I’ve heard one word used repeatedly to describe Alex Rossi & Root City’s music: infectious.

Along with Marty O’Reilly & the Old Soul Orchestra, Rossi & Root City will co-headline the Dick Schindler Celebration Concernt on Aug. 22 during the Austin ArtWorks Festival.

Austin residents can check out www.alexrossimusic.com/listen–2 to listen to or buy “The Root City EP,” “Fast Hennepin” and “Root City Live.”

“The Root City EP” showcases seven soulful upbeat tracks like “Live A Life You Love,” which opens the EP on an infectiously positive note. The upbeat vibes continue throughout the EP with a “So Sweet On You,” a horn-infused love song that references lyrics from “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

Simply put, the EP is feel-good music to the max. It’s hard not to listen to it, tap your toes and smile.

However, Rossi told the Herald he doesn’t think the EP captures the material he’s been writing lately. He said “Fast Hennepin,” also available to listen to online, may be a better example of his most recent material.

To the casual listener, the difference between the “The Root City EP” and “Fast Hennepin” may not seem dramatic musically; however, “Fast Hennepin” features a more driving edge musically along with more serious lyrics in comparison to the upbeat nature of the EP.

The feel-good mood and soulful riffs of the EP are replaced by more reflective lyrics and slower, bluesier music that borders on hip-hop at times. The title track, “Fast Hennepin,” has almost a hint of samba to it with a vibrant horn section driving the tune.

Despite being a bit more serious and driving, “Fast Hennepin” isn’t any less infectious with its driving rhythms.

Rossi’s infectious and soulful rock will have people dancing and it will pair nicely with the “gypsy jazz” of Mart O’Reilly & the Old Soul Orchestra.