Roots On The River Festival

History

Vermont Festivals presents 5-6 shows annually at the 220 year old Rockingham Meeting House. The Rockingham Meeting House is a National Historic Landmark built between 1787 and 1801 and features wooden 'pig-pen' pews, no electricity and superb acoustics. Seating capacity is a comfortable 300. The Rockingham Meeting House is located on Meeting House Road, just off VT Rte. 103, a half-mile west of Interstate 91 Exit 6S and one mile west of Interstate 91 Exit 6N.

Vermont Festivals books 8-10 shows a year at the Bellows Falls Opera House Lower Theater venue. This 125 seat room is located in the lower level of the Bellows Falls Opera House which is housed in the Rockingham Town Hall. Amenities include a raised stage, kitchen facilities and a modern dressing room. Preferred "ANGEL" seating is offered for many shows in the Lower Theater. Patrons are offered the chance to pay inflated ticket prices in order to claim bragging rights as supporters of the live music scene in Bellows Falls. They are the lifeblood of local promoters and appreciated beyond mere words.

The gorgeous Bellows Falls Opera House, re-built in 1927 after an enormous conflagration destroyed the original town hall and theater, was totally renovated in 2006-2007. It hosts the Town of Rockingham and Bellows Falls Village Corporation annual meetings. In addition, it serves as the town's movie theater, and is the only municipally owned & operated cinema in the US. With 553 seats and an almost acoustically perfect room, Vermont Festivals has been proud to present the Vermont Symphony Orchestra on numerous occasions. Vermont Festivals, in association with frequent co-promoter Flying Under Radar, produced the first live show after the renovations in April 2007. Past concerts, in addition to the VSO, include Dar Williams, Beausoleil, the Cowboy Junkies, Chris Smither, Sonny Landreth, Maria Muldaur and many more.

Vermont Festivals founder Ray Massucco not only played percussion in the Opera House's former sunken orchestra pit, but graduated high school on that venue's stage. His family is currently offering a cash reward to anyone who can cut off his ponytail.