2009 Roots ‘n Blues ‘n BBQ Festival
The third annual Roots ‘N Blues ‘N BBQ Festival, being held in downtown Columbia on Sept. 25-26, will be the first to charge admission to some of the stages.
Boone County National Bank hosted a free festival in 2007 as a way of celebrating the bank’s 150th anniversary and covered the cost (reportedly about $500,000). More than 60,000 people attended the festival, and the community clamored for an encore. The main organizers, Steve Sweitzer and Terry Woodruff of the Woodruff Sweitzer communications company and Blue Note owner Richard King, formed a company to run the festival. They planned to cover costs with sponsorships, VIP packages and vendor fees, and the city kicked in $100,000 to join the sponsors. The audience grew, but the festival still lost money.
The proposal to sell tickets sparked a controversy this summer, but the Columbia City Council passed the ticketing plans at its July 20 meeting.
This year, the festival will be charging admission to two of the three stages and a VIP lounge to help Thumper Entertainment cover its operational expenses.
Tickets bought in advance will cost $10 for one day and $15 for the weekend. The prices go up to $15 and $25 for tickets bought during the weekend of the festival.
Dan Tyminski Band
Dan Tyminski has won 13 Grammy Awards. He is a guitarist, lead and harmony vocalist and occasional mandolinist for Alison Krauss and Union Station. He was also George Clooney’s singing voice in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” The Dan Tyminski Band will be playing from 9-10:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the 7th and Locust street stage
Carolina Chocolate Drops
This African-American string band plays fiddle and banjo music and last played the Roots ‘N Blues ‘N BBQ Festival in 2007. The group’s musical heritage comes from the North and South Carolina foothills. Playing under the guidance of Joe Thompson, The Carolina Chocolate Drops will perform from 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at the Peace Park stage.
Blind Boys of Alabama
The Blind Boys of Alabama have won four Grammy Awards and first performed at the Roots ‘N Blues ‘N BBQ Festival in 2007. The group’s early music included gospel music, but their catalog has grown to include secular songs with strongly spiritual messages. The Blind Boys of Alabama will be playing from 9-10:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Peace Park stage.
The Bel Airs*
Dick and Dave Pruitt lead the band on bass and electric guitars while Michael Cherry plays the drums. The Bel Airs combine blues, country, soul and rock ‘n’ roll. The Pruitt brothers, from Columbia, have been performing together for more than 20 years and stand out with their harmonic vocal styles. The Bel Airs will be playing from 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at the Flat Branch Park stage.
Henry Clay and the Full Grown Men*
Henry Clay and the Full Grown Men are made up of five local musicians. Henry Clay Ransburg leads the band on vocals and harmonica. Members of the band formerly performed as part of The Benders, a group from the late ’80s and early ’90s. Henry Clay and the Full Grown Men will be playing from 5:15-6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at the Plat Branch Park stage.
Chump Change*
Chump Change has been playing the blues for 25 years. Over the band’s long career, they have shared the stage with the likes of B.B. King, Ronnie Baker Brooks and Tab Benoit, to name a few. Bass player James Smith, guitarist Big Babe Martin (who plays upside down and left handed), saxophonist Kenneth Brantley, female vocalist Emery Lovett and saxophonist Pete Szkolka all live in Columbia, and drummer Earl Turner lives only a short drive away, in Fayette. Chump Change will be playing from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Flat Branch Park stage.
The Steeldrivers*
This group blends country, soul, bluegrass and contemporary influences into its sound. Individually, band members have worked with Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Jr., Bob Seger and Bo Diddley. Former Columbia residents Mike Henderson and Mike Fleming are both band members. The Steeldrivers will perform from 7-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Peace Park stage.
Deke Dickerson and the Ecco-Phonics*
Deke, who returns to Columbia after moving to California, mixes old-time country, rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, doo-wop and surf. His music was recently featured on “Monster Garage” and in the movie “Sideways.” He performs in festivals from Las Vegas to Finland. Deke Dickerson will be playing from 9-10:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at the Flat Branch Park stage.
Bring on the Pig
The third annual Roots ‘N Blues ‘N BBQ Festival will have 11 vendor booths, and the food offerings include, as would be expected, lots of barbeque.
There were a half-dozen vendors in the first festival and 20 vendors in the second. Patty King, Thumper Entertainment’s vendor coordinator, said organizers thought there were too many vendors, last year and decided to reduce the number.
Festival organizers don’t collect commissions from vendors’ sales, King said.
Vendors at this year’s festival had a couple of booth options to choose from depending on what they sell. Booths for vendors who don’t need a health inspection, primarily those selling crafts, cost $800 for a space of 10 square feet, covering both days of the festival. Food vendors, who need to have an inspection from the health department, are charged $1,250 for the same space. They can increase their booth sizes by 10-foot increments for $1,250 per increase. All booths include electricity.
The vendors for the 2009 Roots ‘N Blues ‘N BBQ Festival, based in Columbia unless otherwise noted, are:
- Hoss’s Market & Rotisserie
- Smokin’ Chick’s BBQ
- Missouri Legacy Beef
- Heuer’s Country Store & Café, Sturgeon
- Jamaican Jerk Hut
- Golden Nugget Popcorn
- Wilson’s Garden Center
- Dee’s Kettle Korn
- Rooten Tooten BBQ
- Lutz’s Famous BBQ of Jefferson City
- Aston Concessions of Wright City, MO
Pinetop Perkins and the Perfect Age of Rock n Roll Blues Band
Pinetop Perkins is a 95-year-young Mississippi bluesman who played piano in the Muddy Waters Blues Band for 12 years. Pinetop began playing blues around 1927, was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and was given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. Pinetop Perkins will be playing from 9-10:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at the Peace Park stage.
Southern Culture on the Skids
Southern Culture on the Skids describe its music as “geek rock.” Their sound is a mix of American, surf, R&B, rockabilly and swamp pop. The band blends the city with the country while mixing high and low culture. Southern Culture on the Skids will perform from 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at the 7th and Locust street stage.
James Hand
James Hand has 40 years of musical experience but has only recently become recognized on a national level. He has a country style reminiscent of Hank Williams and has performed at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. James Hand will be playing from 3-4:40 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the 7th and Locust street stage. James Hand will also be performing from 5-6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Whole Hog Lounge.
Booker T
Booker T was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and has backed Otis Redding and Eddie Floyd, among others. He recorded with Bobby Darin and John Lee Hooker. Booker T will be playing from 7-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the 7th and Locust street stage.
*Musicians with Columbia Connections