LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: Island Rhodes Music Festival Day Two in Pawtucket, RI (08.16.26)
After a strong opening day highlighted by Slightly Stoopid and Sublime, Island Rhodes returned Sunday for another full day of reggae, rock, funk and hip-hop at Centreville Stadium. The lineup was every bit as ambitious, featuring Rebelution, The Roots, SOJA, The Original Wailers, Hirie, The Expendables, Joe Samba and Crooked Coast.
Sunday brought picture-perfect weather and an even more relaxed atmosphere. I caught The Expendables, Hirie, The Original Wailers, SOJA and The Roots, while hearing some of Joe Samba’s set as I arrived. His cover of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” sounded particularly fun and just a little bonkers from outside the stadium.
The Expendables were one of my Sunday highlights. Their sound can move effortlessly from laid-back, stoney reggae to full-on rock, occasionally exploding into blistering 80s hair-metal-style guitar solos. Their recently released cover of “Wicked Game” was a standout, performed with plenty of heart and a huge, full-band sound. As was the case when I saw them at Paradise Rock Club in Boston, Ted Bowne of Passafire was filling in on bass for Ryan DeMars. They closed with “Bowl For Two,” which was predictably a crowd favorite.
Hirie followed with a fantastic set built around positivity, relaxed vocals and a very tight horn section. There aren’t a ton of female reggae artists touring at this level right now, which makes seeing someone like Hirie absolutely refreshing. Her set was one of those pleasant surprises that makes a festival lineup worth exploring beyond the headliners.
The Original Wailers brought an authentic old-school Jamaican reggae feel to the stage. Having previously seen them at Levitate Backyard in Marshfield, it was great to hear songs like “Jammin'” and “Three Little Birds” performed in this format. Their approach feels distinctly different from the versions performed by Bob Marley’s children. The only strange part remains the band’s billing as “The Original Wailers featuring Al Anderson,” considering Anderson is the sole original member of this particular lineup after Junior Marvin departed the band back in 2011.
SOJA continued the reggae-rock groove with exactly the mellow, polished sound their fans have come to expect. Opening with “Not Done Yet” was almost too perfect a statement for the afternoon. Their horn section was once again a highlight, and late in the set Brett Wilson of Grateful Dub and Hirie joined the band for a collaboration that the crowd clearly loved.
Then came The Roots, who absolutely killed it.
The band’s combination of funk, jazz, soul and hip-hop created the most musically explosive set I caught all weekend. The Roots have become a remarkable melting pot of musical eras and influences, but their love for 70s soul was especially evident. Their cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up” was a highlight and another showcase for their phenomenal horn section.
And then there’s Questlove. Watching him play is always a treat because his sense of timing and feel seems almost unfair. He’s a walking encyclopedia of musical history, and you can hear decades of influences in the way he approaches the drums. Bassist Thad Tribbett, brother of gospel artist Tye Tribbett, was another standout, bringing serious slap-funk energy and constantly working the stage and the crowd despite not being a full-time member of the band.
Black Thought delivered a powerful performance as well, reminding everyone that The Roots are considerably more than the house band from The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. “The Seed” near the end of the set was particularly great, taking on a whole new level of energy compared with the studio version.
Rebelution was scheduled to close out the festival, although I had to leave before their later-than-advertised set. Friends who stayed had nothing but good things to say, and I was disappointed to miss two personal favorites, “Roots Reggae Music” and “Inhale Exhale.”
For a first-year festival, Island Rhodes was a success. There were plenty of food options, ample room to move around and a venue that proved to be a surprisingly good fit. Parking was scattered and expensive, and the tiered ticket pricing drew some complaints, ranging from $99 GA to $125 Field GA, $299 VIP Pit and $599 Super VIP before fees. Still, friends who opted for Field GA said the upgrade was worth the extra $26, while those who paid for pit access seemed happy with the experience. The pit itself was roomy enough that even toward the back, there was plenty of space to move.
The biggest hurdle was undoubtedly the sound. Saturday’s problems caused a significant delay for Iration, while Sunday was considerably smoother, aside from the PA mysteriously cutting out for about a minute during The Expendables’ set. Those are the sorts of growing pains you’d expect from a festival in its first year.
And if Island Rhodes returns next year, I’d be back. The combination of the venue, the relaxed atmosphere, the single-stage setup and, most importantly, a lineup this strong made for a genuinely enjoyable weekend. If the festival can work out the few kinks and bring anything close to this year’s musical firepower, Island Rhodes could quickly become a staple of the New England summer festival calendar.
Photos – Island Rhodes Music Festival at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, RI on August 16th:
