Pat O’Shea & Honest Men to rock Honesdale Roots & Rhythm

HONESDALE — Pat O’Shea and the Honest Men will perform at this year’s Honesdale Roots & Rhythm Music & Arts Festival.

“Straight-ahead rock and roll with songs that grab you and refuse to let go,” said O'Shea of what he will bring to the festival.

O’Shea and his band are the lead-in to the headliner, Jimmy Vivino and the Barn Burners at the Eighth annual Roots & Rhythm on Saturday, June 15. This free-to-the-public event promises music from morning till after dark, beginning with local bands around town at 10:30 a.m. The main acts take the stage in Central Park, starting at 1:30 p.m.

O’Shea spent six years as a guitarist for the legendary Levon Helm of the group, The Band. He’s also performed alongside the late bluesman Hubert Sumlin as a frequent substitute in the Howlin’ Wolf Tribute Band and played guitar for the Grammy-winning blues giant Joe Louis Walker. And his current group, the rest of the Honest Men, have more than 80 years of combined music experience.

Roots & Rhythm is one of the popular events in northeast Pennsylvania, drawing up to 5,000 people every year. The town’s Central Park becomes a vast picnic area, where attendees lay blankets and set up chairs, browse the food vendor and artisan stalls that ring the park and enjoy free, live music. Prior to O’Shea, Emish and the Badlees perform on the main stage.

Roots & Rhythm is co-presented by the Greater Honesdale Partnership and the Wayne County Arts Alliance. For more information or to volunteer, visit www.honesdalerootsandrhythm.com.