TakeRoot Downtown
The 23rd edition of TakeRoot, the annual festival of American roots music, will take place on November 6. This time TakeRoot is heading downtown, performing in five different locations, transforming the city centre of Groningen into the European Capital of Americana.
Spread out over five different venues – the Stadsschouwburg, Grand Theater, Huize Maas, Der-Aa Theater and the Lutherse Kerk – you will be able to enjoy live performances by about fifteen, mainly North American, acts. TakeRoot Downtown is also looking into other ways to make Groningen your first European port of call for American roots music.
At the same time, this downtown edition will stay true to its roots, offering a musical journey through North America, home of blues, country, folk, rock, and more. If there is one thing that the festival has shown over and over again in its past 22 years it is this: roots music is as alive as ever!
Line-up 2021
Courtney Marie Andrews.
Ever since her breakthrough album Honest Life (2016), Courtney Marie Andrews is being ranked among the greats of country and roots music, evoking comparisons with country legends like Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton. And to think that Andrews will only turn 31 this year (the day after her performance at TakeRoot, to be exact). In her latest record, Old Flowers (2020), Andrews mourns the end of a nine-year relationship. The end result is one of the most touching and bewitching break-up albums of the past few years.
Damien Jurado
The rate at which Damien Jurado is churning out new albums is definitely awe-inspiring. After creating gems like The Horizon Just Laughed (2018), In the Shape of the Storm (2019) and What’s New, Tomboy? he added yet another jewel to his country crown: The Monster Who Hated Pennsylvania (2021). This is the first record he released under his own label, Maraqopa Records.
The Colorist Orchestra & Howe Gelb
The Colorist Orchestra has become known for its reimagining (or: ‘recoloring’) of other people’s works. For their latest venture, Not On the Map (due for release October 1), the band joined forces with legendary singer-songwriter Howe Gelb, founder of trail-blazing alt-country band Giant Sand. The approach was supposed to be the same as before: remoulding parts of Gelb’s imposing oeuvre into a new musical form. But trying to contain Gelb’s boundless creativity into a pre-ordained format proved impossible. Instead, Not On The Map is filled to the brim with fresh material.
Black Lips
The Atlanta based Black Lips has been known for its grungy sounds and unpredictable and volatile live concerts. But a decidedly different wind is blowing through their latest album, Sing in a World That’s Falling Apart. From rolling country tunes, old-school Americana, off-kilter rockabilly, thumping honky-tonk to even a whiff of Bob Dylan: all can be found in their ninth studio outing.
And…
Thomas Gabriel, Native Harrow, The Ghost Of Paul Revere, Natalie Bergman and David Keenan.
There is yet more to come. So keep an eye on www.takeroot.nl and our social media accounts for updates and more information.
Tickets are already for sale (and will be exchanged for a wristband on the day of the festival).
