Roots Report: The Sun Is Melting My Brain!

Okee dokee folks … Some days I am brain dead. Maybe most days. Today I definitely am. The sun has already started melting what little amount of brain cells I have functioning in my head. Last weekend I was out working on a garden. What was I thinking? I don’t like sun. I honestly feel like the sun depletes me. I know that it gives me migraines. I don’t remember where, but I saw a t-shirt that read, “The sun is trying to kill me!” And I feel that way. I am not exaggerating. I realize that the sun is necessary for life. It is necessary for the garden I am trying to grow, but does it have to be so bright and hot? I know I go through this every summer and the start of summer is still a couple of days away. I am early with the heat complaints, but I figured I would get a jump on it. You all got to complain about the snow, I complain about summer. If it wasn’t for the music in summer I would go to Antarctica for June, July and August! Read on for some summer music suggestions …

Even if you are straight, don’t be narrow (minded). Show your support and have fun at the same time. The 40th annual PrideFest, themed IndiVISIBLE will be held on Sat, Jun 20, from noon to 8pm, on the South Water Street Greenway in PVD. PrideFest features a kids’ zone, youth center, over 100 vendors, the beer/wine & spirits garden, and performances by American Idol’s Crystal Bowersox, Pearl & the Beard, Shannel from RuPaul’s Drag Race, Mimi Gonzalez, Sir Ari Gold, Pamela Means, Derek Capobianco, Heather Rose in Clover, Shryne and much more. Rainbow over to prideri.com for more info, and read our story on page XX.

The Concert for Hunger Relief will take place on Sat, Jun 20 at the Contemporary Theater Company on Main St in Wakefield. Proceeds from this event will benefit charities that work to feed the hungry and fight the causes of hunger in the community — most notably the JonnyCake Center of Peace Dale and the North Kingstown Food Pantry. Doors open at 5:30pm and the first performance kicks off at 6pm. All of the performers volunteer their time and talents. Here are brief blurbs about SOME of the performers scheduled to appear: Ed McGuirl is a multi-instrumental musician and award-winning songwriter who plays an eclectic blend of original and traditional roots and blues music. He also wrote and produced “White Shirts/Hungry Children” for the 1 of 52 Artists Hunger Network compilation The Time Is Now. Mark Greenwood is not only a wonderful performer, he unselfishly will help other musicians with anything they need, even if it means less performance time for him. He will be joined by Eileen Lee Singer and David Anderson. Mike Gendron was described by a Motif reviewer this way: “The Day That I Give Birth excels as an example of Mike Gendron’s ample gifts as a singer-songwriter. And based on this output of work, Mike Gendron has earned a well-deserved spot among the best songwriters Rhode Island has to offer.” Sara Azriel is an eclectic singer and songwriter whose music combines the universality of pop, the sincerity of folk, and the richness of soul music. Bob Kendall is a singer, songwriter, producer, recording artist and promoter whose latest highly acclaimed album is simply titled Bob Kendall. Paula Clare Ciminero has an authentic brand of delivery that combines with a smooth, soulful, funky vibe that has overtones of Patsy Cline and Joni Mitchell. She has played with The Al Keith Collective, Biscuit City, The Kevin Crandall Band and The Stray Horse Band. Tammy Laforest is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who is also a member of the band the Dust Ruffles. She recently released a new album called Copper. Also scheduled to appear are Rudy Cheeks, Tyler-James Kelly (The Silks, Cowboy and Lady) with Jess Powers (Cowboy and Lady), and Mother of Dylan. They ask that you please bring at least one non-perishable food item with you that can be shared with the needy. For more, nibble over to ContemporaryTheaterCompany.com or jingle up 401.218.0282.

For those of you wondering about the whereabouts of Russ Smith, the former music promoter at Sandywoods in Tiverton, he landed on his feet (with his ducklings) and started a new music series set to launch on Jul 11. The Paskamansett Concert Series will take place at the historic Dartmouth Grange Hall in the Russells Mills Village Historic District of South Dartmouth, Mass. The inaugural concert begins with a 7:30pm performance by the Spindle Rock River Rats. The Spindle Rock River Rats play an eclectic blend of bluegrass, old-time, folk, popular, western and fiddle tunes. The Rats include Woody Underwood on fiddle, Polly Gardner on bass, Steve Brauch on mandolin, Borden Snow on five-string banjo, Ransom Griffin on guitar, Maury May on guitar, Brad Jenkins on tenor banjo, and Juergen Hallemeier on accordion. The Paskamansett concerts are scheduled to be held on the second Saturday of every month. Guests are invited to bring along food and non-alcoholic beverages if they wish. Other shows on the calendar include Seamus Galligan & Michael Laureanno on Aug 8, Four Bridges on Sept 19, Joanne Doherty & Barbara Phaneuf on Oct 10, and Grace Morrison on Nov 14. Smith has already booked Bill Harley, Fourteen Strings, Danielle Miraglia and Matt Borrello for some early 2016 dates. For more, quack over to paskamansettconcertseries.weebly.com or paskamansettconcertseries@gmail.com.

The North Kingstown Arts Council is presenting a Tuesday Night Summer Concert Series at the Town Wharf located at 53 Brown St. Music starts at 7pm and you can hear the sound of Big Cat Blues on Jun 23, Brass Attack on Jun 30, Reminisce on Jul 7, Abbey Rhode on Jul 14, White-Eyed Lizard Band on Jul 21, The RI Rednecks on Jul 28, Avenue A on Aug 4 and The Driftwoods on Aug 11. The concerts are free, but donations will gladly be accepted. You will need to bring a lawn chair. In the event of rain, the shows will be held at North Kingstown High School. For more, dock it to nkartscouncil.org

If you are in Narragansett on a Friday night, you can catch some great music at the gazebo right across from the town beach on Ocean Rd. Narragansett’s (the town, not the beer) Summer Concert Series presents The Dunn Brothers Band on Jun 19, Reckless Blues on Jun 26, Jesse Liam Band on Jul 3, Abbey Rhode on Jul 17, Dan Moretti & the Hammond Boys on Jul 31, Gary “Guitar” Gramolini and the Grinders on Aug 7, Mary Pierce on Aug 14, Boat Cake on Aug 21, Big Cat Blues on Aug 28, and the Foreverly Brothers on Sept 4. There is a big lawn to lay out a blanket or a chair to relax and enjoy the music. Concerts start at 6pm and run until 8pm. For more, surf over to narragansettri.gov

That’s it for now. Think winter. Stay cool. If you would like for me to write about your event please get the info to me at least three weeks before its scheduled date. Thanks for reading. www.JohnFuzek.com