Gallo teaming on 'Rhythm & Roots,' expands patio offerings

Second annual interactive event set for Saturday

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

Justin DeLuca wasn’t sure the first “Rhythm & Roots” would work in Lewiston – which is odd, because it was his idea.

“It started off as a whim,” he said. “(Gallo Coal Fire Kitchen owner Michael Hibbard) was gracious enough to entertain my silly idea,” in 2024, when the event debuted at the corner of Center and North Fourth streets. “Rhythm & Roots” started as “just like a day of reggae music, art, culture, community. He entertained the whim last year. We put it together in three months. … Almost 2,000 people came throughout the day.”

“Rhythm & Roots” offered live music, artmaking, and, of course, food. It was an interactive event that provided patrons with more than a traditional concert experience.

“I call it ‘cultural touchdown,” DeLuca said. “It just, for whatever reason, it resounded in this area, and people liked it. So, we're back this (Saturday). We're moving to Academy Park. We have corporate sponsors, and we've raised almost $30,000.”

“I really just attribute it to the local community in the way that they responded to it, because I didn't expect it,” he said. “I mean, I still pinch myself to think like this has become something more than (what I envisioned). It's taken on a life of its own, and in an amazing way.”

“And I think what's really unique with this event, too, is it's free to the public,” Hibbard said. “We do have VIP tickets, but it's all free. It's all donation-based, like Justin said. He really pounded the pavement. There are some great sponsors that have rallied behind this project, and it's become successful in that respect.”

“The vision I had last year was access,” DeLuca said. “I wanted it to be an affordable, approachable space for people. It's like, I grew up going to cheap concerts, like garage shows, $5 concerts. The times have changed, and I understand why, but at the same time, I just saw space for us to try to do it a little differently.”

“The vision really was to just build this for the community, and now that it's been received the way it is, is just to compound that and continue to put together this day of positivity, community, and just togetherness, and see where it takes us.”

Where it takes people this year is to Academy Park, where 50 vendors/creators will provide an assortment of items; plus, there will be live art demonstrations and exhibitions; six-time world champion hoop dancer Tony Duncan, a celebrated artist from the San Carlos Apache and Three Affiliated Tribes; Edreys and Alexa Wajed, and their Eat Off Art collaborative of artists, educators and entrepreneurs; Ashley MacDonald, an Indigenous (Cayuga) sculptural furniture designer and artist; and regional musicians singer/songwriter Tonemah, reggae artist Neville Francis and the Riddim Posse, Cub, and genre-bending Organ Fairchild.

“We're going to keep the pillars of reggae music,” DeLuca said. “We're going to keep the pillar of it being free.”

“It's a day of music and art and culture, and we've partnered with Native Connection, which is the not-for-profit on the Tuscarora Reservation, to bring some indigenous flair. We're going to keep the reggae and bring some African dancing, so there's just going to be this cross-cultural mixing of traditions and performances.”

Headlining “Rhythm & Roots” is The Legendary Wailers Featuring Junior Marvin.

DeLuca said, “The average person sees the Wailers, and they recognize it to some degree. I think that's value add. And at the same time, Junior Marvin is a real member of the Wailers. He was Bob (Marley’s) last guitarist, so he played on a number of the famous albums, like ‘Exodus’ and ‘Uprising,’ and their live albums. That's a real connection. It's not just like people who are playing the music, so to speak.”

“Rhythm & Roots” will run from 2-10 p.m. Saturday, July 19. Admission is free, but there are VIP tickets available. Visit https://native-connection.org/rhythm-and-roots-3-2-2-2/.

Gallo Coal Fire Kitchen

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Patio progression

Gallo Coal Fire Kitchen recently added a menu of fresh seafood to its outdoor patio.

“We finalized this outdoor bar here, and have the fixed, covered roof, fans, lighting, and really focused on that this year. It's been great,” Hibbard said. “People are very receptive to that outdoor bar. We wanted to add something additionally to our menu, specifically for that outdoor bar. So, that's where we kind of all decided on seafood.

“We're doing a very limited seafood menu. Everything comes in fresh on Thursdays; so, fresh clams, mussels, shrimp, and then we also do fried clam strips out there.”

“Every week we sell out, so we're having to order more of that product,” he added.

“It starts Thursday, and then if we run out, we run out – just because it’s coming in fresh.”

Hibbard has provided year-round programming on his patio space, even offering his guests the opportunity to dine outside in an igloo-like structure last winter.

“That's one of the advantages we have here, is this outdoor patio,” Hibbard said. “We're trying to maximize that summer schedule, because that's when pretty much the bulk of our business is, is in the summer. So, we're doing things like adding the seafood coming in on Thursdays; every Tuesday, we have a cornhole league that we started this year.” Two sessions were offered, and each was “completely booked.”

“We have over 30 teams booked up,” Hibbard said. “We have live music now every Thursday and Saturday, and then we also have live music (special events).”

Across the street at Hibbard’s second establishment, Gather, “We really kind of have been using it as an extra banquet space, which we are really improved upon in Gallo, on the second floor. We're utilizing that as overflow for right now. We're still kind of deciding what to actually do there.”

Gallo Coal Fire Kitchen is located at 402 Center St., Lewiston.