NB Roots and Branches is a two-day acoustic music and art festival “by and for the people” taking place annually on the 3rd week of July. The festival is 100% free to all and devoted to ensuring the various diverse communities of Greater New Bedford are represented on both the performance schedule and in the audience. It aims to have a positive impact on downtown New Bedford’s social, cultural, and business communities. The festival is organized under the co-direction of Jeff Angeley and Christian Camarao and the 2026 edition exists under the fiscal agency of Gallery X, Inc., a 501c3 at the heart of downtown New Bedford with whom we share common vision. 

Our festival hosts performers of multiple genres of acoustic music as well as traditional dance, visual art, performance art, a parade, sculptural installation work, and a culminating visual art event. Performances take place at indoor “stages” in New Bedford’s small businesses, outdoor music and art areas hosted at Wing’s Court, Customs House Square, Market St, & Purchase St, and in the beautiful building of the historical New Bedford Whaling Museum. We collaborate with cultural partners and artist liaisons to reach a diverse population of performers who in turn help our festival to reach a broad audience of enthusiastic local and regional attendees.  

The inaugural 2023 NB Roots&Branches festival drew over 1000 attendees to hear 30 musical acts. 2024 & 2025 doubled both the footprint and exponentially increased attendance. The City of New Bedford’s data software shows that during our 2025 festival there were 4800 people downtown on day one and 7100 downtown on day two totaling almost 13000 people. The 2026 festival follows in the footsteps of last year’s event with modifications in our footprint to accommodate expected growth from increased name recognition and snowballing success. We enter this year with an actionable plan for a bolder culminating event to take place at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, collaboration planned with DNB Inc for a sidewalk sale, a dedicated maker space, a kick off dance, and a route along which art installation work will be displayed during and long after the festival.

NB Roots&Branches has an established track record of working successfully with area businesses, organizations, and government offices. In addition to our fiscal relationship with Gallery X, Inc.,  we work with businesses that are foundational to New Bedford’s downtown. We have ongoing multi-year relationships with Destination Soups, Pour Farm Tavern, Celia’s Boutique, Co-Creative Center, No Problemo/Cummings Building, Cafe Arpeggio, & the Bristol Building, and we’re excited to have established new connections with venues that include The New Bedford Whaling Museum & The New Bedford Art Museum to provide a unique and exciting concert venues. We additionally coordinate a partnership with the Symphony Music Shop and Jeremy Houle from the pro audio department of The University of Massachusetts Lowell to provide a large share of our sound tech and equipment needs. Our outreach efforts met with support from New Bedford Creative, DNB Inc, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and other local institutions. Our strong foundation and connections give us confidence as we build for the future and provide ever increasing opportunities for artists and community attendees.