Rootstock 4th Annual Festival 2024

The crunch of freshly plucked apples meets the crunch of freshly plucked electric guitars with the arrival of Rootstock, Revive the Roots’s annual celebration of nature, community, art and music. Rootstock takes place at 374 Farnum Pike on Sunday, September 22 and begins at noon, rain or shine.

For the pay-what-you-can event on Mowry Commons, the Rhode Island–based conservation nonprofit has assembled an on-stage lineup that epitomizes the “Rootstock sound” — singer–songwriter folk and rock with notes of psychedelia, grunge and punk. The lineup consists of seven regional acts, all

up-and-coming:

• Hopper, a rock-n’-roll outfit whose music is “[c]harged with the melancholy and intimacy of a rainy night.”
• Emerging songwriter Jo Celine
• Eclectic musician Frankie, popularly known as The Fifth Era
• Surf rockers The Deep Ones
• Local indie stalwarts Older Brother
• Providence-based purveyors of “aleatoric music” Wooll
• Boston songsters Salty Greyhound

Revive the Roots’s website (revivetheroots.org/rootstock.org) offers a quick taste of what awaits festivalgoers sonically on its Spotify playlist of Rootstock acts present and past.

Between sets festivalgoers can wander among the inflatables provided by Pneuhaus. These inflatables, whichembody “the lessons of nature in both form and function,” engage the senses and conjure “the joys of shared experience.”

Along with all the good vibrations come lots of sound education on subjects ranging from foraging to

full-cycle fashion. Here is a quick rundown of what festivalgoers will find in Rootstock’s three Share Space tents:

• Fusion Dance Works Showcase, presented by the Fusion Dancers
• Cyanotype Workshop, presented by Kim of Mooners Makes
• Fairy Hut Making, presented by Julia
• Microscope Discovery, presented by Annie
• Geology & Soil Erosion Interactive Demonstration, presented by Chris
• Herbalism: Get to Know Your Weeds, presented by Nourish with Amelia
• Botanical Printing on Paper, presented by Liz
• Herbal Energy Healing, presented by Allison Littlefeather
• Nature Crafts & Art Prints, presented by Mellisa of 15 Minute Field Trips
• Sustainable Style: Mending & Customizing Your Wardrobe, presented by Courtney
• Plant Walk and Wildcraft, presented by Molly and Ash

There’ll also be some surprise guests!

To round out a day of fantastic music and fascinating presenters, Rootstock will host two leading lights in conservation. The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council and the Rhode Island Land Trust will both be on handto discuss their important work.

Of course, there’ll be arts and crafts aplenty, with Artists’ Exchange leading them through the day. And there’ll beblooms galore by way of a fantasy garden in the greenhouse cultivated by founding RTR member Tyler. They’re there forfestivalgoers to pick their own bouquets.Oh, and Rootstock’s got the goodies covered. Food vendor Tacofied offers lots of options for vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free eaters. Other refreshments can be had, courtesy of a team of volunteers, for keeping festivalgoers hydratedthrough the busy day. Festivalgoers are only asked to bring a camp cup for their fill-ups.