Keys 2 The City.

I’m kinda feeling the whole focus-on-a-city approach to music. When artists rep their shit so often that they become the ambassadors of their home town, it can offer a unique peek into the culture and promise of a region. Our buddy turned us on to this Imeem post by Indiediot, and I’ve been checking out the footage. And so should you.

Curated by [The Roots], the [Roots Picnic] festival brought together an eclectic group of some of the most revered artists in the country including Gnarls Barkley, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Deerhoof, The Cool Kids, J*DaVey, Esperanza Spalding, Dj Jazzy Jeff, Diplo, and more. Check out these exclusive videos and photos from The Roots Picnic courtesy of Okayplayer.

Sharon Jones would’ve sounded really good flowing out of the speakers of my 1978 Cutlass Supreme, driving through Brooklyn on a muggy summer day. Unfortunately, that car’s long gone, and I’m stuck listening to her raw, soulful voice buzzing through my computer headphones, in an office. Still, it’s enough to send me on a mental vacation at the very least.

Daptones Records will release the new album from Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, 100 Days, 100 Nights, on Oct. 2nd, but you can listen to “It Hurts to Be Alone” (not available on the record)here. If that whets your appetite, you can listen to a stream of 100 Days, 100 Nights at AOL’s Spinner.com.