Besides his role as booker for ESNS, Joey Ruchtie works as an in-house promoter for SPOT Groningen. With De Oosterpoort serving as its homebase, one of Joey's principal projects is the annual TakeRoot Festival in the first weekend of November. Established in 1998, TakeRoot is a boutique-type event focussing on Americana music. Over the years the festival has staged hundreds of incredible shows by the likes of Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Wilco, Charley Crockett, Margo Price, Mary Gauthier and Dave Rawlings & Gillian Welch. For many artists TakeRoot has become a gateway to continental Europe.