Gregory Alan Isakov / Photo: Blue Caleel
Just about every year since it began seven years ago, we’ve found ourselves at the Fayetteville Roots Festival saying ‘Man, how are those guys going to top this?’ And then a year later, they manage to do it again.
In fact, at this point saying “This year’s installment of the Fayetteville Roots Festival is going to be the best yet” is less of a cliche, and more of a given based on the track record of organizers Bryan and Bernice Hembree and Jerrmy Gawthrop.
Free or Low-Cost Festival Options
Friday, Aug. 26
Noon-2 p.m. – KUAF 91.3 Live Broadcast from the Fayetteville Public Library
2:30 p.m. – Bourbon discussion at FPL with Chef Matthew Bell of South on Main in Little Rock and Chef Jason Paul of Heirloom
8 p.m. – Square dancing at Backspace
Saturday, Aug. 27
8 a.m.-1 p.m. – Festival plaza open for free to the public at the Fayetteville Town Center
11 a.m. – Live broadcast featuring Joe Purdy and John Moreland at FPL
11 a.m. – Chef Competition at the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market
3 p.m. – Debut film screening of “At the Fork” at FPL
Sunday, Aug. 28
10:30 a.m. – Brunchtime set by Irish band Flash Point at the Chancellor Hotel
2:30 p.m. – Beer discussion with Chef William Lyle of Eleven and Chef Justus Moll of River Grille
This year, the festival turns seven, and once again, the organizers have outdone themselves with the lineup of music, food, and fun they have planned at various venues around Fayetteville Aug. 25-28.
Mainstage headliners this year include Old Crow Medicine Show, Peter Rowan, Amy Helm, Gregory Alan Isakov, The Milk Carton Kids, and so many more.
Main stage events on Friday and Saturday are completely sold out, as are the coveted “Friends of the Festival” four-day passes that include an opening party with food and music at the Garner Farm in east Fayetteville.
Only a handful of tickets remain to the Sunday night show featuring Shovels & Rope, Hayes Carll, John Moreland, Smokey & The Mirror, and Hubby Jenkins.
Tickets are still available to several late-night shows at George’s Majestic Lounge, including Amasa Hines and Drunken Hearts on Friday night, and Amy Helm and Earl & Them on Saturday.
The festival always includes plenty of free entertainment, which we discussed in detail yesterday.
Food is always a huge part of the event, and organizers have taken that up a notch this year as well. The Iron Chef-style cooking competition on Saturday at the Fayetteville Town Center returns to feature some of the region’s best chefs from Greenhouse Grille, Bordinos, Meiji, Arsaga’s, Eleven, and others. The chefs will be given $50 to shop at the Farmers’ Market, and will race back to create their best dish. There are cooking demonstrations throughout the festival, too, and the Dig In! Food and Farming Festival has come on board as part of the Roots Festival this year to add a whole bunch more programming on local food.
A lot more information, including a full music schedule is listed below. A comprehensive, bookmarkable schedule of all things Roots Festival is available here.
To grab tickets to one of the late-night ticketed shows still available, visit fayettevilleroots.com.
Let’s party.
Wednesday, Aug. 24
Music – Festival pre-party at George’s Majestic Lounge
(Ticket required. Get tickets)
Time: 9 p.m.
Address: 519 W. Dickson St.
Performers: Penny & Sparrow
Peter Rowan / Courtesy
Thursday, Aug. 25
Music/Food – Friends of the Festival Concert at the Garner Farm
(Ticket required. Sold out.)
Address: 3390 E. Mission Blvd.
5:45 p.m. – Penny & Sparrow
6:55 p.m. – Jonathan Byrd
8:05 p.m. – The Wild Reeds
9:20 p.m. – Peter Rowan Band
Music – Late Night Stage at the Chancellor Hotel
No cover
Address: 70 North East Avenue
10:30 p.m. – Oh, Jerimiah
Friday, Aug. 26
Ozarks At Large Live
(No ticket needed)
Time: 12 p.m.
Address: 401 W. Mountain St.
What: A live taping of Ozarks at Large
Festival Plaza Stage
Ticket required. Sold out.
Time: 2 p.m.
Address: 15 W. Mountain
What: Music
2 p.m. – MC Hansen
5:20 p.m. – Lost John
Old Crow Medicine Show / Courtesy
Main Stage at Fayetteville Town Center
(Ticket required. Sold out.)
Address: 15 W. Mountain St.
3:20 p.m. – The Wild Reeds
4:30 p.m. – Jonathan Byrd
6:20 p.m. – Amy Helm
7:40 p.m. – Peter Rowan Band
9:15 p.m. – Old Crow Medicine Show
Music – Kingfish
(No ticket needed)
Time: 10 p.m.
Address: 262 N. School Ave.
Performer: Cutty Rye
Music – Maxine’s Tap Room Stage
(No ticket needed.)
Time: 10 p.m.
Address: 107 N. Block Ave.
Performer: Skinny Gypsies
Music- George’s Majestic Lounge Late-night Stage
(Ticket required. Get tickets)
Address: 519 W. Dickson St.
9:30 p.m. – Drunken Hearts
10:30 p.m. – Samantha Fish
11:45 p.m. – Amasa Hines
12:45 a.m. – Drunken Hearts
Music – Chancellor Hotel Late-night Stage
(No ticket needed)
Time: 11 p.m.
Address: 70 N. East Ave.
Performer: Tow’rs, Open Mic Hosted by Joe Mack
Roots Cellar at the OPO
VIP/Sponsor/Artist ticket required
Time: 11 p.m.
Address: 1 W. Center St.
Performer: Birds of Chicago / Raina Rose
Saturday, Aug. 27
Milk Carton Kids / Courtesy
Festival Plaza Stage
No ticket required for morning performances. Tickets required after 1 p.m.
Time: 9 a.m.
Address: 15 W. Mountain St.
What: Music
9 a.m. – Willie Carlisle Goehring
10 a.m. – J Wagner
1 p.m. – Ryan Pickop
5:20 p.m. – Bayard Blain
Music at Fayetteville Public Library
(No ticket needed)
Time: 10 a.m.
Address: 401 W. Mountain St.
10 a.m. – Shook Twins (kids & family concert)
11 a.m. – Joe Purdy & John Moreland
12 p.m. – Still on the Hill & Roy and Aviva – Ozark Songs Past & Present
Music – Main Stage at Fayetteville Town Center
(Ticket required. Sold out.)
Address: 15 W. Mountain St.
2 p.m. – We Dream Dawn
3:10 p.m. – Joe Purdy
4:20 p.m. – Birds of Chicago
6:20 p.m. – The Shook Twins
7:40 p.m. – The Milk Carton Kids
9 p.m. – Gregory Alan Isakov featuring SoNA
Music – Maxine’s Tap Room Stage
(No ticket required.)
Time: 10 p.m.
Address: 107 N. Block Ave.
Performer: Arkansauce
Music – George’s Majestic Lounge Late-night Stage
(Ticket required. Get tickets)
Address: 519 W. Dickson St.
9:45 p.m. – Earl & Them
11 p.m. – Amy Helm
12 a.m. – Lost John
Music – Kingfish Late-night Stage
(No ticket needed)
Time: 10 p.m.
Address: 262 N. School Ave.
Performer: Drunken Hearts
Music – Chancellor Hotel Late-night Stage
(No ticket needed)
Time: 11 p.m.
Address: 70 N. East Ave.
Performer: MC Hansen, Open Mic Hosted by Joe Mack
Roots Cellar at the OPO
VIP/Sponsor/Artist ticket required
Time: 11 p.m.
Address: 1 W. Center St.
Performer: Joe Purdy, John Moreland, and Ryan Pickop
Sunday, Aug. 28
Shovels & Rope / Courtesy
Roots at Greenhouse Grille – Brunch
(No ticket needed. Reservations recommended. Call 479-444-8909)
Time: 10 a.m.
Address: 481 S. School Ave.
Performer: MC Hansen, J Wagner
Music – Maxine’s Tap Room Stage
(No ticket needed.)
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Address: 107 N. Block Ave.
Performer: Mimosas brunch with music by Tow’rs
Main Stage at Fayetteville Town Center
(Ticket required. Get tickets)
Address: 15 W. Mountain St.
1 p.m. – Big Still River (Festival Plaza Stage)
2:20 p.m. – Hubby Jenkins
3:30 p.m. – Smokey & the Mirror
4:40 p.m. – John Moreland
5:20 p.m. – Daniel Dean (Festival Plaza Stage)
6:30 p.m. – Hayes Carll
8:15 p.m. – Shovels & Rope
Music – Maxine’s Tap Room Stage
(No ticket needed.)
Time: 9:00 p.m.
Address: 107 N. Block Ave.
Performer: Crescent City Combo
Food Programming
Chefs’ Competition
“At the Fork” Screening
Dig In! Food and Farming Festival
