Some stories are meant to begin at the end. Rhythm & Roots Music festival ended on a high note with Kevin Wimmer (Red Stick Ramblers, Balfa Toujours, Racines) on vocals, Tara Nevins (Donna the Buffalo) and Chuck Wentworth (Rhythm and Roots Promoter) both on Scrub Board, Eric Frey (Red Stick Ramblers) on electric Bass, Glen Fields (Red Stick Ramblers)on Drums joining Steve Riley, Sam Brussard and Dave Greeley for a hot evening jam ending with Clifton Chenier's Hot Tamale Baby and no time remaining for an encore. Before lights were put out to close the festival, Chuck Wentworth and Mary Daub announced, to a very enthusiastic crowd, that the festival would continue on at Ninigret Park in Charlestown, RI at least for the next year and optimistically into the future.

Hurricane Gustov put a slight damper on the festival as the news coming out of LA was frightening especially with most of us recalling Katrina three years prior. The host band, Pine Leaf Boys along with a couple of members from Steve Riley's band made for home early on Saturday because of the pending storm threatening families and homes. The gap in the schedule left by the Pine Leaf Boys was filled with Dennis Stroughmatt and Curley Taylor on Sunday. Everyone I spoke with was thrilled with Dennis' set and hoped for a return performance in 2009. There are always surprises with Steve Riley's Fais Do Do on Sunday night which became one scorching hot all star jam to the thrill of the dancing crowd. Guest appearances included Canadian Scrub Board prodigy Noam "Hot Sauce", and Preston Frank. Increasingly, we are seeing a melding of the Cajun, creole, and zydeco artists on stage which is exciting to see these cultures coming together.

Marcia Ball's set also concluded with an all star jam as had been planned. Marcia is well known to the festival stage and always thrills the audience. This year was no exception with many patrons suggesting it was the best set they had seen. Her show was turned up a notch with Johnny Nicholas, Steve Riley, and Joel Guzman joining Marcia on stage for a rousing half hour conclusion. Johnny Nicholas' set on Friday night thrilled the swing dancers in the crowd with a terrific set of jump blues. Many positive comments also focused on the Keb Mo set with most exclaiming they enjoyed his set more than his performance three years prior.

David Bromberg was his usual amusing self with his extemporaneously bluesy style. The audience chuckled as he screamed at his band members again and again to "Play it again". Wasn't a surprise when audience members screamed back at him "Play it again" as the set concluded. Quite amusing.

I missed the sets with the Waybacks and the Gourds (I must have been in that dance tent again) but the place seemed to be abuzz with the energy of those two sets. Several people suggested that both bands should have had closing night sets on the main stage.

Rhythm and Roots once again delivered a diverse lineup of talents. It's hard to please everyone when picking talent and then scheduling it but R&R does a amazing job of it. What a weekend! Be sure to be there same place, same time next year.