While people across the country celebrated the United States’ 248th birthday, music fans in Chicago embraced a new tradition with the debut of Rose on the River. The new four-day music festival took over The Salt Shed Fairgrounds to present four uniquely curated acts each day merging funk, jazz, jam, electronic, and more.
Rose on the River producer Deep Cut (Sacred Rose) couldn’t have made a better choice to get the party started on Thursday, July 4th than Andy Frasco & The U.N. After the first set of the weekend by singer-songwriter Hans Williams, mad jesters of the jam scene Frasco & The U.N. got the blood pumping with their high-energy R&B and infectious enthusiasm, leading the audience in the traditional Jewish dance of the Hora. Up next came a piano man of a wildly different variety as Chicago’s own Neal Francis serenaded his hometown with his personally probing vintage R&B, performing once again in his classic four-piece configuration following months of touring the country in a 11-piece band. Psych-pop headliners My Morning Jacket closed out the first day of Rose on the River where the band once again collaborated with Karina Rykman—the bubbly bassist who opened for the band on a recent Midwestern swing—as they capped off the evening with the garage rock staple “Louie Louie” and MMJ’s own “One Big Holiday”.
No rest for the weary, Karina Rykman was back at The Salt Shed bright and early on Friday to open day two. The July 5th lineup for Rose on the River contained perhaps some of the widest variety, as Rykman established her corner of the four-artist block with pop-tinged progressive psych-rock. On the completely other end of the spectrum, New Orleans jazz poets Tank and the Bangas provided something completely different with their thoughtful contemplations, followed by Australian multi-instrumentalist Tash Sultana‘s dreamy soundscapes. Finally, producer Flying Lotus once again turned the tables by capping off the night with a set of intelligent dance music, featuring an appearance by Saturday headliner and Lotus’ frequent collaborator Thundercat.
Saturday was undoubtedly jazz day at Rose on the River, and for those who find the genre a bit stiff, this four-band offering showed just how fluid and flexible jazz can be. After recent NPR Tiny Desk performers CARRTOONS greeted early arrivals with smooth R&B, globe-trotting generational talents DOMi & JD Beck put a modern spin on the genre. The drum and keyboards duo rose to prominence with viral covers of everything from MF DOOM to the GameCube theme, earning the approval of Thundercat and Herbie Hancock, both of whom appeared on the duos’s 2022 debut NOT TiGHT from Anderson .Paak’s APESHIT label. After that, instrumental Canadian duo BADBADNOTGOOD—fresh off the Mid Spiral trio of surprise EPs—delivered its diverse blend of high-energy progressive movements balanced out with laid-back ’70s soul-jazz and much more. Lastly, magnetic anime bass ninja Thundercat drew from his highly acclaimed catalog including 2017’s revered Drunk, and inspired hope for an upcoming release by playing a new song.
Intermittent rain showers couldn’t dampen spirits on Rose on the River’s funk-filled finale, with dedicated patrons braving the weather in bright yellow ponchos that dotted the crowd like wildflowers. Viral Milanese funk guitarist Giacomo Turra opened the show ahead of the soul wizardry of Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. One of the weekend’s many highlights was a “Celebration of The Meters” set featuring original Meters George Porter Jr. and Leo Nocentelli along with New Orleans favorite Dumpstaphunk. The all-star pairing brought a bit of Jazz Fest flavor to the Windy City, running through The Meters’ revolutionary catalog with favorites “Just Kissed My Baby”, “Jungle Man”, “Fire on the Bayou”, “Talkin’ ‘Bout New Orleans”, and more. To finish out the inaugural Rose on the River festival, funk collective Vulfpeck delivered a rare live performance—coming exactly three months after the band’s previous set at Texas Eclipse Festival. The Jack Stratton-led troupe sprinted through its 18-song performance in 90 minutes, leaving Chicago audiences with a bit of Christmas in July with “Christmas in L.A.” and closing the festival with the fan-favorite instrumental “Dean Town”.
Check out a photo gallery from the debut of Rose on the River in Chicago courtesy of photographer Brett Bergen along with a collection of fan-shot videos.
Andy Frasco & The U.N. — Hora — 7/4/24
[Video: Jude Perfect]
