Ponderosa Stomp will celebrate the legacy of Gil Scott-Heron and others at the free Roots of American Music Festival at Lincoln Center this weekend
LINCOLN CENTER OUT OF DOORS: ROOTS OF AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL
Lincoln Center
Bruno Walter Auditorium, Damrosch Park Bandshell, Hearst Plaza
Saturday, August 11, and Sunday, August 12, free
www.lcoutofdoors.org
www.ponderosastomp.com
The Ponderosa Stomp, whose official mission is “to ensure that the unsung heroes of American music are given their due: celebrated, included, and remembered, but most of all, heard,” returns to New York City for its fourth year participating in the Roots of American Music series at the free Lincoln Center Out of Doors festival, and the nonprofit organization has again brought an amazing cast of characters. “Songs of Social Activism” will take place August 11-12, with the first day dedicated to soulful songwriters and the second to socially conscious musicians. Saturday begins with the Stoned Soul Symposium at 12:30 in Bruno Walter Auditorium, with Michele Kort hosting a discussion on Laura Nyro, Gayle Wald talking about the fortieth anniversary of the Soul at the Center festival, and Greg Tate moderating a panel on Gil Scott-Heron. At 5:00, everyone will head outside to the Damrosch Park Bandshell for Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls All-Stars Band: Sister Songwriters, led by drummer LaFrae Sci, followed at 6:00 by the Triple Goddess Twilight Revue — Celebrating the Music of Laura Nyro, with such performers as Nona Hendryx, Sarah Dash, Desmond Child & Rouge, Melissa Manchester, and Kate Ferber. At 7:30, the Soulful Songwriters Circle consists of Dan Penn, Teenie Hodges, and William Bell, with the great Otis Clay and the Platinum Band closing the night at 8:45. On Sunday from 12 noon to 5:30, Hearst Plaza will be home to Erin McKeown & Her Fine Parade, Taylor Mac, Tom Paxton, Daniel Kahn & the Painted Bird, and the Pura Fé Trio. The party then moves back to the bandshell, where Swamp Dogg takes the stage at 6:00 and Aloe Blacc at 7:00 before the festivities come to a stirring close with Pardon Our Analysis: An All-Star Gathering for Gil Scott-Heron, featuring the Black Rock Coalition Orchestra and such poets, writers, and musicians as Brian Jackson, Sapphire, Martha Redbone, Abiodun Oyewole, Sandra St. Victor, Cark Hancock Rux, A. Van Jordan, Gordon Voidwell, Hanifah Walidah, Willie Perdomo, and more.