Trampled By Turtles Close Out Rhode Island’s Rhythm & Roots Festival

Just as the sun was setting on Sunday, for the final evening of Rhythm & Roots 2025, the attention of the thousands packed into Ninigret Park turned to the sky. First, to admire the pastel tones turning blue to pink to orange, and then, to gaze at a duo of fearless paragliders easing down from the heavens. It was maybe the only thing compelling enough to draw the eyes and ears away from the stage during the once-again spectacular, annual event. Over a trio of days and nights of nearly perfect conditions–warm, sunny, and dry; albeit interrupted a bit by a passing shower on Friday–the music was still the undisputed hero, as Trampled By Turtles closed out the fest with a wonderfully ethereal bluegrass experience.

It all kicked off Friday afternoon, with maybe R&R’s most diverse day, opening with the modern vanguards of Canadian disco, The Free Label. Next, JD Simo and Luther Dickinson lit up the main Rhythm Stage with a combustible run of Hill Country blues. There was the New Orleans spice of New Breed Brass Band that followed, and after the brief cautionary weather timeout, a well-timed ease back into the fun with the legendary Asleep at the Wheel. Honorable mention to Tulsa’s Johnny Mullenax, whose set on the tented Roots Stage gave renewed meaning to gas on the fire. In the sunset slot, back at Rhythm, was the liquefied funk of Lettuce, setting the table nicely for the headlining closer, Little Feat. The venerable Featsters had been here before- always a festival fave- and while the veteran group truncated its set, slightly, it was still quite a burner, and a harbinger of a great weekend to come.

Saturday hosted the most Southern-flavored lineup of the three days, with an early showing from Sneezy that slid into the bayou for the iconic George Porter, Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners. Then, it was Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel, delivering a feast of fiery originals laced with improvisation, among respectful nods to Black Sabbath, Billy Joe Shaver and Wilco. Honorable mention from the Roots tent goes to fest mainstay and perennial favorite, Donna the Buffalo. In the sunset slot at Rhythm was Molly Tuttle, offering a lovingly clear-eyed, impassioned frame before Blackberry Smoke closed the middle night with a two-hour cavalcade of country/rock bliss straight out of Georgia, including a searing homage to the home state with guest guitarists, Duane Betts and Johnny Stachela, on “Statesboro Blues.”

Sunday’s finales were centered around impressive string-work and stories, with Jake Swamp and the Pine providing the lunchtime soundtrack. Alabama’s Mountain Grass Unit delighted with its quartet of stringed-instrument upstarts, moving through a set of bluegrass joy, then giving way to the master of story and song, Steve Earle, for a solo acoustic performance equally captivating, humorous, and quintessential. Honorable mention to Bonerama, and its appearance closing the Roots tent. The fest’s final two artists on the Rhythm Stage began with a dazzling turn from The Wood Brothers, making a first visit to R&R, and finding it so appealing, the trio asked if it could come back tomorrow and do it again. Then, it was the two-hour main course from Trampled By Turtles–and another superb showing of stringed-instrument prowess, and lockstep vocal harmony–that wowed the Sunday night faithful. 

For over two decades, Rhythm & Roots, catering predominantly to the long and rich history of music particular to the Southeast United States, has provided a tantalizing last kiss of summer in Southern New England. This most recent installment of the Labor Day Weekend event was no exception, and leads only to greater anticipation for next year’s fest. Apparently, as witnessed, the sky’s the limit.