Rusted Root brings a fun summer vibe to The Ridgefield Playhouse on May 27

Rusted Root has been collaborating together for more than two decades and are best known for their signature song “Send Me On My Way.” Jam-band fans can see them when they return to The Ridgefield Playhouse and Pepsi Rock Series Powered by Xfinity on Friday, May 27 at 8 p.m. in their only area appearance! This energetic, percussion-heavy band brings the sound of the city to every show. Formed in 1990, Rusted Root has a love for musical experimentation – blending acoustic rock with world music. Its percussion style is heavily influenced by the music of Africa, Latin America and Native America, while its lyrical content often touches on Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Kicking off the night is the Jamie McLean Band. Before starting his band, McLean toured the globe as the guitarist for New Orleans’ famed Dirty Dozen Brass Band playing sets at Madison Square Garden, Bonnaroo and Japan’s Fuji Rock. Before the show, check out Bailey’s Backyard (23 Bailey Avenue, Ridgefield) for dinner and receive 10% off when you show your ticket! Love Democracy? Register to vote with HeadCount.org in the lobby before the show. Rusted Root is a featured artist on Media Sponsor 107.1fm The Peak.

The band's songs have been used in movies, television shows and countless commercials over the years; its most recent album, The Movement, came out in 2012. Rusted Root has sold millions of records in the past 20 years and their fan base has grown. The band transcends age, generations, cultures and musical styles. With their powerhouse live performances they have tour alongside everyone from Santana, Dave Matthews Band, The Allman Brothers Band, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page's reunion tour and countless others. Their latest album, 2012’s The Movement, is an energized and poetic collection of originals meant to be a tribute to Rusted Root's fans. Backing vocalist and percussionist, Liz Berlin says, "When we first got together as a band there was a groundswell of community, love and support that has taken us on a movement through our lives and together as a band. This movement has never stopped all these years!"

The Movement transports listeners though an array of emotional and musical terrain, creating one seamless journey. "There is real space on this album, you can hear the room, us breathing, laughing, playing music together," says Berlin. The pulsating, cathartic and uninhibited Monkey Pants opens the CD. "I have these little dance moves I do on stage every night," confesses Berlin. "I almost feel like a monkey puppet on a string when we play this song, it's like the groove pulls my body in very specific ways." Founder, front man, songwriter, Michael Glabicki adds, "The song embraces our unique human animal- focusing on our ability to spiritualize, sexualize, and dream our own existence." The album continues to entice with Cover Me Up, which begins and ends with gorgeous guitar and percussion interplay and an enchanting Calypso and African vibe. Glabicki shares, "The guitar work on this song is really extraordinary, Colter Harper's parts are beautifully layered with mine, his many trips to Africa really show through on this song." Glabicki's and Berlin's vocals tease and slither through the melody as the band crescendos to a bluesy showdown.

For tickets ($45), call the box office at 203-438-5795, or visit ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a non-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.