Roots Review 14

I am more and more amazed each and every week at the momentum being gained by our American Roots movement. I am also blown away by the passion and supeme contribution of John Powers & the Arturos and the sincerity of others who have stepped forward to volunteer where ever needed and I am continuously humbled by those who simply say, "thank you," or "this American Roots thing is so much fun", or "I can't wait for Thursday nights to get here."

I must also say that the musicians who show up to play just for the fun of it - young or old - veteran or beginner - have given me and Powers and the rest of us so much joy that I find it hard to put into words sometimes. There really is no other show like our American Roots celebration anywhere!

Week after week we are honored to play with some of the most incredibly talented and well know musicians on the circuit and are continuously blown away by the sweet, awesome, powerful and soulful sounds coming from our stage.

I am happy to say that American Roots is expanding into Easton, PA in September at the Bluetone Cafe - the Lehigh Valley's #1 Blues and Roots club - and soon there after expanding into New York State. Yes, there will be three American Roots open mic celebrations each week; one in New Jersey, one in Pennsylvania and one in New York - and this also comes with plans to bring special monthly shows: The American Roots All Stars to places like San Juan, Puerto Rico where our American Roots Ambassador Duane Chez will play the lead role and into places like Phoenix, Arizona where AmRoots Ambassador Honey Boy Dupree is already hard at work behind the scenes.

Many thanks go to The Rail ownership, management and staff: Nick, Mike, Lynn, Amanda, Sarah, Jessica, Byron and Evan and many more thanks to the tireless volunteers and supporters, whom without, we could not be moving forward so quickly; Ed Pampani, Mary Anne, Win, Amelia and Eddie Ray. Thank you.

Kudos to the awesome players at last week's American Roots 14 (too numerous to describe their wonderful performances in detail) but they are: Ambassador John Powers, EJ Rice, Jeff Page, Johnny Charles, JR Bradfield, Billy K, Arlene Schar, Robert (who I must thank for that intense little harp mic he built for me from a 1960's tape recorder - it sounds great) Mike Caruso, Pancakes, Alan Rogoff, Marco Dulce, The Stephania Stream, Tommy Hayes, Jim Somma, Big Boy Kenny Nerbak, Rotten Robert, Arne Englund, Sue T, Chris O'Sullivan, Gene Downin, Tony, Brad Sicotte, Bernie Brauswetter, Paul Deloya and Gavin Lawrence - you are all stars in my book and I appreciate you all more than you know. Thank you.

I hope to see you again this Thursday at American Roots 15 and please... tell everyone you know, that if they're not celebrating American Roots music with us each week, they really don't know what they are missing!

Keeping it real,

Ned