2026 Roots and Blues Recap (Pt. 2)
I reached out to performers, crew and attendees and asked them about their Roots and Blues experiences:
What were your highlights? Any particular band/artist that blew you away (Amani Burnham, anyone?) An opportunity to spend time with friends and family? The sense of community or reunion so many of us feel during each festival? For those who played - something about your own performance? New songs you tried out live for the first time? A first festival appearance…or last?
I only saw a small portion of the festival, so please feel free to leave a comment and share your experiences!
Julie Cymek, Sweet Leda
“LRB feels like a family reunion. Constant hugs at shows, restaurants, and outside on the sidewalk. I of course always love playing our set in a room filled with loved ones.
But I also love spending the whole weekend there, checking out bands, running into friends, walking all around town, and buying way too many things at the market.
Can’t wait to come back!!”
John Lippi, Band of Llamas
“Our group, Band of Llamas, played the Zoetropolis stage Saturday afternoon at Roots and Blues 2026, and the crowd was fully with us, taking in every note. Toward the end of our set, I popped my high E string, of course on the one day I did not bring a backup guitar. I was ready to push through, but my brother Dave, our other guitarist, stepped in and handed me his guitar, the one I built for him. Since he focuses more on rhythm and I tend to handle most of the solos, the swap made perfect sense. It became a simple but meaningful moment of teamwork that caught people off guard and drew a collective “aww.”
A few fans and fellow musicians told me it might have been our best performance yet, which meant a lot. The vibe, the venue, and the house sound engineer, Ben Roth, definitely helped make that possible as well. Either way, we had a great time blending our unique mix of roots, rock, funk, and blues.
Many thanks to Rich Ruoff and everyone behind Roots and Blues for having us back. It truly is a special event. As always, the late Saturday night jam with Bobby Gentilo, along with so many talented musicians from the festival, was the perfect way to close out a wonderfully musical Saturday. Roots and Blues is a vibrant, eclectic, 3-day celebration that brings top notch national and regional talent to the heart of Lancaster, PA. Fun times…”
Ben Roth, Sound Engineer
“The biggest moments for me were Bobby Gentilo’s set at Zoetropolis and [seeing the very] last band at The Village. Both rooms were packed and the performances felt like a big party. One of them I got to enjoy purely as a spectator.”
Natalie, festival attendee
“My work schedule unfortunately prevented me from seeing a lot of acts. However, the two artists I was looking most forward to (Jimmy James/The Trueloves and Armani Burnham) thankfully showed up for the late night all star jam!! The jam is always a fun event that so many of us anticipate, and not just because my beloved runs it every year (and does an amazing job, btw). Roots and Blues has become a Lancaster staple that introduces us to artists of all walks of life in a variety of settings, and it’s so appreciated. Already looking forward to next year’s event!”
Zoey Noble, Zoey and the Iconic
“Playing my first Roots & Blues Festival honestly meant everything to me.
Getting to do it alongside my dad and my friends Adam and Tommy made it even more special. I went to my first one when I was 13, and I remember being so inspired by how real and passionate all the artists were.
Being up there now, feeling that same energy, is something I’ll carry with me for a long time.”
Steven Courtney, Steven Courtney Band
“My bandmates and I were incredibly grateful for the opportunity to perform at this year’s festival. In over 40 years of performing, I had never had the chance to take the stage at The Village Nightclub in downtown Lancaster. When Rich Ruoff was putting together this year’s festival lineup, I was honored to be included among the performers at such an iconic venue. The response to our show was truly uplifting. Festivalgoers welcomed both our original songs and cover selections with enthusiasm and support, creating a memorable and energetic atmosphere.
We are deeply thankful to Rich Ruoff and the Lancaster Roots & Blues Festival for giving us the opportunity to be part of this special moment—and to perform at The Village Nightclub during its final weekend.”
Kelly, festival attendee
“What I think I love most is the number and variety of musicians/groups scheduled and the ability to walk from venue to venue and catch any and all acts that we want to check out. I also love listening to bands I hadn’t known before and being introduced to new music. Meeting up with friends is also a perk!”
Michael “Kid” Davis, Kid Davis and the Bullets
“I’ve been playing in Lancaster for about 40 years and have had the privilege of working with Rich for much of that time. It’s always a pleasure to be part of an event filled with such incredible talent. A special thanks to Rob and James from The Sermon! for joining us on stage. That made the experience even more memorable.
I only wish I could have stayed the whole weekend, but we had other gigs to get to. Truly sad to see The Village and Lizard Lounge closing.”
Bryan Thomas, Photograher
“Looking for the ultimate winter distraction? Look no further than Lancaster Roots & Blues. This festival is my annual “reset” button—a three-day journey that perfectly breaks up the doldrums of the season. Where else can you catch local powerhouses like the Bobby Gentilo Trio or the Band of Llamas alongside global icons like The Yardbirds, Clarence Spady, and Billy Price? I live for the thrill of the new, and this year was no exception, from the raw soul of Amani Burnham and Buffalo Nichols to the infectious energy of the Curtis Family C-Notes.
But beyond the incredible lineup, it’s the atmosphere that keeps me coming back. There is an undeniable magic in that shared energy—hanging out with the “festival family” and capturing all that high-octane joy through my lens alongside my fellow music photographers. If you want to survive the winter, you need a soundtrack, and this is exactly where you'll find it.”
Michele, festival attendee
“This year's Roots and Blues Festival reminded me why I love this city and the people in it. Friday night, I finally got to see Sweet Leda, a band I'd heard about for years but never managed to catch live… and they blew me away. A good friend of mine, a longtime fan, was there too, and the two of us were absolutely shameless on the dance floor. There's something about the right music at the right moment that strips away all the noise of everyday life. I felt young, free, and completely in my element. Sunday brought more of the same magic for me, new sounds, familiar faces, and that particular warmth that naturally comes from sharing music with your people.
But if I'm being honest, my favorite part of Roots and Blues had nothing to do with any band. It was watching my husband Vince with his camera. The man loves music the way some people love breathing: deeply, instinctively, and without apology. When he's moving through a crowd with his camera, he’s got this lightness about him. You couldn’t call what he’ s doing “work.” He loves it way too much for it to ever feel like “a job." It warms my heart to witness him in that way. That, more than any set list or hot young artist, is what I'll carry with me from this weekend. “
Kevin Gannon, Moe Blues
“It's a rush, a total rush - especially for a local band to have a full house, when there's national acts right up the street. That means the world to us.
You look out and see people dancing, they're grooving to what you're playing. There's nothing better than that!”
Dan Gillespie, Photographer
“I’ve had the very good fortune to be able to photograph all 10 Lancaster Roots and Blues festivals. This year’s festival focused on the incredible local and regional talent we have in Central PA as well as young, up and coming artists. One of the standouts for me was Amani Burnham from Connecticut, at just 20 years old.”
Randy Bucksner, Musician
“It’s pretty incredible how a small city like ours can attract so much music and music fans over the course of a weekend. I really have always admired Rich for his devotion to the blues and music in general. I love the connection among musicians and listeners the festival has enabled. Looking forward to the next one!”
Michael Holmes, Photographer
“My two main attractions to the ever-growing Roots and Blues festivals are the reuniting of old friends on the audience side. Our lives have all gotten active enough over the decades that too often we need that one great time in the year to reunite with a common interest like music where we share the old times and the new. My other favorite is the bond that forms between the performers where on the final night they can put together such a great stage reunion of their own, join the stage together and warm each others talents through what could best be described as a stage partnership - almost like the All Stars game of music for the event. It shows that all musicians truly love each other in this.”
