Bookings

Greetings from the Rootstand Family,

The trials, tribulations, and grassroot determination of our team has exposed us as one of the most upcoming and notorious roots bands on the scene. Few other bands dig as deep in to the God-given mojo and animusical magnetism afforded to Michigans favorite acoustic ghetto rebel sons.

Rootstand is a six- piece acoustic roots band, featuring acoustic guitar, harmonica, keyboard, turntables/percussion, bass, and drums, as well as providing provocative vocals and harmonies. Rootstand successfully marries the sounds of traditional forms of Roots musics, like Irish reels, and old world polkas, Caribbean ska to American blues and bluegrass to the cutting edge sounds of experimental blues and groove, urban hip-hop, dancehall reggae, and electronica. Our music is very diverse, yet completely logical: Ska and Polka, bluegrass and reggae, hip-hop and country blues, dancehall and Irish reels. What we do is not a token conglomeration of popular forms, it is altogether something new, a new sound, built upon the foundations of traditional music but never intending to replicate it.

Rootstand had the opportunity to jam with a host of great musicians in the past couple years, including John Sinclair, Donna the Buffalo, Lotus, The Brothers Past, Sam Bush, George Clinton and the 420 Funk Mob, Victor Wooten, The Zen Tricksters, Melvin Seals and Rob Wasserman, Tony Furtado, Vince Welnick Band, Mr. Blotto, Derek Trucks Band, Benevento and Russo Duo, Railroad Earth, Jorma Kaukonen and Hot Tuna, Ekoostik Hookah, Tim O'Brian, Chris Smither, Tony Rice and Peter Rowan, Jerry Garcia Band, Henry Butler, Mamadou Diabate, Cornmeal, Grada, Jazz is Dead and seriously many more. We are honored to have shared the stage with these, and all our brother and sister musicians.

All of our press info is available at our web home, www.rootstand.com. This is where you can check up on our calendar, read tons of press and feedback, and check out pictures and free music. We are currently finishing our box set, from which the Grassroot Ghetto and Roots and Branches selections have been made. We have also included a live DVD from a great show at a historic venue in Detroit. We can be contacted via e-mail at booking@rootstand.com, or community@rootstand.com, or www.myspace.com/rootstand.

NOTE: Brant Losinski (vocals, lead/rhythm & slide guitar) is available for phone interviews, as well as live on-air interviews and performances. To schedule an appearance please call Rootstand's publicist at (231) 384-1665 or by emailing grant@brokedownpalacefarms.com .

From Will Stewart's article in the Ann Arbor News Spotlight, May 26th, 2005
"...listen closely and elements as diverse as Irish reels and dancehall reggae mingle comfortably alongside country blues and bluegrass, murder ballads and high-lonesome harmonies."

www.rootstand.com, booking@rootstand.com (e-mail preferred)

their words (from our guestbook)
I just wanted to drop in a say thank you for a truly AMAZING show at The Pig last night with The Ragbirds. There were moments where I thought the entire place as gonna lift off and i think that maybe we did....It was a magical night and I won't soon forget it... Much Thanks! ::PEACE THROUGH MUSIC::

Caught you jokers at the Church in Pa and downloaded to stuff to keep my spirits soaring and mind cranking. Hookah fan, but they were stale that day and ya'all reminded everyone of how to make it happen. Great work, you freaks! Keep playing, and someday, somehow, bring the 'stand back to central Pa.

Hey you guys kicked major ass at the Boykin Ball!!! I've never heard a sound like yours--I'd been telling a lot of people this year that the one sound I couldn't imagine hearing would be a blend of reggae and bluegrass...I'd been telling EVERYONE that this year, even my mom! Hahaha and you guys done did yourself and OUTSTANDING job creating that sound--I still can't get over how awesome you are! And I'd love to get the lyrics to your songs sometime, please try and post some of those if you can!!! Thank you very much for the wonderful sounds this weekend! Peace&love~ Jen

I have a friend that comes to your shows regularly, who just brought me a CD of you guys, and all I got to say is WOW! I love blues, of course, but I also love other rootsy styles equally as much. This includes older reggae, ska, bluegrass, jazz, old time country and hillbilly. You've got ALL of these styles all wrapped up into one bag in such a way as I never dreamt before! Excellent band! Excellent sound! Excellent musicianship!

thank you soooo much for going to blissfest this year! you partied second stage out...i was dancing the whole time... my calves hurt the next day and i had bruises on my knees from bumping into the stage...never-the-less, it was by far the most fun i've had at blissfest! thanks for making it awesome.

I was just eating breakfast in the local Diner one morning of my solo, work on you golf game weekend. As the fellow setting next to me was leaving, he suggested I take in the music at Shorts that evening. I was very pleasantly surprised to find such high quality music in a small northern town. I spent the whole night there captivated by how this style of music would make me and most of the people there move to the beat of the music. It was like you lost control of your muscles, you had to groove to music.