The lineup is out today for the 14th Chicago Folk & Roots Festival, the annual family-friendly event organized by the Old Town School of Folk Music, happening July 9-10 in Welles Park on the North Side.
The main stage bills include Saturday (July 9) headliners the Lost Bayou Ramblers (feisty, rootsy Cajun), the great Rosie Flores (retro-California cowpunk) and ye olde Delbert McClinton (wheezy Texas blues-rock).
The Sunday (July 10) roster looks much broader and more creative, including afternoon sets by an interesting new Tuareg singer-guitarist, Bombino, and '70s roots-reggae legends the Abyssinians ("Hey You"). The evening features Chicago's Soul Sonic Sirkus (a kinetic mix of live funk music and acrobats), the beguiling Baloji (smooth French-African MC) and Maraca (breezy Cuban jazz led by a nimble flautist).
In addition to the full main stage lineup, the festival also includes several other stages (a dance tent, a children's stage, Old Town School staff performances, a gazebo stage and a Latin music stage). Music plays from noon to 9:30 p.m. each day. A $10 donation is requested for admission.


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