Rhythm and riddims Whote lotta roots and reggae (and more) going on BY BOB GULLA

By day, Green Hill resident Chuck Wentworth is the supervisor of aquaculture operations at the University of Rhode Island, where he went to school and has been working for 27 years. During his off hours, though, Wentworth is a music maven. On Monday nights, he takes over the airwaves at WRIU (90.3 FM), URI’s non-profit radio outlet, where he has hosted a popular folk radio show called "Traditions" since 1980. He also wears the hat of the station’s folk and roots director.

Continuing the music theme, Wentworth also runs Lagniappe Productions, a company that produces concerts and music festivals throughout the country, including two hugely popular festivals in Rhode Island: the Mardi Gras Ball at the Rhodes-On-the-Pawtuxet and the Rhythm & Roots Festival, which takes place each Labor Day weekend at Ninigret Park in Charlestown. Since the early ’80s, Wentworth has staged scores of local gigs starring such national artists as Alison Krauss, Bela Fleck, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Beausoleil, and many others. He also helped put together the legendary local Cajun & Bluegrass Festivals and the Big Easy Bashes, which were held for many years at the revered Stepping Stone Ranch.

Rhythm & Roots, Wentworth’s newest babe, has quickly become a popular Rhode Island musical stopover. The three-day affair provides a joyous exclamation point to the summer season. Last year’s Rhythm & Roots Fest drew more than 10,000 dance-crazed roots fans from all over the nation. Heck, if I lived outta state, I’d make the trek.

"Many people are searching for quality music that has a timeless feel and are often frustrated," says Wentworth. "With the vast consolidation in the radio industry and the narrow play lists of many radio stations, it has been increasingly difficult for many to discover quality new music. What we try to do at our festivals is to showcase great roots music that many people probably won’t hear anywhere else. I try to bring in bands that are special, and I’m always looking for those bands people have never heard of before. And that’s what really excites me, whether it’s on the radio or within a festival situation — turning people on to new music and new bands." Wentworth speaks the truth. I’ve been to the festival every year, and each time I came away with an experience I hadn’t anticipated, having heard exhilarating sets by hitherto unknown bands.

This year’s host band is Donna the Buffalo, a perennial favorite of festival fans all over the Northeast. Leftover Salmon, a hot group from Colorado that plays a blend of bluegrass, rock, and country, has a scorching live act. Lavay Smith & the Red Hot Skillet Lickers is one of the top swinging jazz and blues bands around. Texas singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen is making a rare appearance in the area. Also on hand will be reliable warhorses NRBQ and New Orleans’ Radiators. If you bring some open ears, Wentworth will be sure to fill them with an array of giddy sounds.

For more information on the Rhythm & Roots Festival, go to www.rhythmandroots.com or call (888) 855-6940.

FIRST ANNUAL REGGAE FESTIVAL. If the cry of a fiddle or the squawk of an accordion isn’t your thing, but the irie vibes of the Rastaman does the trick, you’ve got that option, too. The First Annual Rhode Island Reggae Festival unfolds this Saturday (the 4th) at Stepping Stone Ranch in Escoheag, with a star-studded lineup of dread-ly performers, including Tanya Stephens, Michael Prophet, Alton Ellis, Johnny Osbourne, Norris Man, and others. The music starts around 2 p.m. and wraps around 10 p.m., which means you have a whole workday to enjoy. Of course, it’s not work when you can lay into the sweet riddims of talents like Ellis, the ska/rock steady icon, or the wonderful Stephens, one of the most promising female reggae performers to emerge in the ’90s. So tuck those locks underneath your cap and head on over to where the ponies graze at Stepping Stone. It’s a mellow way to groove on the first day of your Labor-ious weekend. Go to www.rireggaefestival.com for more.

FREE STUFF IN KINGSTON. There’s something really cool called Concert In the Emporium going down this Labor Day (the 6th) in Kingston. A slew of good bands will be playing outdoors, including Uncle Everett, Orange Jam, Fungus Amungus, Orbis Rex, and Acid Rain Revival. There will also be special guest appearances by WRIU’s DJ Blademon and Didakon the West African Drummers. The show will run from noon to 6 p.m. While you’re there, stop by and say hey to the good folks at Bagelz, the principal sponsor. And did I mention the entire show is free?

HOLY COW REUNION. Manny Silva and the boys, formerly of local goth legends Holy Cow, have written in with some exciting news. "As you know we played our last show back in December of 2002. Fifteen long years has a way of catching up, and while it was fun, it was just time to pursue other things. The band, however, had stayed in touch and actually have continued working on unreleased Cow material. A few months back, a friend of ours asked us if we would be interested in playing a show in New York. This show turned out to be the Drop Dead II Festival at the Knitting Factory." (More info at www.dropdeadfestival.com.)

So off they go to Gotham. The fest, advertised as the biggest horror and death-rock gathering in the country, takes place September 3, 4, and 5. "We decided to perform exclusively for the festival one more time. This is the only place fans will be able to catch us, as there will be no other performances locally."

POLITICAL BENNY. Chris Daltry is organizing a benefit concert to raise money and awareness for John Kerry’s presidential election bid. It’s part of the annual Hot Club Waterfront Festival, a three-day outdoor musical event at the Fleet Skating Center in Kennedy Plaza in Providence from September 10 through 12. Daltry’s segment of the festival takes place on Sunday and runs from 2 to 9 p.m. An all-ages show, the $5 cover goes to Moveon.Org to help them in their efforts to unseat Bush. There will be beer and munchies. So far, there are a handful of bands committed and more to be added. On tap: the ’Mericans, Lightning Bolt, Sleepyhead, Su Casa, Charlie Chesterman and the Motorbikes, the Blizzard of ’78, Lucky 57, the Bob Kendall Band, Spouse, and International Penpal. "This means a lot to me," says Daltry. "The past year and a half have been really crappy. My brother is in the army and was in Iraq over most of this period of time. He has just gotten home, but every day he was gone I began to hate the situation more and more. If Bush has made your life worse in any way, come out and help tell Providence and the rest of America that we need change!"

WANDERINGEYE. Planet Groove plays a big dinner show on Saturday at Chan’s in Woonsocket. Seating is limited so call quick for reservations: 765-1900. Mary Bue, Christopher Monti, Third Border, and George Hardy take the stage at AS220 on Sunday (the 5th) at 9 p.m. The cost is $6. Call 831-9327.

E-mail me with your music news: big.daddy1@cox.net.