The District gears up for Boone County National’s Roots ‘N Blues ‘N BBQ

Staying in business for century and a half is definitely something to celebrate.

For its 150th anniversary, Boone County National Bank, one of the first federally chartered banks west of the Mississippi River, decided to get down to its roots—musical roots, that is.

Whether you like jazz, blues, gospel, country or reggae, the Roots ‘N Blues ‘N BBQ Festival September 7-8 is a bash not to be missed. Outdoor stages across downtown, including two main stages near Peace Park and at the intersection of 8th Street and Broadway, offer free concerts from local and internationally known acts. Recent addition Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, who were discovered by a documentary team at a refugee camp and have since appeared around the world, will join Grammy-winning headliners Taj Mahal and Chris Thomas King.

The local stage at the Flat Branch Park gazebo will host favorites Chump Change, The Bel Airs and The Hilary Scott Band, to name a few. Also on the roster are The Blind Boys of Alabama, Tab Benoit, North Mississippi Allstars and Primitive Soul. In all, 30 artists will perform throughout the event.

It’s not just the music that suits many tastes; the food and art might tickle your palate as well. After all, what is a roots festival without some good home cookin’? More than 100 vendors, businesses and organizations will offer a broad range of culinary attractions. A Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned cooking contest on Saturday is even offering $15,000 in prizes to the best brisket, ribs or chicken around.

Officials expect the festival to draw more than 40,000 attendees and to provide more than $7 million in economic activity for the county. Activities will run from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, and from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8. All performances during the festival will be free to the public.