6th Annual Fort Worth African American Roots Music Festival

The sound of old-time music is considered by many to be quintessentially American, yet the extensive Black influence – from the creation of the banjo and fiddle traditions to the roots of social dances performed alongside the music – is not widely acknowledged. Many still consider Black folks playing the banjo and fiddling as anomalies, rather than musicians continuing their own generations-old cultural traditions. The Fort Worth African American Roots Music Festival (FWAAMFest) aims to change that. Featuring a show-stopping lineup of award-winning artists from across North America, the festival features performances, educational sessions, and jamming celebrating the central role of blackness in American roots music. It is unique among U.S.- major city festivals, Black-led and centered on Black artists reclaiming their place in roots music forms through preservation and innovation.