Chicago Folk & Roots Festival

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The Ninth Annual Chicago Folk & Roots Festival
Saturday, July 8th & Sunday, July 9th 2006
Noon - 9:30 PM
Welles Park - Lincoln and Montrose in Chicago

« Enjoy some photos from the 2006 Festival! »

« Watch some video highlights from the 2006 Festival! »

In 2006 we turned our attention to the music coming out of Louisiana, still inspiring, still hopeful despite the tragedies of the previous year. New Orleans' Queen of Soul, Irma Thomas & The Professionals, closed Saturday night's MAIN STAGE. Other luminaries on Saturday included Louisiana's Lost Bayou Ramblers, the honky tonk and Western Swing of the James Hand Band, and Robbie Fulks's Secret Country. Sunday night's MAIN STAGE found us dancing to the sounds of the Congo wih Kékélé, celebrating with the Refugee All Stars of the Sierra Leone, and finishing the Fest on our feet with all 21 pieces of Chicago's own 911 Mambo Orchestra!

Folk & Roots is never simply about the Main Stage music, and 2006 was no exception. The KIDS TENT shimmied and shook with hula and hip-hop and taiko drumming. The DANCE TENT was filled with folks moving to the rhythms of Go Go, Samba, Salsa, and closed out Sunday night with a full Cajun dance featuring The Pine Leaf Boys. Of course Lincoln Avenue was lined with a diverse sampling of Chicago's finest food vendors offering a vast array of tasty multi-cultural delights.

Read about the winners of the 4th Annual Midwest Invitational Fiddle Championship