List some rarities in the world - an honest politician, a good disco song, or, as Homer Simpson once asserted, a sober Irishman. (I'm Irish. I can say that.) Add Danielia Cotton to the list as a young black girl who grew up listening to Led Zeppelin and AC/DC. As one of the few minority kids in the tiny New Jersey town of Hopewell, Cotton channeled her anger and frustrations into such hard ‘n' heavy legends. But, as she developed into a talented singer-songwriter, she also absorbed blues, jazz, and, perhaps most importantly, the sweet soul of Etta James and Mavis Staples. The resulting musical amalgamation earned her an "artist to watch" nod from the nationally syndicated program "World Café" and produced two top-shelf rock albums, including her latest, the appropriately-titled "Rare Child." Cotton opens for jam-band titans Rusted Root at Party in the Park.

Danielia Cotton plays Thursday, July 30, 5 p.m. at Riverside Festival Site, Exchange and Broad streets. Admission is free. 428-5990.