Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash is set to bring his new S.E.R.P.E.N.T. music festival across the United States this summer. The blues-oriented fest will feature an evolving lineup from city to city, with Slash’s blues rock band – featuring singer/guitarist Tash Neal, bassist Johnny Griparic, keyboardist Teddy Andreadis, and drummer Michael Jerome – performing at all dates. Joining Slash at various points in the festival will be Keb’ Mo’, ZZ Ward, Robert Randolph, Warren Haynes Band, Larkin Poe, Jackie Venson, and more.
S.E.R.P.E.N.T. is an acronym for “Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N’ Tolerance.” “I thought for a blues festival, what we should really do is try to advocate for bringing people together because there’s so much energy being put to dividing everybody right now,” Slash said in a recent interview with Jonathan Clarke. (Blabbermouth)