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 the only major city festival of its kind in the United States, Black-led and centered on Black artists reclaiming their place in roots music forms through preservation and innovation.
