Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for a roots festival.

More specifically, the third annual Fayetteville Roots Festival intended to showcase Fayetteville “in its natural state” will kick off with a VIP reception on Thursday, Aug. 23, before taking over several venues in the city through the weekend.

Organizers Bryan Hembree and Jerrmy Gawthrop have assembled an impressive lineup of folk, blues, bluegrass, and Americana from all over the country for this years festival, including headliners John Prine, David Grisman Folkjazz Trio, Darrell Scott, Pokey LaFarge and The South City 3, and others. The festival also includes food grown almost exclusively by local farmers, prepared by some of the best chefs Fayetteville has to offer.

Various festival ticket packages are still available at FayettevilleRoots.com, and proceeds from the event benefit local food charity, Feed Fayetteville.

With so many great artists and activities happening at venues all across Fayetteville over the next few days, we decided once again to put together a handy guide to where all the action is. It’s located a few pixels below this sentence. Have fun, everyone.

Events – Thursday, Aug. 23

Roots at Greenhouse Grille
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: 481 South School Avenue
Performers: Paul Sammons
Info: Reservations required. Call 479-444-8909.

The Steel Wheels

Friends of the Festival Concert
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: 3390 E. Mission Blvd.
Performers: Ryan Spearman, Danny Schmidt and Carrie Elkin, The Steel Wheels
Info: Includes a catered meal with locally-sourced ingredients prepared by Chef David Lewis (BHK Kafe), Chef Jerrmy Gawthrop (Greenhouse Grille) and Chef Bill Lyle (Ella’s)

Kingfish Late Night Stage
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: 262 N School Ave.
Performers: Sarah Hughes, Tyrannosaurus Chicken

Events – Friday, Aug. 24

Roots at Fayetteville Public Library
Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: 401 West Mountain Street
9 a.m. – Crooked Crow Songwriting Workshop hosted by J. Wagner (9 a.m.)
12 p.m. – Live Broadcast of Ozarks at Large

Roots At Greenhouse Grille
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: 481 South School Avenue
Performers: Joe Mack
Info: Reservations required. Call 479-444-8909.

Roots and Branches Stage
Location: Tyson Plaza (Walton Arts Center), 495 West Dickson Street
3 p.m. – Shore and Cockram
3:40 p.m. – Matt and Gus Smith
4:25 p.m. – Chad Elliott
5:10 p.m. – Fork and Knife

Fayetteville Listening Room
Location: McBride Studio (Walton Arts Center), 495 West Dickson Street
2 p.m. – Clark Bueling Trio
2:50 p.m. David Kimbrough Jr.
3:40 p.m. Old 78′s
4:30 p.m. Ben Bedford
5:20 p.m. – Shannon Wurst Band

Starr Theater
Location: Starr Theater (inside Walton Arts Center), 495 West Dickson Street
2 p.m. – Effron White
2:50 p.m. – Carrie Elkin
3:40 p.m. – Raina Rose
4:30 p.m. – Still on the Hill
5:20 p.m. – Milkdrive

David Grisman

Main Stage
Location: Baum Walker Hall (inside Walton Arts Center), 495 West Dickson Street
6:30 p.m. – 3 Penny Acre
7:20 p.m. – Hoots and Hellmouth
8:10 p.m. – The Steel Wheels
8:50 p.m – Intermission
9:15 p.m. – David Grisman Folk Jazz Trio

George’s Majestic Lounge Late Night Stages
Location: George’s Majestic Lounge (two stages), 519 West Dickson Street
10 p.m. – The Hillbenders
10:30 p.m. – Milkdrive
11:30 p.m. – Texas Two Step Lessons (Hosted by J. Wagner and Shannon Wurst)
11:45 p.m. – David Mayfield Parade
12:30 p.m. – The Carper Family

Kingfish Late Night Stage
Location: 262 N School Ave.
Time: 9 p.m.
Performers: Chooch And the Sidehill Gougers, Charliehorse

Saturday, Aug. 25

Bike Ride with the Steel Wheels
Time: 8 a.m.
Info: The Steel Wheel guide a bike ride through Fayetteville and the Ozarks. Presented by Bicycle Coalition of the Ozarks
Location: Start at Lewis & Clark

Roots at Fayetteville Farmers’ Market
Location: Fayetteville Square (Block Avenue side)
Block Avenue Stage
8:30 a.m. – Farmers and the MArket
9:15 a.m. – Shannon Wurst Band
10:15 a.m. – J Wagner
11:15 a.m. – Raina Rose
12:15 p.m. – The Lulus

Jammin’ Java Stage
Location: Town Center Plaza, Fayetteville Square
9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Thais and Wilson
11 a.m. – Teddy Sablon

Roots at Fayetteville Public Library
Location: 401 West Mountain Street
10 a.m. Woody Guthrie’s Life and Legacy in Song, hosted by Mark Biyleu (Big Smith) and Adam Cox (Cletus Got Shot)
11:30 p.m. – Roll On Columbia – Woody Guthrie Documentary
12:30 p.m. – Feed Fayetteville presents, Food Stamped – Documentary
2 p.m. – The Road Less Traveled – Highway 71 Documentary

Roots at Greenhouse Grille
Location: 481 South School Avenue
Info: Reservations required. Call 479-444-8909
2 p.m. – Dave Baer
6 p.m. – Hogtown Hot Club

Roots and Branches Stage
Location: Tyson Plaza (Walton Arts Center), 495 West Dickson Street
3 p.m. – David Glaser
3:40 p.m. – Chad Elliott
4:25 p.m. – Robby Hecht
5:10 p.m. – Greg Humphreys

Fayetteville Listening Room
Location: McBride Studio (Walton Arts Center), 495 West Dickson Street
2 p.m. – Emily Kaitz
2:50 p.m. – John Elliott
3:40 p.m. – Tiffany Christopher
4:30 p.m. – J Wagner
5:20 p.m. – Ryan Spearman

Starr Theatre
Location: Starr Theater (inside Walton Arts Center), 495 West Dickson Street
2 p.m. – The Carper Family
2:50 p.m. – Terri Hendrix & Lloyd Maines
3:40 p.m. – Trout Fishing in America
4:30 p.m. – John Fullbright
5:20 p.m. – David Mayfield Parade

John Prine

Main Stage
Location: Baum Walker Hall (inside Walton Arts Center), 495 West Dickson Street
6:30 p.m. – Joy Kills Sorrow
7:20 p.m. – Gregory Alan Isakov
8:10 p.m. – Darrell Scott
8:50 p.m. – Intermission
9:15 p.m. – John Prine

George’s Majestic Late Night Stages
Location: George’s Majestic Lounge (two stages), 519 West Dickson Street
10 p.m. – Tiffany Christopher
10:30 p.m. – Hoots and Hellmouth
11:30 p.m. – Adam Faucette & The Tall Grass
11:45 p.m. – Pokey LaFarge & The South City 3
12:30 p.m. – Cletus Got Shot

Kingfish Late Night Stage
Location: 262 N School Ave.
Time: 9 a.m.
Performers: Candy Lee and the Sweets, Mad Spirits

Sunday, Aug. 26

Roots Brunch at Greenhouse Grille
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: 481 South School Avenue
10 a.m. – Chad Elliott
10:45 a.m. – Shore and Cockram
10:30 a.m. – Robby Hecht
12:10 p.m. – Dave Baer
12:55 p.m. – David Glaser
1:40 p.m. – Bed Bedford

Roots at Fayetteville Public Library
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: 401 West Mountain Street
1:30 p.m. – Independent Musician Workshop, led by Terri Hendrix, Lloyd Maines, and Trout Fishing in America
3:30 p.m. – Fayetteville Sound, hosted by Christopher Spencer, featuring Shannon Wurst, Tiffany Christopher, Adam Cox

Roots Festival Closing Party at George’s Majestic Lounge
Location: George’s Majestic Lounge (two stages), 519 West Dickson Street
Info: For volunteers and Friends of the Festival 4-day pass holders only. Catered by Flying Burrito, Pesto Cafe
6 p.m. – 3 Penny Acre
7:15 p.m. – Joy Kills Sorrow
8:30 p.m. – Gregory Alan Isakov
9:30 p.m. – Pokey LaFarge and the South City 3

The Food

Several events during the festival include food, much of which is grown in Northwest Arkansas by local farmers.

Thursday’s VIP Reception at the Garner Farm includes a meal catered by Ella’s Restaurant, Greenhouse Grille, and Brick House Kitchen, and features local beers from West Mountain Brewing Company and Core Brewery.

The aforementioned restaurants will also cater events at the Walton Arts Center on Friday and Saturday. Menus include:
Ella’s
-“Little Portions Hermitage” Pulled Pork on Fresh Baked Roll with Local Honey-Habanero BBQ Sauce and Cole Slaw
-“Tri-Cycle Farm” Potato Salad with Fresh Dill and Peppered Bacon
-Fayetteville Farmer’s Market Panzanella Salad
-“Dripping Springs Garden” Sweet Potato Chips with Local Honey and Chive Whipped Mascarpone

Brick House Kitchen
-”Mason Creek Farm” Pork Chorizo and sweet potato tacos with roasted peach salsa.
-”Fayetteville Farmer’s Market” Roasted vegetable and dal tacos with apple chutney.
-Summer pudding of roasted grapes, coconut custard, and toasted buckwheat angel food.
-Apple spice cake with brandied currants and apples in sticky toffee.

Greenhouse Grille
-”Walnut Grove Farm” Grass Fed Braised Beef Gyros on Organic Flatbreads, with Locally Grown Cucumber Basil Tzatziki and Locally Grown Pepper Slaw
-Fayetteville Farmer’s Market Tabouli Salad with Organic Wheat Berries, Cucumbers, Peppers, Tomato, Onions and Herbs
-”Tri-Cycle Farm” Watermelon & Green Apple Gazpacho

The Farmers of the Festival include Walnut Grove Farm, Little Portions Hermitage, Across the Creek Farm, Mason Creek Farm, Tri-Cycle Farm, Dripping Springs, A & A Orchard, Croomer’s Orchard, War Eagle Mill and Ozark Natural Breads.

Woody Guthrie Exhibit

‘This is the Hand’

An art installation featuring reproductions of the hand-written lyrics of Woody Guthrie, photos, and a 20 piece art series entitled “This Is The Hand: Woody’s Vision of Labor” will be on display in the Joy Pratt Markham gallery, inside the Walton Arts Center.

A photo booth featuring a customizable replica of Guthrie’s famous “This Machine Kills Fascists” sticker will also be available in the gallery.

The exhibit will open on Friday at 2 p.m., and will remain on display throughout the weekend.

Venue/Parking Map

John Prine – Paradise

David Grisman FolkJazz Trio at Caramoor, Deep River Blues

Darrell Scott – A Crooked Road

Pokey LaFarge