KFAI Roots Saturday presents Ron Franklin and John Wills Saturday night, July 26 at the Acadia Cafe.

John Wills is a songwriter and musician from, and currently based in, Minneapolis. He’s about to embark on a tour to New York, North Carolina and Louisiana, but you get to hear him live and FREE before he hits the road. His influences extend from Leadbelly, Howlin’ Wolf, Tom Waits, Mississippi John Hurt, Bob Dylan and Muddy Waters among others, each highly respected due to his appreciation for unique musical compositions and passionate lyrical styles. His new album “Washington” is receiving praise from coast to coast.

Hailing from Arkansas, Ron Franklin was a crowd favorite at last weekend’s DEEP BLUES FESTIVAL. Ron is an enigmatic young musician whose music is, at once, raw and polished. He's a self-taught multi-instrumentalist and the songs he writes original songs can be evocative, plaintive and rocking. In short, he’s one of a kind. Folk, blues, country, old timey are labels he could easily wear but chooses not to. He began his musical wanderings at the age of four when he picked up the harmonica found himself playing Leadbelly songs and Irish reels, later trying his hand at the fiddle and, later, a gut string guitar. He heard records by Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Bo Diddley and The Spaniels and his grandparents' collection of Malaco, Chess and country records had a profound influence.

KFAI's Root Music Saturdays take place the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month. Music starts at 9:00. This is a FREE event.