Staff Photo Nick Brothers
The Punch Brothers were nothing short of mind blowing with their masterful playing of their own brand of progressive bluegrass. The band’s frontman, Chris Thile (center, mandolin) put on quite a show with his facial expressions.
Once again, Fayetteville Roots Fest organizers Bernice and Bryan Hembree and Jerrmy Gawthrop have done it. This year’s Roots was another great year of exciting, fascinating and heart-warming musical acts and tons of interesting one-off workshops and lectures.
Sure, there were a couple sound hiccups on the main stage, but no one really freaked out about it and everything was handled well. The environment was welcoming, and well, rootsy. It was a fancy-casual event, and despite where roots music started in the hills and valleys, the festival’s sort of pageantry is what this particular brand of music deserves. What’s more impressive is each artist’s ability to play the room and create a unique, intimate, heart-to-heart experience.
Or, in the case of Ben Miller Band, things got rowdy and all sorts of fun.
Staff Photo Nick Brothers
John Fullbright’s set at Roots Fest hit its apex when festival organizer and Smoky and The Mirror singer/bassist Bernice Hembree joined him for his rousing song, “Moving.”
Another impressive aspect was the involvement of all the local restaurants, food innovators, mixologists and various vendors. The Chef Cook-Off was a fun example of all of that coming together.
Just about each and every artist that performed the main stage lauded how great Fayetteville was and how much they adored the people putting on the festival. Walking around myself, I couldn’t help but pick up on a vibrant, inspiring vibe — and it was speaking. What was it saying?
“Y’all best believe it people, northwest Arkansas is one cool freakin’ place.”
Staff Photo Nick Brothers The Watkins Family Hour, featuring Fiona Apple (second from right), headlined the festival Sunday evening.
Staff Photo Nick Brothers
The Steel Wheels played a stellar set at the Roots Festival. A few times during their performance, they sang in four-part harmony with and without instruments.
Staff Photo Nick Brothers Matt Miller, a local artist, paints an image of Fayetteville’s legendary Crazy Chester who used to walk about town and inspired lyrics in “The Weight” by The Band.
Staff Photo Nick Brothers Terry “Buffalo” Ware (left) went to town on his guitar during the Smoky and The Mirror performance. The band consists of two of the three Roots Fest organizers, Bernice (center) and Bryan Hembree (right).
Staff Photo Nick Brothers
Ben Miller Band played a psychedelic delta blues set that featured a one-string washtub bass, spoons, trombone and a washboard.
Staff Photo Nick Brothers
An attendee inspects a Sitka Spruce guitar top prior to being assembled at the Luthier Summit at May Bell Music Friday, Aug. 28.
