The Roots played w/ Rakim, hosting giant 4th of July show in Philly w/ Estelle & Earth, Wind & Fire (who are on tour now)

The Roots at Prospect Park in 2010 (more by David Andrako)

Although musical options in NYC are limited on the 4th of July, you could head to Philly for the Philly Fourth of July Jam. This year’s show, which is being billed as the “largest free concert in America,” will feature The Roots and special guests including Earth, Wind and Fire, Michael McDonald, Estelle, Sara Bareilles, and DJ Jazzy Jeff. It runs from 7-10pm at Benjamin Franklin Parkway and will be followed by fireworks (naturally).

Meanwhile you can catch Earth, Wind and Fire in NYC tonight tonight (6/28) and Wednesday (6/29) at Beacon Theatre. It’s been forty years since Earth, Wind and Fire first hit the scene, and…

Forty years later, Bailey says Earth, Wind & Fire is still in pursuit of being the best band in the world.

“We’re just being the best we can be and seizing the moment we’ve been given,” he says.

“We still practice and we still hone our craft, though we’ve been playing these songs thousands and thousands of times. We make sure we go back and pay attention to the little details, and our audience appreciates the attention we put into stuff.”

Throughout its storied career, Earth, Wind & Fire mixed funk-seared dance jams such as “September,” “Boogie Wonderland” and “Serpentine Fire” with Quiet Storm classics such as “Devotion,” “Can’t Hide Love” and “Keep Your Head to the Sky.” Often, the Grammy-winning band stoked its sound with African and Brazilian rhythms on its way to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [Calgary Herald]

Earth, Wind and Fire also have shows scheduled in Atlantic City and CT before Philly on the 4th. All dates are listed below.

The Roots have been keeping super busy as usual. In addition to planning the biggest concert in America and collaborating with countless musicians, partially related to then playing Fallon on a daily basis, they played a series of interesting shows in NYC last week. At least Questlove is taking a day off from Brooklyn Bowl.

Most of those shows were part of the ongoing Blue Note Jazz Fest. Two of them, at the Blue Note, were The Roots and Rakim performing Paid in Full in its entirety…

“With an early show and a late show, the band ran through the 10 track of the classic album with funky flawlessness. During the first show, Nelson George asked Rakim and Black Thought questions about the album’s legacy and Rakim’s career at the beginning and half way points. The second show featured questions from Toure, and both Dave Chappelle and Talib Kweli were in the house who had their turn posing questions as well. Very dope stuff indeed.” [Okayplayer]

Check out a video from this performance below. Estelle, also on the 4th of July show, played two shows at the Blue Note last week too.

The Roots also performed at the launch of Rebuild the Dream at Town Hall on Thursday (6/23). Rebuild the Dream is a new movement to bring back the American Dream and help Americans find jobs, go to college, etc. The Town Hall event consisted of a long motivational speech and call to action interspersed with a couple performances by The Roots. Learn more at the movement’s website. Video of the entire event, and the other stuff, below.

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Rakim and The Roots “Microphone Fiend”

The Roots and Rakim at Blue Note

Rebuild the Dream at Town Hall

Earth Wind and Fire — 2011 Tour Dates
Tue 06/28/11 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
Wed 06/29/11 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
Fri 07/01/11 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa / Event Ctr.
Sat 07/02/11 Danbury, CT Ives Concert Park
Sun 07/03/11 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa / Event Ctr.
Mon 07/04/11 Philadelphia, PA Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Sun 08/21/11 Henley-on-Thames, United Kingdom Temple Island Meadow
Fri 09/02/11 Curacao, Island Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival Grounds
Sun 09/11/11 Indianapolis, IN Lawn At White River State Park
Sun 09/18/11 Durham, NC Durham Performing Arts Center
Fri 09/23/11 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amphitheatre