Americana Rhythm and Roots Festival

Bring the family to Newburyport's Waterfront Park on Saturday, July 1, from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. for a free concert featuring roots music performers to benefit the Newburyport Parks.  The second annual Americana Rhythm and Roots festival features  Grammy-nominated Alligator Recording rhythm and blues artist Marcia Ball, blues and soul rock diva artist Nikki Hill, and Rounder Recording bluegrass artists Lonely Heartstring Band.

The community-based festival was formed to raise funds for the care of and to bring attention to the 23 Newburyport parks. All net proceeds will benefit the Newburyport Parks Conservancy, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and maintaining Newburyport's green spaces for the enjoyment of all of its residents and visitors. Volunteers are needed in advance and on the day of the event. For more information about how to contribute, visit www.newburyportparks.org

The festival headliner is legendary five-time Grammy nominee winning artist Marcia Ball. Her groove-laden New Orleans boogie woogie piano style, deeply soulful singing and rollicking Gulf Coast blues have made her a one-of-a-kind favorite with music fans all over the world.

Soul rock diva artist Nikki Hill will strut her stuff with an performance delivering a sound that will make you believe in rock ?n? roll again. With raw rock and soul dynamics, she performs with the strength, passion, and honesty of blues shouters of the past.

Rounder Recording artists the Lonely Heartstring Band forges a dynamic and distinct sound not unlike the genre-bending contributions made by the Punch Brothers, Alison Krauss, and Infamous String Dusters. Tracing the bands roots to their time studying at the Berklee College of Music, they come with the world's finest training in Country, Folk, and Western Chamber Music - Folkgrass at its finest!

Opening the festival is the talented Quentin Callewaert, a local 16 year old with a bluesy voice who is making a major buzz as one of the most gifted guitarists around. Quentin plays a combination of classical, traditional, contemporary and popular material as well as his own finely crafted original compositions.

Festival organizers are grateful for creative partners Rounder Records, Theater in the Open and the Firehouse Center for the Performing Arts as well as sponsors which include: Peter Riley & Associates, Institution for Savings, Agave Mexican Bistro, Beveridge Family Foundation, 90+ Cellars, Tannery Historic Marketplace, Plum Island Coffee Roasters, Clipper Awards & Engraving and media sponsor Northshore magazine.