Nope, we're not talking about some family tree research, and no, this isn't a festival dedicated to underground veg - obviously.
Kilkenny Roots Festival - a showcase in the richest roots of folk, country, blues, and rock & roll, kicks into life this April to celebrate perhaps the finest state-side genre - Americana.
Now entering its nineteenth year, Roots begins this Friday, before embarking on a four-day run across the Marble City.
It doesn't matter if you're an Americana aficionado or roots rookie, the folks behind Root's have every listener catered for.
Music to your ears? We're just getting started.
1. Get up close & personal:
We've all been there.
You wait months for your favourite act to rock into Dublin, only to get caught in traffic. Standing miles from the stage and straining over a sea of smartphones, you just about catch a glimpse of the act as the encore closes. Pretty annoying, eh?
Roots places the listener at the heart of every gig. So no matter where you stand, you're practically guaranteed a prime viewing spot. Lovely stuff.
2. The venues:
Big top marquees are a dime a dozen these days. With thirty pubs, clubs and hotels taking part in this year's Roots, you can watch the world go by from the comfort of your favourite snug.
3. See the acts before they break:
While Roots always boasts a fine roster of established acts, the folks behind the festival are not afraid to take risks when booking unknowns.
John Grant, Alabama Shakes, and Ryan Adams all cut their teeth at the Kilkenny music festival before exploding onto the international scene. Expect no less this year.
4. A festival without the mud:
I kid you not, I went through three pairs of wellies at Glastonbury last year.
Bask the mud-free floors of Roots' picture perfect venues as you soak in the sublime sounds of Arborist, Holly Macve, and Carter Simpson to name but a few.
5. It's not just the great music...
... You also have Kilkenny City to roam. Wind through Kilkenny's medieval streets, taking in some of the fantastic sights in between gigs. You never know, you might even catch a little hurling along the way.
6. Some of it is totally free:
The festival even caters for lighter wallets. Follow pre-planned trials on their website here to make the most out of your Roots budget.
7. This year has some established gems:
From the spine-tingling neo-country soul of Yola Carter to the loose rock n'roll brilliance of Marah, Roots headliners are the real stars of the show. And that's before we get to the sharp wit and bluesy brilliance of Cork's John Blek. We could go on...
Go to kilkennyroots.com for more information
The Kilkenny Roots Festival with Smithwicks and Beat.
