The 5 Points Music Sanctuary concert series in Roanoke, Virginia are in full swing and celebrate freedom and freekdom with two powerful concerts on July 4th weekend. The national and regional musical performance acts for Friday July 2 and Saturday July 3 are The Dead Reckoning, Sol Roots, Freekbass, and Shred is Dead.

The Friday July 2 concert features one of Virginia’s premier Grateful Dead cover bands, The Dead Reckoning, and the fiery guitarist and soulful vocalist Sol Roots.

About THE DEAD RECKONING:

The Dead Reckoning is a collaboration of seasoned players hailing from the Blue Ridge region of Virginia. Having many varied backgrounds, they come together to celebrate the music, legacy, eras and iterations of the most prolific band in history, The Grateful Dead. They also add a Jerry Garcia Band tune thrown in here and there for good measure.

The band features members of regional favorites The Floorboards, Mad Iguanas, Ripejive, Sol Roots, Nicholson Brothers, and others. The Dead Reckoning strives for accuracy, and to capture the vibe and energy of a live Dead performance. They play with devotion and love in their hearts.

About SOL ROOTS:

The Sol Roots band performs a mix of raw funk, deep blues, energetic rock, greasy soul, and hypnotic rhythms. Sol is a guitarist/vocalist who has toured with many musical legends around the world. Sol Roots has shared the stage with acts such as Jon Cleary, Dumpstaphunk, The Wood Brothers, Eric Lindell, Roosevelt Collier, Cory Henry, Victor Wainwright, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, and many more.

Sol Roots recently released a unique psychedelic funk version of the classic Grateful Dead song “Sugaree”, featuring master drummer Eddie Christmas (Jon Cleary, New Orleans Suspects), and harmonica legend Phil Wiggins (Cephas & Wiggins). Sol Roots is an official Home Grown Music Network artist and a "Next Generation" Music Maker Relief Foundation artist.

The Saturday, July 3 concert features "The New Spiritual Warrior for the Funk" Freekbass, good vibe virtuoso Marcus Rezak with his band Shred Is Dead, and very special guests The Mojo Sauce Hornsman.

About FREEKBASS:

Freekbass is one of the world’s great bass players. He has been on the cover of Bass Musician Magazine, Bass Guitar Magazine/UK three times, and has been featured in Bass Player Magazine numerous times. He has hosted master classes at “Bass Player Live” in Los Angeles and New York, and “The London Bass Guitar Show”. Along with these bass superpowers, Freekbass has a funk music pedigree that is authentic. He has worked alongside funk legends, Bootsy Collins (who gave him his nickname during a studio session calling Freekbass “The New Spiritual Warrior for the Funk”) and keyboard icon, Bernie Worrell, who has guested on many of Freekbass’ albums and live projects.

About SHRED IS DEAD:

Shred is Dead brings progressive instrumental and vocal performances of The Grateful Dead and the Jerry Garcia Band, harvesting a pure blend of inspirational jams and fierce rock n roll. The band is led by nationally touring guitarist Marcus Rezak with an all-star group of musicians including John Kimock (Mike Gordon Band), John Colman (Muscle Tough), and Scott Hannay (Wild Adriatic). 

VIP Tickets for either night include a Limited Edition 18x24" Screen Printed Custom Event Poster with purchase.

5 Points Music Sanctuary is a 250+person capacity performance venue and co-working space dedicated to musicians and artists, supporting the mission of 5 Points Music Foundation. 5 Points Music's mission is to pursue the power of sound through live events that support programs focused music therapy, education, and hearing loss advocacy. 5 Points Music Sanctuary showcases some of the best in national, regional, and local performing musical acts.

The 2,800 square feet of space designated for events has been completely remodeled and acoustically engineered to create one of the region's most talked about new venue. The Sanctuary offers various seating layouts for each event, ADA accessibility, and 2 full bars. Featuring 22’ arched ceilings, intricate moldings and a newly renovated VIP mezzanine that overlooks the stage, guests have described the Sanctuary as a “special, magical place, unlike any event space they have experienced.”

The 5 Points Outdoors 2021 concert series is presented by Freedom First Credit Union and Bell’s Brewery. No outside food or drink allowed. No pets allowed. For more information about what to expect at 5 Points events, please read "Safety First in 2021 at 5 Points Events" on 5 Points website.

The 9th annual Pink Moon Festival features some of the best in regional electronic, funk, rock, blues, reggae, and jam-band music. Pink Moon Festival occurs Thursday September 8 through Sunday September 11, 2022 in Monroe County, West Virginia. Performers include funk rock electronic group LITZ, dub inspired global dance Eartha Harris & Living Light, fierce soul funk guitarist/vocalist Sol Roots, American rock band Desmond Jones, rock reggae band Dale & The Z-Dubs, Appalachian roots rockers The Kind Thieves, rock'n'roll Americana band The Mighty Good Times, and many many more!

This mid-Atlantic festival is a grassroots music and arts festival nestled in the gorgeous mountains of southern West Virginia. Pink Moon Festival is a celebration of life, music, freedom, community, and love.

Pink Moon Festival will showcase four days of music (with over 60 bands), live painting, fire spinning performances, and creative workshops. Attendees can set up camp in the beautiful wooded campgrounds, or pitch a tent on location in the grassy country open fields. There will be three stages of music, located under the giant oaks, and around the scenic mountainsides. Festival goers will find a mystical village of life, love and community. There will be a variety of vendors and artists from across the country, concert goers can visit, and can dance the days away with some of the best regional musical acts.

Musical acts include:

LITZ (brings together a wide array of musical influences ranging from funk, jam, go-go, soul, and electronica. Their original catalog of music showcases funky horn riffs, wah-wah keys, pounding bass, driving/progressive rhythms and melt your face guitar.)

EARTHA HARRIS & LIVING LIGHT (Cosmic dub for the global dance floor is how producer Eartha Harris describes her new project, blending deep bass with modern rhythms, indigenous percussion, and contemporary electronic textures.)

DESMOND JONES (American rock band based in Michigan, whose music is centered around melodic guitar riffs, funky bass lines, groovy drumbeats, and smooth saxophone. Desmond Jones puts on exciting and high-energy shows with a high level of musicianship and skillful improvisation.)

SOL ROOTS (world traveled fierce guitarist and talented vocalist blends raw New Orleans influenced funk, greasy soul, deep blues, and energetic rock with hypnotic rhythms, while collaborating with a collection of top notch musicians.)

DALE & THE Z-DUBS (rock reggae groovers who bring a distinct reggae influence intertwined with a hard hitting rock style. High-energy live shows feature multi-part vocal harmonies, along with thick guitar driven melodies.)

THE KIND (feature strong lead vocals with intertwining melodies and soulful rhythmic grooves. The band blends rock, R&B, jazz, bluegrass influences to perform a huge melting pot of Grateful Dead covers. The Kind have performed with The New Riders of The Purple Sage, members of Jerry Garcia Band, and more.)

TOXIC MOXIE (Richmond VA band with an unmistakable musical energy. Emerging from the worlds of glam, punk, jam, disco, and fuzz, they have honed in on a sound that is completely their own.)

THE SETTLEMENT (WV funk-fusion jam band. This eclectic ensemble cleverly combines rowdy rock riffs, complex jazz harmonies, funky bass lines, dreamy pop melodies, and a multitude of diverse world music grooves and influences.)

LEE ROSS (Hailing out of Boston, MA, Lee is a talented producer, saxophonist, flautist, keyboardist, and has worked with members of Pink Talking Fish, moe., Trey Anastasio Band, and more.)

There will also be many more performing groups including: cryptoWAVEradio, Threesound, RipeJive, The Mighty Good Times, Aarodynamics, Noah Lehrman, The Imaginary Sons, Nancy Raygun, Dr. Psilicon, Lucid Evolution, Moonshine Logik, and many more.

Doors open at 4pm on Thursday, September 8th.

For festival and ticketing information, directions, pre-sale tickets, and more please visit the Pink Moon Festival website.
PinkMoonFestival.net

"Pink Moon Festival in West Virginia delivers a stellar lineup.... an uncontrollable rollercoaster of steep hills, long walks, four days of music of all types and a hell of a lot of fun.” - RVA Magazine (2015 review)

Pink Moon Festival alumni include national and regional bands such as the Lee Boys, EOTO, Donna Jean Godchaux, Boombox, Yo Mommas Big Fat Booty Band, Sol Roots, DJ Williams Projeckt, Lotus, David Gans and more.

On Friday February 3, the New Orleans Suspects and Sol Roots band join forces at The Hamilton Live, in Washington D.C., for a joyous night of upbeat funk, deep blues and soul, swamp rock, and hypnotic grooves!

When the New Orleans Suspects arose from the primordial musical soup that is New Orleans, they were a fill-in band and an occasional jam band at their neighborhood Maple Leaf Bar. Comprised of some of the most seasoned, highly respected players in NOLA, the group called themselves The Unusual Suspects. Their chemistry was undeniable and by the summer of 2011 they decided to tour full-time, renaming the band New Orleans Suspects. They quickly began attracting large crowds from San Francisco to New York. They have currently released five albums and established themselves as one of New Orleans’ best supergroups.

BUY TICKETS HERE

The Sol Roots band performs a mix of New Orleans funk, raw blues, energetic rock, deep grooves, and southern soul. Sol is a guitarist and vocalist who has toured with many roots, funk, and blues legends around the world as a part of Music Maker Revue.

Sol Roots is proud to be a "Next Generation" Music Maker Relief Foundation artist and an official Home Grown Music Network artist. The band will feature bass master Andreas Holmstrom, and superb drummer Eddie Christmas (of New Orleans Suspects, Jon Cleary, Tab Benoit). Sol Roots was awarded "Best Blues Act/Group" The Wammies / The MusicianShip 2019.

THE HAMILTON LIVE

"The Hamilton is fast-becoming D.C.’s new favorite gathering place for music, art, entertainment and inventive dining. A uniquely eclectic experience located just steps from the White House.

The Hamilton Live features a roster of emerging artists and award-winning musicians and groups from all over the world, including plenty of locally-grown talent.

Washington D.C.’s premier listening room for music and entertainment is dedicated to celebrating the talent and passion of America’s best artists. D.C. is a city where polish and sophistication have been charmed by a bohemian spirit creating a new thriving artistic underground. The Hamilton Live provides local, national and international musicians the unique opportunity to entertain guests in the comfort of a superbly engineered listening space" - Destination DC

Closing out 2023 with a bang, New Orleans musical heavyweights Rebirth Brass Band appear for a two-night run at The Hamilton Live in Washington D.C., also featuring the fierce funk/soul guitarist Sol Roots on December 30th, and the talented group Gordon Sterling & The People on December 31st.

REBIRTH BRASS BAND

Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band is a globally renowned paragon of the New Orleans brass band tradition. They are celebrated for melding their tradition with second-line, funk, jazz, soul, and hip-hop.

For almost 4 decades, the Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band has been “stunning” fans with a fiery live show and a rich musical catalog. Their trademark sound pays homage to the New Orleans brass band tradition while weaving a tapestry that combines elements of jazz, funk, soul, R&B, and the sounds from the streets they grew up on. From their legendary 25+ year run of Tuesday nights at the Maple Leaf to stages all over the world, Rebirth is the soundtrack of the Crescent City and her premier musical ambassador.

Founded by brothers Phil and Keith Frazier over 35 years ago, Rebirth began their career playing on the sidewalks of the French Quarter, and quickly landed gigs at second-line parades. Those auspicious beginnings have led to thousands of shows for music aficionados everywhere, including heads of state and royalty.

The band's unique “soundtrack of New Orleans” has also garnered admiration from artists of all genres. They’ve shared the stage and collaborated with a diverse range of artists including the Grateful Dead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Maceo Parker, Green Day, U2, James Brown, 311, G-Love, MuteMath, Juvenile, Train, Big Freedia, Ani Difranco, Galactic, Allen Toussaint, Neville Brothers, Quincy Jones, and Trombone Shorty.

SOL ROOTS

The Sol Roots band performs a mix of New Orleans influenced funk, greasy soul, energetic rock, raw blues, and hypnotic grooves. Known for his ferocious guitar skills and soulful vocals, Sol has toured around the world with many musical legends.

Sol has spent most of his adult life touring, recording, producing, and learning directly from roots and blues pioneers such as Beverly "Guitar" Watkins, Albert White, Robert Lee Coleman, Cool John Ferguson, Lee Gates, and more.

The Sol Roots band have shared the stage with acts such as Jon Cleary, Soulive, Dumpstaphunk, Popa Chubby, Sonny Landreth, Eric Lindell, Roosevelt Collier, Cory Henry, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Shemekia Copeland, Jackie Greene and many more.

GORDON STERLING & THE PEOPLE

Gordon Sterling and the People, an energetic R&B and Soul music group from Washington, D.C., capture audiences with their passionate and soulful style. This brilliant group, led by the affable Gordon Sterling, infuses their music with enthusiasm.

The band expertly combines R&B rhythms with heartfelt soul and sincere lyrics. Gordon Sterling's silky voice floats over their musical arrangements with ease and touches the soul.

Gordon Sterling and The People bring energetic and upbeat performances locked in with contagious rhythms. The band's flawless fusion of R&B and Soul produces a sound that is both timeless and modern.

Every note the band performs demonstrates how powerful soulful expression can be, and their music is a monument to a deep commitment to their craft.

THE HAMILTON LIVE

The Hamilton is one of Washington D.C.’s newest favorite gathering places for music, art, entertainment, and inventive dining. A uniquely eclectic experience located just steps from the White House.

The Hamilton Live features a roster of emerging artists and award-winning musicians and groups from all over the world, including plenty of locally-grown talent.

Washington D.C.’s premier listening room for music and entertainment, The Hamilton Live, is dedicated to celebrating the talent and passion of America's best artists. D.C. is a city where polish and sophistication have been charmed by a bohemian spirit, creating a new thriving artistic underground. The Hamilton Live provides local, national, and international musicians the unique opportunity to entertain guests in the comfort of a superbly engineered listening space.