Robert Randolph and the Family Band, a funk and soul roots band from New York City, and Clinton Fearon and the Boogie Band, a roots reggae band from Seattle, are the highlighted musical guests for the 7th annual River City Roots Festival to be held August 24-25 in the streets of Downtown Missoula.

This year’s Roots Fest will also feature a Friday night bout with the Hellgate Girls Roller Derby, as well as a build-your-own boat river float on Saturday. The River City Roots Festival is Missoula’s signature celebration of the city we live in, and the musical line-up this year has increased to 10 bands.

“This is certainly the most diverse line-up we’ve had to date,” said Ellen Buchanan, Chairman of the River City Roots Festival Committee. “Folks will really like Robert Randolph and the Family Band, and the Clinton Fearon group really made an exceptional showing at the Montana Folk Festival in Butte in 2008. They just returned from a European tour.”

The 2013 Roots Fest Schedule of Events is better than ever:

Saturday, August 24, 2012
10 am-6 pm      ROOTS FEST SUMMER SALE      Downtown Missoula
11 am-7 pm      ART SHOW      Main Street
12-8 pm      CHILDREN’S FUN FESTIVAL      Caras Park
12-10 pm      FOOD COURT & BEER GARDEN OPEN      Ryman Street
1-2 pm      The Whizpops      Main Stage on Main Street
2-3 pm      xxxx      Main Stage on Main Street
3-4 pm      xxxxx      Main Stage on Main Street
4:30-6 pm      xxxx      Main Stage on Main Street
6:30-8 pm      Goose Creek Symphony      Main Stage on Main Street
8:30-10:30 pm      Railroad Earth      Main Stage on Main Street

Sunday, August 25, 2012
9:30 am      4-MILE RUN      Start at Circle Square
10 am-1 pm      CAROUSEL & MARKET FESTIVAL      New Park Lot in Caras Park
11 am-7 pm      ART SHOW      Main Street
12-6 pm      CHILDREN’S FUN FESTIVAL      Caras Park
12-8 pm      FOOD COURT & BEER GARDEN OPEN      Ryman Street
1-2:30 pm      XXXXX      Main Stage on Main Street
3-4:30 pm      XXXXX      Main Stage on Main Street
5-6:30 pm      XXXXX      Main Stage on Main Street
7-9 pm      The Gourds      Main Stage on Main Street