THE ROOTS Join 2013 DC Jazz Festival Concert Line Up

The Roots, the legendary, Grammy Award-winning hip hop band, will celebrate their 25 th anniversary with a special concert on Saturday, June 15 th at Kastles Stadium at The Wharf. The showcase event DC Jazz Festival and Events DC Present: The Roots in Concert will be held during the 2013 DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) and feature opening act Snarky Puppy.

The brainchild of childhood friends Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson and Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter, The Roots was named one of the greatest live acts by Rolling Stone Magazine. In addition to serving as the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the band hosts sold-out jam sessions across the country, collaborates on new works for contemporary performance (Lincoln Center, BAM, Kimmel Center), and consistently produces Grammy-nominated albums.

Their most recent release undun the group's first conceptually-based album and 13 th major label release, has received critical acclaim from bloggers and fans, and reaffirmed their creative reputation for pushing the envelope.

"We are thrilled to bring one of the most beloved live bands in America to the nation's capital for a very special performance," said Erik A. Moses, managing director of Events DC's Sports and Entertainment Division. "The Roots are the perfect complement to this year's Festival, and we look forward to a memorable performance."

"We are more excited than ever to play the DC Jazz Festival," said The Roots. "It's great when we can get together and really play music from our musical roots to an audience that can actually receive it! We are thrilled to be there."

Cynne Simpson,Emmy Award- and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning anchor for ABC 7/WJLA-TV, will emcee the evening. Kastles Stadium at The Wharf is located at 800 Water St. SW Washington, DC 20024. Doors open at 6:00 PM.

Tickets for The Roots concert will be available for purchase via Ticketmaster on April 8 th at 10:00 AM.

The 2013 DCJF will be held June 5-16. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is the official hotel sponsor. For Festival schedule and travel discount information, visit www.dcjazzfest.org and www.dcjazzfest.org/hotel-and-travel.

About the DC Jazz Festival: With more than 125 performances in nearly 60 venues, the DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) is one of the largest music festivals in the country. A project of Festivals DC, Ltd., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the DCJF has experienced spectacular year-on-year growth, and is set to celebrate its landmark 10 th anniversary in 2014.

About Events DC: Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation's capital. Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com.

SOURCE DC Jazz Festival and Events DC