Under perfect skies and a full moon, the Rhythm and Roots 2009 Music Festival progressed through the Labor day weekend with record breaking crowds in attendance on Saturday. The dance stage was alive with non-stop energy and the field at the main stage was filled to capacity with spectators and enthusiastic dancers. 31 continuous hours of broad based root music ranging from Gypsy Jazz, Blues, Celtic, Swing, Rockabilly, Country, Bluegrass, Cajun, and Zydeco was the attraction for thousands of people from near and far.

On the dance floor, at least RI, MA, CT, ME, NH, VT, NY, NJ, PA, DC, MD, FL, CA and CO plus Canada were in the house and jiving to the syncopated Zydeco beat. This music brings together people from many walks of life with a common bond between them, a love of the music and the desire to dance tirelessly. The world becomes a small place under the dance tent filled with music as dance partners mix it up dance after dance. The connection is brief but the memory is lasting – a smile, a look, a brief pleasant comment. The Cajun – Zydeco dance community reunites each year to wrap up the summer months at Rhythm & Roots. It is the place to be over the Labor day weekend.

The dance stage was the host to Lil’ Anne & Hot Cayenne, Magnolia, with both band supporting dance lessons in both the Cajun and Zydeco dance steps. Out of region dancers were well impressed with these local Northeast bands.

Cory Ledet and the Frank family band worked hard throughout the weekend each playing no less than 5 sets. Each of these bands represents the tight traditional syncopated beats to which the dancers love to groove. Friday night’s sets were only a teaser for the BAM delivered during the Saturday and Sunday sets when the bands ratcheted it up a notch or two or three.

Grammy nominated, Cedric Watson rounded out the dance tent schedule with a few sets. This 26 year old Creole musician has deeply studied the roots of the music, he so clearly loves. Having a brief stint fronting for the Creole Cowboys and a year + stint as a founding member of the Pine Leaf boys, Cedric seemed happier and far more animated fronting his own band. No one would dispute, Cedric’s virtuoso on both fiddle and accordion but this band needs to mature together and tighten up between themselves. The fusion of such diverse styles as creole, zydeco, Cajun, jure, and reggae left the dancers confused. While it shows Cedric’s eclectic range of capabilities, the dancers need to be able to find a grove which seemed to be lacking in the sets.

Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band closed out both Friday and Saturday nights with steady sets of traditional zydeco music. Steve Reily, as has been tradition, closed out the dance stage with the Fais Do Do on Sunday to a packed dance floor. Both these band delivered consistent sound with high energy dance music.

Michelle Kaminsky did a great job with the Kid's academy. The dancers were enthusiastic and were out there dancing for these young musicians. Let's hope these kids continue to mature in the music so that it lives on through the next generation.

On the main stage people were thrilled with the Sacred Grass Jam which delivered a earth shaking set of blended Gospel and Bluegrass. Great Big Sea was full speed on with a celtic tinged set. The Rhythm and Roots audience was blown away by Jerry Douglas raw energy on dobro. Tab Benoit's set was highly anticipated and he let lose with a mix of raw delta blues and Zydeco. Asleep at the Wheel's return to the Rhythm and Roots stages delivered exactly what the audience expected and more. The Occidental Gypsy Jazz Quarter from Boston were well received in the workshop tent giving a great performance of "Django" Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli style gypsy jazz.

The organizers did an amazing job at selecting a wide base of musical styles and first rate bands. The difficulty was splitting yourself between the dance stage and the main stage and wanting to be in both places at the same time always. If you were there, you are still smiling from the memories. If you were not there, shame on you – but be there next year. It truly is not to be missed.