Month: June 2022

Prepare to be severely entertained !!

https://honesdalerootsandrhythm.com/this-years-line-up/

https://honesdalerootsandrhythm.com/our-past-performers/

Central Park Main Stage, Saturday June 18th, 2022 @ 8PM!!

15th Annual Honesdale Roots & Rhythm!!

https://www.nikkihillrocks.com/

Creating a path outside of the norm and molding her own image has been a lifelong brand for singer, songwriter, and bandleader Nikki Hill, raised by a single mother and two older sisters in Durham, North Carolina. Having her first singing experiences in the church choir as a child and into her teens, curiosity eventually led Nikki to trade the pews for barstools, and her interests in music exploded in every direction, realizing it was a world with no boundaries. She felt oddly comfortable, finding a direct connection between the energy she saw at local shows, and the praise dancing, gospel shouting church services she experienced every week growing up.

In this unique way, Hill found her inspiration in pulling the different parts of her musical worlds together, taking the tones of the R&B, soul, and gospel that raised her at home, and blending with the expressions of blues, garage, rock n’ roll, and roots that she soaked up on her own. Blending soulful, sensual and bold vocal tones with powerful chrome-plated riffs and swagger, her voice finds a home in it – a soul singing, bar rocking, roots revivalist, that writes with frank self-reflection at a dancing tempo.

Ahead of her album, Here’s Nikki Hill, word was spreading from relentless touring and old-fashioned word of mouth. While that helped build a fan base, Nikki’s style was also absorbed in an unexpected variety of ways amongst listeners and show-goers. With the lack of exposure for Black soul-rock singers/entertainers, Nikki found herself being misinterpreted. She became known in some circles just as much for confusing local audiences who initially assumed a different vibe based on her photo, as she did for leading an explosive, soulful, not-to-be-missed electric guitar-driven performance. Refusing to let the experience undo her path, Hill embraced the muse and jumped into the process of probing the vital role that Black women played in what became rock ‘n’ roll. As word spread, so did interest, allowing Hill opportunities to open for a range of artists like Dr. John, Aaron Neville, Los Lobos, to Eileen Jewel and Nelly, before any music was released. Nikki continued to develop her sound, learning with trial and error, a lot of road mileage, self-releasing albums, and carving out a place for herself, and hopefully a place for other people going through similar struggles.

Nikki’s songwriting and passion for music of the 1950s and 1960s introduced more opportunities and recordings. Her song “Struttin’” contributed to Deke Dickerson and The Bo-Keys Soul Meets Country EP, produced by Scott Bomar in Memphis, TN. Nikki and her musical partner and husband Matt Hill also moved to New Orleans, LA, picking up influence in the Gulf Coast. The momentum continued through the release of her second album, Heavy Hearts Hard Fists, recorded at Fort Horton Studios in Wyldwood, TX. The acclaimed album was accompanied by a worldwide tour in the US, Europe, Australia, India and Morocco, and over 30 festivals, including Montreux Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, and Byron Bay Blues Festival, receiving praise for uplifting the new songs with an erupting live performance. “Think Tina Turner front AC/DC and you’ll have half of the picture. She’s a machine…you’ve got no excuse if you miss seeing her… Nikki Hill is a revelation, her band masters of rocket-fueled bluesy swing, her voice the beacon which calls you home… a vocal powerhouse who don’t mess around.” (Rolling Stone). Hill’s current touring band is Matt Hill (guitar), Laura Chavez (guitar), Nick Gaitan (bass), and Marty Dodson (drums).

On Nikki Hill’s latest release, Feline Roots, Hill lets her soul rip on this new collection of songs. Nikki and her band take a muscular groove — that used to be called the devil’s music, celebrating and wailing over love, transgressions, the hard times, and wild freedom — and inject it with timeless effect, giving Nikki a foundation on which to build.
It’s her version of rock n’ roll that can only come from her stories. Nikki Hill has never been afraid to take the road less traveled, and it’s clear with “Feline Roots” that she’s living every word.

“Hill is the real deal…steeped in gospel and soul, wrapped up in a punk rock DIY ethic” – Time Out LA

“A fiery performer, channeling some of rock & roll’s most heralded voices, revamping the squalls, screams and shouting-at-the-devil of rock’s pentecostal roots to a blazing new take that she can rightfully call her own, a soul that owes as much to AC/DC as Aretha.” — Okayplayer 

“…Hill’s got too much passion to tidy things up, but she knows exactly what she’s doing.” 
— SPIN

“If Tina Turner and Little Richard had a daughter and raised her with the help of uncles James Brown and Chuck Berry, she’d be like Nikki Hill.” –Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“When you have a powerful Southern soul singer with a penchant for AC/DC, you know you’re going to get something badass…A talent not to be ignored. Hell, she packs so much power, she’ll never let you.” — PopMatters 

“A powerhouse singer and killer live performer, delivers her brand of soul-rock ‘n’ roll with expressive verve and, with the new songs, great variety and style.” — Lincoln Journal Star 

“Impassioned…fiery soul and R&B with some rock and roll swagger thrown in for good measure.” — AllMusic 

Saturday June 18th, Honesdale Roots & Rhythm

Central Park Main Stage @ 3:30 PM.

2016 Blues Music Award (BMA) Winner and frequent BMA nominee Billy Price first attracted national attention during his three-year association with guitarist Roy Buchanan. Price is the vocalist on two of Buchanan’s LPs, That’s What I’m Here For and Live Stock. Since then, with the Keystone Rhythm Band, the Billy Price Band, and solo projects, Billy Price has recorded and released a total of 17 albums, CDs, and DVDs.

Price’s album This Time for Real, with the late Chicago soul singer Otis Clay, received a 2016 Blues Music Award in the category of Best Soul Blues Album of 2015. His 2018 album Reckoning, produced by Kid Andersen at Greaseland Studios for Vizztone, was nominated for a 2019 Blues Music Award in the category of Best Soul Blues Album of 2018. His latest album Dog Eat Dog, also produced by Andersen, was released on Gulf Coast Records in August, 2019 and nominated for a 2020 BMA for Best Soul Blues Album of 2019. He was also nominated for a 2020 BMA for Best Male Soul Blues Artist.

The Billy Price Band, based in Billy’s hometown of Pittsburgh, Pa., consists of Dave Dodd (drums), Tom Valentine (bass), Lenny Smith (guitar), Jim Britton (keyboards), and Eric Spaulding (sax). They won the Pittsburgh City Paper Reader’s Poll in 2021 as the most popular blues band in the city.

https://www.billyprice.com/

Get ready to swing with these Vipers cause its going to be a real Jive Baby !!

Don’t miss these guys. rhythmic genius & infectious melody’s……. It don’t mean a thing if’in it ain’t got that SWING !!!!!!

THIS HAS GOT IT !!!

We had the opportunity to sit with Scott Rage this morning to demo our ’22 Custom Guitar!!

Tickets available online until Monday 6/13/22

$5 per chance or 5 for $20

Every year since our humble beginnings in 2006 we have raffled off a custom built guitar painted and or designed by a chosen artist.

Custom built SG style guitar by Tony Maddi & John Rocklin. Painted by our featured Artist for ’22 Dane Tilghman. Mahogany body and set neck. Seymour Duncan Pickups, Handwired 50’s style. Gibson Tuners and Hardware. This is one KILLER guitar ! See and hear video below.

The drawing takes place during the festival , this year probably about 8:30pm. You need not be present to win !

Here are two videos demonstrating the guitar.

Honesdale Roots & Rhythm Music & Arts Festival wants you !!

Be part of the Action setting-up, tearing-down or everything in between at the Roots & Rhythm festival in Central Park, Honesdale, June 18, 2022.

Flexible volunteer and paid positions are available throughout the day and night.

Every helper working at least 2 hours receives all-you -can eat food vouchers for the day and a signature t-shirt that can only be earned.

Want to join the action? Call or text Brian Fulp any time at 570-309-7860.

Thanks to Torey Decker Design & Quality Printing for this years poster design and production. thanks as well to all our generous sponsors. Since 2006, Roots and Rhythm is a free to the public Roots music festival bringing some of the best Americana, Blues, Rock & Roll and Country music to our little town here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Please share this post to help get the word out !! Now in our 15th year and back from a 2 year gap due to Covid. See you on June 18th !! Don’t forget the music starts around 10AM with 7 yet to be announced local bands. Main Stage in Central Park kicks off at about 1:15 PM. Our after Party with Rockinitis starts at 10PM.