PhillyInTheKnow: Philly 360°'s Guide To The Fourth Annual Roots Picnic Saturday, June 4th 2011

On June 4th, Philly’s favorite hip-hop band returns to Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing for the Fourth Annual Roots Picnic. The action packed festival will once again squeeze tons of diverse and genre-bending musical talent into a single Saturday afternoon.

The Roots Picnic will host roughly 20 artists on two stages from hip-hop to rock, mainstream to underground. Check out some of the festival highlights and insider's tips below.

Musical Highlights:

The Roots Picnic, now in its fourth year, has seen The Roots take the stage with hip-hop legends like Public Enemy and the Wu-Tang Clan, and this year the band will play alongside Nas as he performs his influential 1994 debut album, Illmatic, in its entirety.

Keeping with the hip-hop theme, Pittsburgh’s Wiz Khalifa (responsible for the hit song, Black and Yellow) will also be gracing the main stage performing songs from his succesful debut album and his countless mixtapes.

Esperanza Spalding will be making her second trip to Roots Picnic, following up a very successful year, which saw the bassist, vocalist and composer collect the GRAMMY award for Best New Artist.

Other performers include Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, rappers Yelawolf and Mac Miller, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and many more.

Oh, and of course, The Roots (who aren’t as easy to catch live since beginning their recent gig with Jimmy Fallon).

Insider Tips:

Below are a few tips to help you get the inside track on this year’s Roots Picnic.

The Roots Picnic is an all-day affair, so be sure to dress comfortably (comfortable footwear is a must!) and weather appropriate.
Arrive early and stake out the best viewing location. The show begins at noon and you’ll want to be front and center when the action begins. Grab a performance schedule when you first arrive so you’ll know exactly where you should be and when.
Transportation: Ample parking is available at Festival Pier, but if you’d like to leave the car behind, hop on SEPTA's Market-Frankford El and get off at Spring Garden station, just a few blocks from Festival Pier.
Remember to stay nourished and hydrated! The Roots Picnic is a long day full of dancing, moshing and head nodding. In the midst of all the excitement, you’re going to work up a thirst and a healthy appetite. Food vendors will be on location selling food, beverages and beer.

Official Afterparty:

If you’ve still got the party bug in your system after the Roots Picnic, the official afterparty, titledFish & Grits, is taking place at the Arts Garage and is presented by none other than ?uestlove. Head over to Uristocrat for more details.