MUSIC ON MAIN

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22

ROOTS FEST EVENTS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22

FAMILY ROOTS FEST SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22

Activity Providers:

Coming Soon!

MANY THANKS TO OUR TITLE SPONSORS

MAIN STAGE SPONSORS

THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS

For over 20 years, Grammy Award-winning The Infamous Stringdusters have delivered boundary-pushing live performances that blend bluegrass tradition with rock-and-roll energy. To celebrate the milestone, the groundbreaking jam-grass quintet released 20/20; twenty brand new songs for twenty years. Fusing virtuosic musicianship, fearless improvisation, and influences spanning Americana, country, and indie-folk, the band has become one of the most celebrated acts in modern roots music. Don't miss their electrifying performance at Roots Festival.

HONEY ISLAND SWAMP BAND

The Honey Island Swamp Band are a thrilling, eclectic band that defies genre conventions, renders song structures elastic, and wholeheartedly stresses that the song reigns supreme. Since they formed in 2005 in San Francisco after their displacement from New Orleans via Katrina – and subsequently relocated back home – the band has evolved to embody contemporary roots music.

SILAS HERMAN & THE TONE UNIT

Silas Herman & The Tone Units deliver a fresh take on Americana, blending bluegrass, folk, country, and roots influences with dynamic musicianship and heartfelt songwriting. Driven by rich harmonies, infectious grooves, and a passion for live performance, the band creates a sound that feels both timeless and original. Whether playing high-energy originals or reimagining acoustic favorites, Silas Herman & The Tone Units bring warmth, authenticity, and plenty of good vibes to every stage.

AMANDA SHAW

Energetic Louisiana fiddler Amanda Shaw blazes trails with her clever songwriting and exciting performances. With over 20 years of experience, Shaw captivates audiences of all sizes – from intimate listening rooms to national television audiences. Shaw blends authentic Cajun culture with endearing local charm, delivering shows that burst with Louisiana flavor.

ANDY DUNNIGAN & FRIENDS

Rooted in bluegrass and Americana, Andy Dunnigan & Friends brings together exceptional musicians for a one-of-a-kind collaboration built on heartfelt songwriting, rich harmonies, and inspired improvisation. Led by singer, songwriter, and dobro player Andy Dunnigan, the group blends tradition with fresh creativity, delivering an engaging acoustic performance that celebrates the connection between musicians and audiences alike.

THE UNFAITHFUL SERVANTS

The Unfaithful Servants have emerged as one of Canada’s must-see acoustic acts, delivering a thrilling modern take on folk, bluegrass, and Americana. Known for explosive instrumentals, rich harmonies, and timeless songwriting, the band has earned a reputation as a powerhouse live draw across Western Canada.

REVEREND SLANKY

Reverend Slanky is a heavy hitting funk band originating from Missoula, MT. This 7-piece band has been jamming its way through the great state of Montana and surrounding areas for over 15 years. Slanky’s blend of Soul, R&B, Funk, African and Latin grooves always get people out dancing.

JOAN ZEN

As a funky-soul group, the Joan Zen Sextet features: Milan House on keyboards, Eric Hutchins on guitar and trumpet, Jason Hicks on saxophone and EWI (electronic wind synth), Drew Barker on drums, Joan Zen on vocals and guitar, and Branden Barker on bass. The synergy between the players in the group is undeniable at their live shows. Drawing from a blended palette of styles, this groovy, soul sextet living in Missoula, MT travels around the Northwest bringing high-energy, dynamic, soulful music to their audiences.

COWBOY ANDY & THE SALAMANDERS

Cowboy Andy and the Salamanders is an award winning nationally recognized children and family friendly rock group that has been delighting families all around the Pacific Northwest for over 10 years. Get ready to dance and sing along to songs you probably don’t know! The Salamanders consist of Mr. Blue Sky Ian Smith, Bones Russ Gay, Banana Man Matthew Bainton, The Indispensable Oscar Hunt, and Cowboy Andy.

KIDS BANDS: Z.A.C.C. ROCK CAMP BANDS and TANGLED TONES

Kicking off the festival are the ZACC Rock Camp Bands and Tangles Tones! Formed during ZACC's Alternative Music Project, young musicians write and perform original songs in just one week, bringing fresh energy, big creativity, and plenty of volume to the Roots Festival stage. Tangled Tones features up and coming teenage musicians. Be there early to catch the next generation of Missoula's music scene.

Travel the world through your tastebuds. Immerse yourself in the local tastes and smells of some of Western Montana’s best food vendors! All vendors are using compostable materials as part of Roots Fest’s sustainability efforts.

Banh Mi Zoola - Vietnamese Street Food

Big Dipper Ice Cream - Locally made ice cream

Clark Fork & Spoon Kitchen - Smash burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc.

Cruz Tacos - Street tacos

Isla’s Lemonade - Fresh pressed lemonade

Kamoon Arabian Cuisine - Arabian cuisine

Mai City Food - Asian cuisine

Mountain Berry Bowls - Acai bowls

Primrose Farm & Bakehouse - Pizza and sandwiches

Raven Mad Concessions - Kettlecorn

Sista Elmmy - Belizean street food

Soul Dawgs - Hot dogs

Food Court Sponsor:

Earth without Art would be eh...and so would Roots Fest! Discover art made by local and regional artists from pottery to leathergoods, paintings to jewelry. Support local artists and bring home something unique.

• Anomal Press
• Bearglass Design
• Bird Brain Creations
• Dagny Walton
• Dobez Designz
• Ephemeral Arts
• Eric Reese
• Eye Seek You
• Kate Koenig Art
• Kinshop Goods
• Little Arms Creative
• Louisa B Designs
• Lynde Howe Silverworks
• Madeleine Tucker
• Michael Humphreys
• Montana Beerings
• MudPony Designs
• My Disco Day Dream
• Rose of the Earth
• RS Ceramics
• Rustic & Rowdy
• Sage Friss
• Sew Genesis
• Short Walk Workshop
• Silver Linings
• Snow Day Leather
• Spunky Sprite
• The Clay Studio of Missoula
• The Gastropod Press
• Thlayi Designs
• True Form Adornments
• Twin Home Prints
• Warm House Designs
• Waxing Moon Co.
• Waxwing Designs
• West Waye
• Whimsical Wearables
• Yucca Moon House

Art Show Sponsors:

Looking for the perfect kid-friendly event during Roots Festival? Well look no further. Family Roots Fest takes place in Caras Park on August 22nd from 10 AM - 2 PM and has a wide range of kid-friendly activities that are perfect for all ages. From hands on crafts, to obstacle courses, to guitar lessons, to bean bag tosses, Family Roots Fest has it all.

Family Roots Fest Stage:

Double Bubble Dance Party & Music by DJ Coach Shane

Family Roots Fest Activity Providers

Coming soon!

FAMILY ROOTS FESTIVAL IS SPONSORED BY:

Celebrating all things Missoula during Roots Fest wouldn’t be complete without showcasing our active community. Thanks to Run Wild Missoula, the 4-Mile Roots Run takes participants along our river, through historic neighborhoods, and back to Kiwanis park to gather and celebrate the community we love.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 - 8:30 AM

Start/Finish Location: E. Main St.; Between N. Higgins & N. Pattee

Registration: runwildmissoula.org or rivercityrootsfestival.com (day of registration available)

13 and under – Free!

14-18 years old 

• $10 – June 11 – August 22, 2026
• No festival cup/wristband, drink ticket

UM Students (valid Griz Card required)

• $15 – June 11 – August 22, 2026
• No festival cup/wristband, drink ticket

Open Registration*

• $28 – June 11 – July 8, 2026
• $33 – July 9 – August 5, 2026
• $40 – August 6 – August 22, 2026

Packet Pickup Information

Friday, August 21 from 3:00 – 5:45 PM at RWM HQ; 125 E Main St.

Race Day Saturday, August 22 2026 from 7:15 – 8:20 AM at the Race Start – 125 East Main St

• Race Start: 8:30am

Bib pickup will end promptly at 8:20 AM. We will not be able to provide you a bib number after 8:20 AM.

2026 Course Map

4-MILE ROOTS RUN SPONSORED BY

There’s nothing better than seeing our community coming out to “Support Our Roots” by supporting locally owned shops, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants! Downtown shopping and dining has something for everyone.

Coming Soon!

A cornerstone of our community is our commitment to sustainability, which is why Home ReSource and the City of Missoula lead the charge on the green scene each year, ensuring the festival is as climate friendly as possible. The Roots Team is committed to reducing the carbon footprint of our festival while improving the health of our community and planet. From expanding zero waste options, to sustainable commute options, to offsetting our musicians’ emissions, the 2026 River City Roots Festival is dedicated to responsibly throwing Missoula’s best party.

No doubt you’ll see our Green Team Zero Waste Ambassadors at the festival managing the “waste stream”. Last year our team diverted 65% of Roots Fest waste from the landfill – and most of this became compost! Thank them for their efforts, and you can join this team too – click here to volunteer for the Green Team.

Here are some of the many ways we’re greening the Roots Fest in 2026:

• Single-use plastic straws: 10 years ago, we eliminated these at the festival! Wahoo!
• Zero Waste Vendors: All food vendors are required to be part of our Zero Waste Vendor Program. All vendors will NOT use any plastic, single-use glass, or Styrofoam food service ware. All containers, drinks, and utensils are recyclable or compostable. If you stop by a vendor, thank them for their actions to go green.
• All-In-One Recycling Stations with Composting. Our Zero Waste Stations to include compost bins. These green bins—filled with food scraps, plates, utensils and more—end up at the City-owned Garden City Compost, hauled by our friends at Missoula Compost Collection. In addition to MCC’s compost bins, Republic Services provides All-In-One Recycling service. To help festival goers know what and how to discard, you’ll find Green Team volunteers acting as Zero Waste Ambassadors at many of these stations. You can recognize these ambassadors by their green Roots Fest shirts and their nifty trash pickers. Do give them a high five!
• Water Station. If all you need is water (!) stop by the Culligan water truck and fill your reusable bottle or Festival cup with cool H20. Stay hydrated!
• Bike Valet: In our opinion, biking to Roots demands VIP treatment! To that end, Missoula In Motion and Green Team volunteers will again offer a bicycle valet parking service. If you bike to the festival, simply ride up to the secured area located on the Higgins end of the Art Show and let our volunteers do the rest. The Bike Valet will be available from 4pm – 10:30pm both nights of the Festival. If you choose to use your own bike parking arrangements, please only lock up to designated bike racks to avoid chaining up to trees. By riding and parking your bike responsibly, you help reduce carbon emissions, improve traffic flow, and protect our urban forests.
• Carbon Free Main Stage: Powering the world class musicians performing at the Roost Festival takes serious energy. Between fuel to get here and electricity to run speakers and lights, we leave a carbon footprint that contributes to climate change. We mitigate that contribution with the purchase of carbon credits, using Climate Smart’s “Footprint Fund” dedicated to reducing emissions in buildings in Missoula. That is why we proudly display the “Carbon Neutral” banner prominently on stage.

Have any other ideas for Greening the Roots Fest or working to make our community more sustainable? Stop by the Home ReSource table near the Main Street Parking garage and let us know, or join our efforts.

Thank You to Our Greening Sponsors!

FESTIVAL GREENING SPONSORED BY

HOW TO HAVE FUN

• NO TICKETS NEEDED! This is Missoula's signature celebration and we feel there shouldn't be any barriers to folks enjoying live music in the streets of Downtown.
• Looking for information about the festival or for festival merchandise? Visit our info booth on the corner of W. Main and Ryman (outside of the Missoula Club)
• Bring your lawn chairs to the festival to enjoy the bands in comfort.
• Check out the Family Roots Fest in Caras Park (Saturday, August 22 from 10am to 2pm) – there are lots of fun activities to keep the kids busy.
• Check out all the varied art work from our artists. There are all kinds of beautiful and one-of-a-kind items to bring home with you.
• Looking for some exercise? A 4-mile fun run is slated for Saturday morning (Saturday, August 23 - 8:30am) and is open to everyone with all abilities. Register online at rivercityrootsfestival.com or in-person at the Runner’s Edge.
• Please do NOT bring your own food and beverages into the festival area. Your purchases from our vendors support locally-owned businesses and help cover the hard costs to help keep this festival admission free for all.
• PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR PETS TO ROOTS FEST! It can be hot with lots of people in the festival area, which may not be comfortable for your pooch. Folks with pets will be asked to remain outside the festival area.
• Do bring your own water bottle to stay hydrated while you dance the day away. A water-truck thanks to Culligan will be stationed near Masala to refill your bottles as often as you need.
• Adult beverages are available: purchase your wristband and commemorative cup first (your first drink is FREE thanks to the Downtown Missoula Partnership), then get in line for a drink. Bring your ID; you will not be able to drink without it.
• You must have an official Roots Fest Wristband to drink within the festival area. Please stay inside the festival area with your adult beverages. If you take your drink outside the barricades, you risk getting an Open Container ticket.
• If you need a band-aid, or maybe you lost or found something, go see the folks in the Volunteer Check-In area inside the Central Park Parking Structure. We also have EMTs on site in the Central Park Parking Structure after 4pm Friday and after 2pm on Saturday.

ARRIVING AT THE FESTIVAL

• Walk the trails: Missoula has an amazing trail system - park outside of Downtown and walk with ease along our beautiful river.
• Ride the bike: please park your bike at one of the many bike racks throughout Downtown, including the bike corral in Caras Park. Please dismount and walk your bike inside the festival area.
• Ride the Line: Mountain Line is now Zero-Fare and all routes lead to Downtown Missoula. Visit www.mountainline.com to find your route or download their app. Mountain Line is also a major sponsor that helps keep Roots Fest as green as possible.
• If you brought your skateboard, scooter, etc., please refrain from riding them within the festival area.
• Thanks to the Missoula Parking Commission, parking throughout Downtown Missoula is FREE for the entire duration of Roots Fest. We recommend parking in the Park Place or ROAM garages. Note that lease-parking spaces will be enforced on Friday, August 21 (but are accessible to all on Saturday, August 22). Parking does fill up quickly - we recommend utilizing sustainable means of transportation.

PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE / SAFE

• PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR PETS TO ROOTS FEST! It can be hot with lots of people in the festival area, which may not be comfortable for your pooch. Folks with pets will be asked to remain outside the festival area.
• Stay hydrated! August can bring hot temps, so be sure to bring a refillable water bottle; a water-truck will be available near Masala thanks to Culligan.
• Please be polite to the folks who are working the event. Many are volunteering their time or are small business owners helping to create an authentic Missoula experience for you.
• Please exit the festival area if you would like to smoke or vape. We realize it’s a street festival, but please don’t subject those around you to secondhand smoke.
• Please stay off the railings on top of the parking structure, as well as the sound and staging equipment. We want you to be safe!

WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE THIS FESTIVAL

• $120,000+: Cost to put on Roots Fest. It’s no small cost to put on a festival like this. As with all events produced by the Downtown Missoula Partnership, Roots Fest is admission FREE. It’s because of our sponsors, as well as attendees taking advantage of our local food vendors and purchasing the wristband/commemorative cup, that costs associated with the event are covered.
• $90,000+: Amount of sponsorship dollars from local businesses to help produce Roots Fest; nearly $20,000+ is in trade-out services
• 15,000+: number of attendees roaming the streets of Downtown Missoula across both days
• 3,700 aluminum beer cups bought to help reduce waste - please reuse the cups all weekend and recycle them when you're done!
• 800 t-shirts for sale, for runners, and for our volunteers
• 120+ volunteers needed to make Roots Fest come alive
• 4 Production Partners: the City of Missoula, Run Wild Missoula, Home ReSource, Missoula in Motion all help with various pieces so Roots runs smoothly
• 10 bands, 35 artists, 14 local food vendors, 300+ runners, 120 volunteers, 10 planning committee members, and 25+ children’s organizations make this party!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Roots Fest website:
rivercityrootsfestival.com
Roots Fest Information & Merchandise Booth

Downtown Missoula Partnership:
406.543.4238 or [email protected]

Paddleheads Post:
Located across the street from the festival at 140 N. Higgins. They also have general information about Missoula.

Roots Fest is held right in the Heart of Missoula. Nestled at the intersection of W. Main and Ryman, Roots is centrally located in Downtown so you can not only experience the festival, but wander among the historic buildings, support locally-owned, small businesses, and check out our festival’s namesake, the Clark Fork River.

Looking for inspiration on what else you can do in Downtown, Missoula? Check out missouladowntown.com or follow the direct links below.

• Shopping in Downtown Missoula
• Dining in Downtown Missoula
• Family Activities in Downtown Missoula
• Tours in Downtown Missoula

TITLE SPONSOR

MAIN STAGE SPONSORS

MEDIA SPONSOR

EVENT PRODUCER

EVENT SUPPORT GRANT

FAMILY FUN SPONSORS

GREEN SPONSORS

4-MILE RUN SPONSORS

ART SHOW SPONSORS

BEVERAGE GARDEN SPONSORS

FOOD COURT SPONSORS

HOSPITALITY SPONSORS

PATRON SPONSORS

SUPPORTER SPONSORS

First Montana Bank, DCI Engineers