Roots Report: Polly Want Some Music Okee dokee folks … Today I was running an errand and saw a heartbreaking sign stapled to a telephone pole. It was a notice for a lost parrot named Bella. You never think about a parrot getting lost — it’s usually cats and dogs. I always hope that these animals are reunited with their human companions. A lost dog or cat sometimes finds its way to the pound and if it has proper identification, eventually home. It can be confusing to figure out what to do with parrots and other feathered friends that are lost or abandoned. In my opinion and in the opinion of most animal lovers, birds and exotic animals should NOT be kept as pets. Most people don’t realize that parrots can outlive their owners. Parrots, as well as other birds, were meant to fly and be free. A life in a cage is not much of a life. Anyway, here I am on a rant again and trying to tie it in to my music column. Guess what? I can! Ironically, just before I saw the lost parrot flyer I was given a handbill for a fundraiser to support a parrot/wildlife sanctuary. My friends Dorian and Tracy, who gave me the flyer, volunteer there one day a week. The sanctuary is Foster Parrots, Ltd & The New England Wildlife Sanctuary and they care for a population of over 450 exotic bird and animal refugees. They will have their Fall Fundraiser Extravaganza on Saturday, September 19 in Hope Valley. Now this is the part where I tie it in to music. The Adam Ezra Group will headline this event. There will also be a champagne welcome, sanctuary tours, an extensive vegetarian buffet and an open beer and wine bar. The Adam Ezra Group (AEG) is a great choice for this event. They’re not just a band, they are a force to be reckoned with socially. Selling records and tickets is important to AEG, but they are committed to changing the world with their songs and their actions along the way. Ezra and his band are activists and community leaders as much as they are musicians and songwriters. Ezra has spent time living out of a van, farming in Canada, volunteering for the relief effort in Kosovo and practicing environmental geography in South Africa. Whether as a kitchen hand or carpenter, teacher, athlete or traveler, Ezra crams it all into the music, always challenging our perspective and often teetering somewhere between the ballsy rocker and sensitive poet. Through their nonprofit organization, RallySound, AEG helps people organize live music events that inspire communities and encourage grassroots activism. They have toured with The Avett Brothers, Jason Mraz, Indigo Girls, Deer Tick, The Goo Goo Dolls, Blues Traveler, Los Lobos, Toad and the Wet Sprocket, Dwight Yoakam, Gin Blossoms and many more. The Adam Ezra Group has graduated from the Boston scene to the national level with a momentum that is catapulting them toward being one of the country’s most talked about bands. For more about the fundraiser, wing over to FosterParrots.com. If you don’t know that the Rhythm and Roots festival is happening Labor Day weekend then you must be living under a rock. The best end-of-summer festival wrapper-upper has been going strong for the past 18 years. With multiple stages, dancing, camping, Cajun food, arts and crafts and more, the R&R festival is an event worthy of the holiday weekend. This year’s line-up includes such acts as The Mavericks, Los Lobos, Keb ‘Mo, Royal Southern Brotherhood (with Cyril Neville & Tyrone Vaughan), Sarah Potenza (from The Voice), Lake Street Dive, Marcia Ball, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys and more. Held at beautiful Ninigret Park in Charlestown, the festival has become a destination event drawing approximately 10,000 roots music and dance fans from all around the country over the course of the weekend. Highlights of this year’s fest include a “Main Stage Blowout” with The Mavericks, Los Lobos and boogie-woogie piano queen, Marcia Ball, plus perennial favorites Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys. Also, the Heritage Stage features special showcases and workshops with an up close and personal experience with the artists. Special evening music showcases this year will include Canadian and Blues Showcases hosted by Matt Anderson, an Americana Showcase hosted by Jim Lauderdale, and a Louisiana Showcase hosted by Steve Riley. There is SO MUCH MORE, but not enough room. To expand your R&R intake, swing over to rhythmandroots.com. On Saturday, September 12, you can celebrate Five Years of Sweet Sounds with the Music at Lily Pads’ fifth anniversary concert. The date marks five years since Brown Bird and South County’s Fly Around performed in the UUCSC sanctuary in Peace Dale, kicking off a continuous run of concerts that has won hearts and ears with unique, innovative and quality artists. Music at Lily Pads will mark the anniversary with an evening featuring music by three exceptional bands, improv, theater, art, good food and more. The evening presents multi-instrumentalist, roots music and Shape Note singing historian Tim Eriksen and Friends; traditional music trio The Vox Hunters, featuring All-Ireland champion on the Uilleann pipes Torrin Ryan; and an acoustic set by The Silks. Also on hand will be the Whale Guitar, created by a collaborative of Rhode Island artists. This stunning custom-made guitar, with a body carved in the shape of a scrimshawed white whale, will be played by various artists that night. To add to the festivities, The Contemporary Theater Company’s “Bait and Switch” improv group will stop by, fresh from Austin’s Out of Bounds Comedy Festival. Rhode Island musician, band leader and artist Jim Chapin will be displaying a selection of his paintings, and refreshment sales will benefit The End Hunger Foundation, Inc. For more, ceremonialize over to musicatlilypads.org. When I was young, Styx was one of my favorite bands and I had the pleasure of seeing them live a few times back in the days of arena rock. While this is not Styx, it is the next best thing: the VOICE of Styx. “Dennis DeYoung — The Music of Styx” will be at the Park Theater in Cranston on Friday, September 11. Dennis DeYoung is a founding member of the rock group Styx. The Chicago-based band originated in 1962 when 14-year-old DeYoung and brothers John and Chuck Panozzo joined Dennis in the basement of his childhood home to form one of America’s most successful and enduring bands. Styx has sold over 35 million albums worldwide and DeYoung has written eight of their nine top 10 singles. Styx was the only band to ever record four consecutive triple platinum albums. For over four decades, DeYoung has been a singer, songwriter, keyboardist and record producer. He wrote and sang several classics including: “Lady,” “Come Sail Away,” “Best of Times,” “Mr. Roboto,” “Show Me the Way,” “Desert Moon,” “Don’t Let It End,” and the 1979 People’s Choice Award winner, “Babe.” His singing talents have made his voice one of the most recognizable in the world. DeYoung has recorded seven solo albums including Desert Moon, whose title track achieved Top Ten status. DeYoung continues to tour with his rock band around the world. Also at The Park Theatre, on September 19 the all-female powerhouse Lez Zeppelin will perform. The band will recreate Led Zeppelin’s legendary live performance of “The Song Remains The Same” at Madison Square Garden in July 1973. There is ample FREE parking for the Park Theatre. It is available in the 400 space lot located across the street, directly behind Cranston City Hall. For more, Mr. Roboto to parktheatreri.com. The Zeiterion in New Bedford welcomes celebrated, award-winning U.K. singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading on Friday, September 25. This globe-circling tour marks her first as a solo performer, as well as her farewell trip through the touring circuit. “I will never retire, but this will be the last major tour that I will undertake.” Aside from her captivating music, Joan will share her thoughts and experiences from a lifetime of making music. “These will be lively interactive concerts, because I will be asking the audience to put their questions to me.” With an epic 20 albums in her repertoire, this career- spanning review promises a fantastic mix of magical old favorites including “Love and Affection,”” Willow,” and “Me, Myself I,” as well as an in-depth look at what inspires Joan as a writer and performer. Melissa Ferrick opens the show. For more, “Drop The Pilot” to zeiterion.org. Out of room, squeezing these in! At Fete it’s Greensky Bluegrass, with American Babies on September 17 and on September 26 is The Ballroom Thieves (fetemusic.com). The Grange on Broadway in Providence has The Harmaleighs and Sean Kennedy on September 9, on September 11 is Providence World Ensemble and on September 16 is Cowboy & Lady (TJ Kelly and Jess Powers) (providencegrange.com). Aztec Two-Step is at Chan’s on September 18 (chanseggrollsandjazz.com). Eliza Gilkyson returns to Common Fence Music in Portsmouth for her third visit on September 19 (commonfencemusic.org). No more room, thanks for reading! www.JohnFuzek.com.