The Shakori Fall GrassRoots Festival will take place this weekend just outside of Pittsboro, bringing in headlining act Galactic, a jazz, funk, fusion band from New Orleans that has been jamming across the country since 1994. A mainstay at festivals across the U.S. and beyond, Galactic will bring its style of funk music to Shakori Hill’s Meadow Stage on Saturday night.
The festival is four days of music, dance and art with a “commitment to sustainability,” according to David Dean, the festival’s media liaison. In addition to its “sticking to its roots,” bringing diverse music acts and having musician competitions, the festival line-up this year will have “more than 60 percent of the acts” hailing from North Carolina. Dean notes that this dedication to “giving local artists a platform” is in conjunction with the North Carolina Arts Council’s program to draw people to North Carolina music called Come Hear N.C.
Dean noted there are several acts in the line-up that really get him excited. He describes Sierra Ferrell, who plays on Friday night, as a strong singer who is “getting ready to blow up” after just signing deals with new management, a recording company and booking agent.
“She slayed at the La Americana Festival in Nashville,” Dean said.
Dean also touted the Roosevelt Collier Band, which performs just after Ferrell. Members of the band are formerly of the Lee Boys and the group recently signed with the label managed by Snarky Puppy, a band that “crushed it” at the N.C. Arts Museum in Raleigh.
The festival will also feature Hayley Jane, a runner-up for the television show America’s Got Talent, who just released a new album.
As they have every year, the event will feature a square dance, yoga sessions, and music clinics including one hosted by Crystal Bright who will demonstrate the “singing saw.” The singing saw is a handsaw used as a musical instrument and they have been produced in the United States for well over a century.
The Shakori Fall Grassroots Festival takes place this Thursday through Sunday. Single- and multiple-day tickets are available as are tent and car camping tickets.
Casey Mann can be reached at CaseyMann@Chathamnr.com.