Roots Report

Okee dokee folks… At the 2024 Motif Music Awards show, the Providence Drum Troupe played through the award acceptance for best awards show interruption. It was planned, funny, and entertaining. The Providence Drum Troupe is an assortment of over 25 musicians, acrobats, fire-spinners, life-size puppets, stilt-walkers, and hula-hoopers who perform randomly, regularly, and at scheduled events. Recently my good friend Greg Bass joined the troupe. He is a multi-talented multi-instrumentalist who was looking for an opportunity to have fun and play music. He went all out and bought himself a marching drum, a mirror-ball suit, shoes, and a band hat.

I asked him what it meant to him to play as part of the Drum Troupe. He replied, “Performing with the Providence Drum Troupe is the best adult play date ever! So much fun! PDT is about bringing the joy of music to the community.” They are certainly a spectacle of sight and sound. You may know other troupe members like John Cote, David Lee Black, Crimson Al-Khemia, and Stacy Rae Seminick (Krazy Rae). They pop up at events but regularly perform on the Pedestrian Bridge in Downtown Providence every Tuesday from 6 – 8pm. If you want to keep up with them, march over to facebook.com/ providencedrumtroupe or providencedrumtroupe.com. It’s a fun way to spend an early evening.

Newport Live and Norman Bird Sanctuary are presenting outdoor shows once again this summer. Get your tickets early as they tend to sell out. They have a very eclectic and entertaining calendar of events booked. On Thursday, July 11, Alisa Amador, winner of NPR Music’s 2022 Tiny Desk Contest, will perform. On August 9, they will feature Naledi. Alexa Rose plays on August 23. These shows take place at the Norman Bird Sanctuary, located at 583 Third Beach Road in Middletown. John Gorka will perform his show for Newport Live on August 29 at Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth. For more, flock to: newportlive.org

The Moosup Valley Music Series happens periodically throughout the summer. I had the pleasure of performing in this series recently. It’s a quaint spot next to the Moosup Valley Church with a covered stage dedicated to the late local music promoter, Bill McGrath. There is plenty of parking with easy access. The next show takes place on Saturday, July 20 and features singer-songwriters Joanne Lurgio and Michelle Saylors. This time around, they will be trying out an open mic before the show. Get there at 5pm for the open mic or 6pm for the show. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic (and maybe some mosquito spray) and make it a nice night out! For more investigate the church’s Facebook page or visit moosupvalley.church. One of those will get you the info — they post as they come!

NimFest takes place on Sundays from 3 – 6pm at the King Park gazebo on Wellington Ave in Newport. On July 7, Chelley Knight & Chase Ceglie Trio will perform, followed by Los Duderinos & Bill Bartholomew on July 14, Dan Burke & The Van Pelt Trio on July 21, and wrapping up July with Barfly & Nate Cozzolino on the 28. Moving into August, John McKenna & Bill Killian take the stage on August 4, The 40 & Mark T. Small play on Aug 11, the Firehouse Band & The Nee Jam play August 18, and the series will wrap up with Hush Club & Contrafact on August 25. This is always a nice, breezy afternoon by the water. Remember to bring a lawn chair!

For more, gazeb-go to cityofnewport. com/NIMFest

The Jane Pickens Theatre in Newport has a host of shows coming up this summer. John Pizzarelli will be there on July 20, Joan Baez on July 29, Judy Collins on Aug 15 and 16, a 1964 Beatles tribute on August 17, Al Stewart on August 23, and Iris Dement on September 8. Also coming up later in the season will be Paula Cole, Five for Fighting, and Mark Normand.

For more, project over to: janepickens. com

The United Theatre in Westerly — yes, that is still Rhode Island — has a hefty schedule of music happening over the next few months: The Wailers on July 11, Peter Wolf on July 13, Blind Pilot on July 14, Aoife O’Donovan and Hawktail on July 18, Tom Petty Project on July 27, Jupiter and his band Okwess on July 28, M Ward August 3, The George Moore Cabaret Series presents Nicolas King on August 17, and Sarah Jaroson September 1.

For more, go to: unitedtheatre.org

At the end of April, local music icon Chuck Wentworth passed away. If you knew Chuck, you were aware of his many contributions to the RI Music Community. For those who didn’t know him, Chuck founded the Rhythm & Roots Festival, The Mardi Gras Ball, was the head of folk radio on WRIU for decades and worked on many other projects as well. A celebration of Chuck’s life will take place on Sunday, July 7 at 1pm at the Kimball Pavillion in Ninigret Park in Charlestown. You may want to bring a lawn chair. I’ll be saying a few words in honor of my late friend/family, Chuck.

The Rhode Island Folk Festival GoFundMe campaign is up and running. It features a short, cute video with Allysen Callery and Beth Barron. Please check it out and donate if you can! Every little bit helps!

Get the folk over to: gofundme.com/f/ rhode-island-folk-festival-2024 And now for my civic duty: On November 5 there will be a mental health test for this country. The only way to pass is to vote blue. Anything other than blue is just insane. The mango menace is a convicted felon, a grifter, a liar, a cheat. Please do not fail this test. Thank you.