THE ROOTS PICNIC: a primer

Now in its fourth year, the Roots Picnic is Philly's biggest annual music event besides the big July 4 gig on the Parkway (which The Roots are also headlining this summer). Here's the rundown on who's playing the Festival Pier this Saturday.

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THE ROOTS PICNIC: a primer

POSTED: Thursday, June 2, 2011, 1:00 PM

Filed Under: Music | Philly Bands Show

Now in its fourth year, the Roots Picnic is Philly’s biggest annual music event besides the big July 4 gig on the Parkway (which The Roots are also headlining this summer). Here’s the rundown on who’s playing the Festival Pier this Saturday.

The Roots: The kingpins, Philly’s finest, the worldwide leaders in conscious full-band hip-hop. You already know about them.

Wiz Khalifa: This young MC is the most exciting thing to happen in Pittsburgh since Mario Lemieux (Sid the Kid can go suck it). It’s just classic blingy, clubby feel-good hop-hop. Wiz is bringing the weed. Watch this.

Nas (backed by The Roots): ?uestlove and co. like to double as the backup band at this thing (previously, we’ve seen them jam with Wu Tang and Public Enemy). Their set with Nas should be tight.

Esperanza Spalding (backed by The Roots): Assisted by the flagship, this young soulful jazzy singer/upright bassist will provide both the chillest and the most passionate moments of this long, long day. I think you should watch this.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros: You’ve heard their poppiest stuff in commercial, but these guys can get pretty grimy and jittery, perfect for a sweat soak with thousands of strangers. Look at these fucking hipsters.

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti: Los Angeles freak-folk, with an artsy-gothy bent.

Man Man: Yeah, they’re Philly’s most dedicated mustaches, but listen: They put on a spectacular live show. Just engaging, stomping, swinging rock ’n’ roll like nobody else (anymore? ever?).

The Dismemberment Plan: DC rockers always put on a high energy show. Watch this.

Mac Miller: Bad acting and chill beats brought to you by Nike, Hennesy and American Spirit.

Yelawolf: What if Adrian Brody spent a week with Allen Iverson’s tattoo artists and then joined Fallout Boy? Now what if he could rap, old school? Here’s what you’ll get.

And the rest:

T. Mills, Little Dragon, Nicos Gun, Donn T, Black Thought & DJ J. Period, Hank & Cupcakes, OCD/Reda, Railbird and Young Vipers.

ROOTS PICNIC 2011, Sat., June 4, noon, $79.75 (includes all the bullshit fees), Festival Pier, Penn’s Landing, Columbus Blvd. and Spring Garden St. Tix here. Keep hydrated.

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Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

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