The Roots - free 4th of July show in Philly, more Highline shows, Rock the Bells (all dates) & the Roots Picnic (pics)
photos by Tim Griffin
Philadelphia’s City Hall just announced that the Roots are playing the Fourth of July! The hometown band has been added to the bill with Sheryl Crow for the city’s massive free concert on the Ben Franklin Parkway, Saturday, July 4th, beginning 8:30 p.m. It’s the largest free concert in the country. The Roots play first; then Sheryl Crow for Philadelphia’s “Life, Liberty & You” concert. A huge fireworks show will follow the concert.
That’ll be the second big outdoor Philly show this year for the Roots — the band hosted the Roots Picnic on June 6th at the city’s Penn’s Landing. That daylong fest included a headlining set by Public Enemy (with the Roots and Antibalas guesting). It wasn’t their only performance of the night…
The Roots opened the entire concert with a mini-set. How sick are these dudes that they even open up for… THEMSELVES?!?
The Roots picnic is a tremendous bellwether for so many things. Asher Roth, Kid Cudi, and Santigold are that next-next shit. I think all three of them will be in the business of making music for a good long time.
The Roots picnic also gave me a chance to see Philadelphia again in a new and different light. That city is once again rebuilding itself with a signature sound played by musicians who have dedicated their lives to their craft. [XXL]
The band shows no signs of slowing down this summer and beyond. They continue to impress as the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, often collaborating with the show’s musical guests. Their Highline Ballroom residency has been extended into November. And they’re scheduled to be at most of the Rock the Bells shows, including stops Chicago, Baltimore, Boston, L.A., San Francisco and NY’s Jones Beach Theater.
More pictures from the Roots Picnic & all tour dates are below…
Antibalas…
The Roots…
Public Enemy pics HERE
The Roots – 2009 Tour Dates
Jun 10 Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom New York, New York
Jun 13 Meltdown Festival at Royal Festival Hall w/ Ornette Coleman London, United Kingdom, London and South East
Jun 16 Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom New York, New York
Jun 23 Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom New York, New York
Jun 27 Rock The Bells @ First Midwest Bank Ampitheater Chicago, Illinois
Jun 28 Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom New York, New York
Jul 02 First Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota
Jul 03 Milwaukee Summerfest Milwaukee, Minnesota
Jul 04 Philadelpha – free show w/ Sheryl Crow
Jul 05 Festival at Burlington Waterfront Park Burlington, Vermont
Jul 05 Festival at Burlington Waterfront Park Burlington, Vermont
Jul 07 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Outdoor Pool Las Vegas, Nevada
Jul 12 Rock The Bells @ Merriweather Post Baltimore, Washington DC
Jul 14 Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom New York, New York
Jul 18 Rock The Bells @ Comcast Center Boston, Massachusetts
Jul 19 Rock The Bells @ Jones Ampitheater New York, New York
Jul 21 Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom New York, New York
Jul 28 Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom New York, New York
Aug 01 Osheaga Music Festival Montreal, Canada
Aug 02 Cutting Edge MusicFestival Grand Bend Ontario
Aug 04 Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom New York, New York
Aug 08 Rock The Bells @ Glen Helen Ampitheater Los Angeles, California
Aug 09 Rock The Bells @ Shoreline Ampitheater San Francisco, California
Aug 10 Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom New York, New York
* Highline Ballroom is selling tickets to “The Roots Present: The Jam” through November 24th.
