One of the things I miss about no longer corresponding for the Compass is covering Roots on the River, fondly known as Fred Fest to those in the know. The weekend-long festival in Bellows Falls and Rockingham always features a melting pot of great music, and this year is no exception.
Things get underway tonight at 7:30 (Thursday, June 10) at the Bellows Falls Opera House with Cajun fiddler and Zydeco ambassador Michael Doucet avec Beausoleil, with the immensely talented folk group Joy Kills Sorrow opening.
Friday at the Everyday Inn in Rockingham, the smoking hot Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles open for Fred Eaglesmith, who is the reason this weekend is celebrating its 11th birthday. If you haven’t seen Borges, get ready to be blown away as she rocks, rolls and makes love to her guitar. By the time she’s done, you’ll be out of breath.
Saturday’s all-day show at the Everyday Inn is a great compendium of old favorites and new faces, topped with Americana legend David Bromberg. Here’s the list:
The Ginn Sisters
Starline Rhythm Boys
Roger Marin Band
Audrey Auld
Gandalf Murphy & The Slamobvian Circus of Dreams
Angel Band
DADDY/Will Kimbrough & Tommy Womack
David Bromberg Quartet
Fred Eaglesmith
Sunday reprises a great show from two years ago at the Rockingham Meetinghouse – Mary Gauthier and Fred Eaglesmith, all acoustic. This one’s intimate and fills up fast.
For more information, go to the festival web site. Here’s a complete list of performers and times, including some free shows:
Thursday, June 10, 2010 | ||
Bellows Falls Opera House | 7:40 PM
8:30 PM |
Joy Kills Sorrow
BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet |
Friday, June 11, 2010 | ||
Green Mountain Outlook Terrace (free) |
12:00 PM | Hot Mustard |
Sovernet Terrace (free) | 1:00 PM | The Whoa Nelly Band |
Bellows Falls Farmers Market (free) | 4:00 PM
5:15 PM |
The Johnson Boys
Traveler |
Festival Site – Everyday Inn |
7:35 PM
8:54 PM 9:50 PM |
Joanne Shaw Taylor
Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles Fred Eaglesmith |
Saturday, June 12, 2010 | ||
Festival Site – Everyday Inn |
12:10 PM
1:10 PM 2:10 PM 3:25 PM 4:40 PM 5:55 PM 6:40 PM 8:10 PM 9:35 PM |
The Ginn Sisters
Starline Rhythm Boys Roger Marin Band Audrey Auld Gandalf Murphy & Angel Band DADDY/ David Bromberg Quartet Fred Eaglesmith |
Sunday June 13, 2010 | ||
Rockingham Meeting House | 12:00 PM
1:30 PM |
Mary Gauthier
Fred Eaglesmith |