Contrary to popular local mythology, the dude in the photo is not a real Indian. He is, however, a bit of a renegade.
I first met Tom Hall years ago when he and his pal Steve Von Hollen were running a roadhouse music joint called Campbell’s Station in rural Chester County. I knew right away that this was a man who wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, someone who had a good idea and acted on it without blinking. In the years since, Tom has been a restaurateur, filmmaker, and the leader of a rambunctious roots-rock outfit called The Plowboys.
One of Tom’s best ideas came to fruition five years ago when he staged the first Columbia Mardi Gras celebration right here in Rosewood at City Roots Farm. The Krewe de Columbia Ya Ya is one of the craziest and most fun events we have in Rosewood, and it returns for its fifth year at City Roots Farm on Feb. 6.
This year’s festival promises to be the best yet. And the big news, there is no admission charge! That’s right, it’s free. Proceeds from beverage sales will go directly to City Roots Farm, and this year’s sponsors are River Rat Brewery and Albita Beer. So there you go, drink up.
Sign-up for a 5K road race is at 7 a.m., and the race starts at 8. The annual parade which winds through Rosewood with bands, tractors, floats, and beads flying everywhere, rolls at 11 a.m. And the festival proper begins at noon.
There will be four music stages this year, and the musical line-up comprises a very comprehensive presentation of contemporary local talent. The Capital City Playboys, Stillhouse, Devils in Disguise, Dr. Roundhouse, Danny Joe Machado, Debbie and the Skanks, The Prairie Willows, Post-Timey String Band, Flat Out Strangers, Black Bottom Biscuits, Stefanie Santana, and of course, Tom Hall & The Plowboys, will all be rocking the ‘hood.
One afternoon I ran into Tom at the Rosewood Market, and we chatted briefly about playing music in front of people and how scary and hilarious it could be when you forgot the chord change or the words to the song. He looked at me and said, “Man, you just have to keep going. That’s what I do. Keep going.”
Right on. Let’s all take a lesson from Tom and just keep going. I’ll see you at City Roots Farm on Feb. 6. And enjoy the parade!