Roots Announce Album With Elvis Costello, Set Lineup For 2013 Roots Picnic

            The Roots paired Tuesday’s official announcement of the lineup for Philadelphia’s 6^th Annual Roots Picnic with the news of a forthcoming studio album with Elvis Costello and a new LP of their own. The bill for the Roots Picnic, which will take place on Saturday, June 1^st, 2013 at the Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, will be headlined by The Roots and Gary Clark Jr. In addition to Solange and Joey Bada$$, the Roots Picnic will also feature Naughty by Nature, who struck gold in 1991 with their single “O.P.P.” Tickets for the Roots Picnic go on sale this Friday, January 25^th, at noon.

            The subsequent announcement of an LP with Elvis Costello is certainly intriguing. While on the surface their two styles would not seem to mesh, the unmatched versatility of The Roots and the veteran artistry of Costello should make for an interesting album. The project, which was first mentioned today by Roots drummer ?uestlove to Billboard Magazine, is slated for release in late 2013 or early 2014 in addition to their own for new record, & Then Shoot Your Cousin. ?uestlove also said the album he is producing for neo-soul artist D’Angelo ought to be released later this year as well.