Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory is where you go to see blooming flowers. Over the course of two days, it will also be the place you go to enjoy roots — roots music, that is.

On Friday and Saturday, Aug. 4-5, the conservatory hosts Botanical Roots Music Fest. 

The first night will feature local acts Pete Dio & The Old and Dirty and U.R.B., followed by reggae act Lazo & Exodus and zydeco act CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band.

The following day features 10 hours of music, beginning with Phil’s Family Lizard at 1 p.m., followed by G-Money Band, blues act Mississippi Heat, A Picker & A Grinner, Rosalind & The Way, Debutants, and folk act Grace Theisen & The Rebel Eves.

Cost is $15 for Friday and $20 for Saturday, although you can purchase a two-day pass for $30.

Making a change

Music at the conservatory is nothing new, although the Roots Fest is.

According to General Manager Nate Cardelli, the conservatory began a six-week music series in 2008, extending from the end of July to September. 

“We were one of the first downtown Friday night concert series where you could come enjoy an adult beverage, some food, and some really interesting roots music,” he said.

As the years went on, the novelty might have faded as attendance dropped and the 2021 version was cut to four weeks.

“When we did it in 2021, very few people showed up at the concert, and we were worried about enthusiasm,” Cardelli said. “Roots started as a fundraiser for us. When we started looking at the kind of losses we experienced in 2021, we had to go back to the drawing board: That’s where the Roots Fest came from. It’s more limited exposure for us. We can get in and get out of the live music scene in that shorter period of time. Hopefully we can catch people’s attention and their desire to buy a ticket.

“We are shifting to where you can get all that enjoyment, excitement, and variety of music in that two-day span,” he added. “We are finding there’s been a positive response to that.”

No shortage of activities

Despite it only being over two days, you’ll get more than your fill of music from 11 bands, seven of which are from Fort Wayne.

“We are so fortunate in Fort Wayne to have that great music scene,” Cardelli said. “The formula for Roots had always been a local opener with a longer set and then a national or regional touring act with a 90-minute set. We wanted to honor that format, because there are so many immensely talented local musicians.”

Every act will play at least 45 minutes, with headliners going 90 minutes. Among the headliners are local newgrass favorites Debutants, who will go on at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

“We’re treating Debutants as a headliner,” Cardelli said. “Their following is enthusiastic and they put on a heck of a show. They have that regional draw. We’re lucky enough that they’re based here.”

The idea behind the festival is to feature “a wide diversity of regional heritages and cultural backgrounds,” and it definitely accomplishes that with genres ranging from folk and reggae to blues and zydeco, which originates with French Creole singers in southwest Louisiana.

Along with music, you can also shop artisan vendors, check out the “Herban Garden” exhibit, have a caricature done, and enjoy food and drink from Mad Anthony Brewing and Shigs In Pit.

With the event running noon-11 p.m. on Saturday, Cardelli is aware you might want to step out. And that’s totally acceptable.

“We acknowledge that 11 hours is a long time to stay with us: It’s going to be a long day for me to stay here,” he said about patrons being able to leave and return with a hand stamp. “In and out is going to be totally welcomed.

“We’re not going to give people any breaks,” he said about all the music. “But if you wanna walk outta here, we totally understand. There will be music here when you get back.”

First-time visitors

While the conservatory is eager for you to enjoy good music, the end goal is to raise funds and get unique visitors through the door.

“If we only appeal to people that are truly interested in the names of every plant we have in the building, that is going to be a very limited audience,” Cardelli said. “There is a reason nerds like me exist. We’re here for a reason. We’re always happy to talk to our plant peeps. What Roots comes down to is getting the broader appeal.”

Roots Fest is just one way the conservatory pulls in first-time visitors. The recent Jazzworks! is another as is Botanical Brew and their annual showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show.

“That’s why these community engagement events are so important to us — they spread the actual joy of the conservatory to people that wouldn’t (normally) come,” Cardelli said.