The Roots Rally 2 on April 24 will feature six bands dedicated to various forms of American roots music. Submitted photo

The Roots Rally is back for its second year, and organizer Jeff Scheller said the event has three important goals.

The musical event features local bands of varying genres, including bluegrass, rockabilly, blues and more from noon to 7:30 p.m. April 24.

According to Scheller, Roots Rally 2 seeks to honor his daughter Riley, who died in 2008 from a brain tumor.

“It’s something my family does for her. The second purpose is to give back to two charities that helped us during that time,” Scheller said.

The second goal is for proceeds from the rally go to Highmark Caring Place, a center for families and children dealing with grief and Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants a “wish” to children with critical illnesses.

And the third reason for the fest is to promote American music genres.

Three of the bands featured at the Roots Rally will include Scheller among their ranks: bluegrass band Well Strung, old time music group Tiger Maple String Band, and the Boom Rockets, a rockabilly group. Others featured include blues band Pierce Dipner and the Shades of Blue along with the band Dizzy Woosh with acoustic rock.

Buffalo Rose, a modern folk band from Pittsburgh, will serve as the headliner for Roots Rally, according to Scheller. The band recently began touring nationally.

“These are top bands in the region for the style of music they play,” he said of the rally lineup.

Scheller said the previous event raised over $2,500 for the chosen charities and saw upwards of 300 people throughout the day. He’s hoping to double the attendance this year, and encouraged people to swing by and have a good time.

“You can dance if you want to; you can just sit and listen,” he said to anyone considering attending the event at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille in Warrendale. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Scheller said he encourages the younger generation to attend the Roots Rally.

“We want kids to be exposed to blues, rockabilly, things they don’t normally hear or have never heard,” he said.

The Roots Rally has three purposes, according to organizer Jeff Scheller: to honor his daughter Riley who passed away in 2008 from a brain tumor, to benefit the organizations that helped their family and to expose people to American roots music. Submitted photo