Adding Some Punch

Roots Festival announces acclaimed artists for 2015

Bryan Hembree builds a festival roster like he builds a setlist. He has experience in both, as a guitarist and songwriter for Smokey & The Mirror and as co-creator of the Fayetteville Roots Festival.

He starts with a song, with some kind of feeling. He places something that feels like a fit next to it, then works his way through. Sometimes it means favorite songs don't get played. Sometimes it means themes or patterns develop.

FAQ

Fayetteville Roots Festival

WHEN — Aug. 27-30

WHERE — Various venues in Fayetteville

COST — Single-day passes start at $49; four-day VIP passes are $219

INFO — fayettevilleroots.c…

And Hembree feels a pattern has emerged in the roster for the 2015 edition of the Roots Festival, scheduled for late August in various venues in Fayetteville. This year's lineup, most of which was released last week, might become known as the year of the critically acclaimed act.

That starts with the event headliners, The Punch Brothers, fresh off the release of a new album called "The Phosphorescent Blues." The quintet's blend of bluegrass, classical and indie rock vibes led Hembree to call The Punch Brothers "as good as they get."

"They've been on our radar for a number of years," Hembree says. "It felt like the right time to bring them." The Punch Brothers will perform at many festivals this year, including the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and the all-genre Bonnaroo. The Roots Festival will be one of the smallest events during their festival tour, Hembree says.

Another of the critically acclaimed acts is a trio of female musicians who joined forces after an impromptu performance at a festival in 2014. Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O'Donovan visit the festival as well. The trio's "I'm With Her" tour has only announced a few North American dates, with most shows taking place in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Other artists confirmed for the festival include previous acts such as Speakeasy-era revivalists Pokey LaFarge and gospel-tinged harmonizers The Steel Wheels. The Shook Twins, Martha Scanlan, John Moreland and Smokey & The Mirror round out the rest of names dropped last week.

Hembree says that, as they did at previous festivals, food and sustainability will play a major role. He says several events in the style of the workshops offered at last year's festival are in the works. They too will focus on food and related topics.

An additional four or five artists will be announced, likely in the next two weeks, Hembree says.

Tickets are on sale now and begin at $49 for a one-day pass. A four-day pass that provides access to the food-and-music preview night at the Garner Farm in Fayetteville is now $219, a second-tier price after the first block sold out.

Tickets are selling more quickly than they ever have, Hembree says.

NAN What's Up on 02/06/2015

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