, camping, parking and support sites. Areas of interest are in the Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts regions. Anyone with suggestions for a new site should contact us at Production@RhythmandRoots.com or 401-783-3926.
