Newport Folk Preview – Five “Don’t Miss” Acts
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Ken Abrams, GoLocalProv Music Critic
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Courtesy of Newport Folk Festival
The Newport Folk Festival is finally here and for those lucky enough to have a ticket, the hardest part of the weekend is figuring out how to see as many great artists as possible.
The festival offers a virtual buffet of bands from local indie acts to nationally known artists. Here are few suggestions from GoLocal Music Critic Ken Abrams. It’s by no means a complete list, there’s simply too much great music this weekend, so just consider this a starting point.
RI Bands - Deer Tick and Death Vessel
Local band makes good is the story of Deer Tick. The boys from Providence continue to see their national reputation grow as they appear this year on the Fort Stage at 3:15 Saturday. They promise a few surprises and you can definitely expect a special guest or two. Deervana perhaps???
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Another RI act is Death Vessel, scheduled to play the Harbor Stage Friday at 1:40. Death Vessel is led by Joel Thibodeau, known for his unique neo-traditional folk arrangements. Check out their latest album, Island Intervals, released earlier this year.
Puss ‘n Boots
This band may surprise you when they take the Harbor stage on Saturday. There's a Grammy winner among the all-female power trio making their debut at the Festival. Norah Jones leads Puss n Boots - the group also includes Sacha Dobson and Catherine Popper. They just released their first album, No Fools, No Fun on Blue Note Records. Expect a Country/Americana/Rockabilly mix from PnB when they take the Harbor stage Saturday at 5PM.
Rodrigo y Gabriella
Rodrigo and Gabriella are a guitar duo from Mexico who honed their chops busking the streets of Dublin. They’re great guitarists in the Flamenco tradition, and will bring a lot of energy on their first visit to Newport. Look for their new album, 9 Dead or Alive, which they describe as “a celebration of individuals who have passed on,” from Harriet Tubman to Fyodor Dostoyevsky. They play the Quad stage Sunday at 5:30.
Valerie June
Valerie June is a singer-songwriter from Tennessee who describes her sound as "organic moonshine roots music." Her music is truly infectious; a mix of soul, gospel, rural country, and R&B, along with a share of electric blues as heard on her latest release, Pushin' Against a Stone, produced by Dan Auerback of The Black Keys. Check her out on Sunday at 3:45 on the Harbor Stage – you won’t be disappointed!
The Big Guns
No, not a new hipster band, but the more well-known acts who generally treat Newport as something extra special. Friday, don't miss acclaimed singer-songwriter Ryan Adams on the Fort Stage at 6:15. Reggae superstar Jimmy Cliff also brings big gun credentials on Friday. He’ll be on the Quad Stage at 5:30.
On Saturday, Jack White, possibly the most dynamic artist of the 21st century, will bring the heat. White is unpredictable but one thing is for sure - his ultra-sonic Blues sound will resonate well over Narragansett Bay. He closes the Fort stage at 6:15.
And on Sunday, two major stars grace Newport. Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, the most innovative band of the 21st century, will perform at 4:45 on the Fort Stage. He’s touring with his son Spencer and releasing a solo album in September.
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Courtesy of Newport Folk Festival
Mavis Staples is this year’s living legend appearing at the festival. Of course she started in Gospel, as an original member of The Staple Singers, the greatest Gospel act in history. You’re likely to see Tweedy, who produced her recent album, One True Vine, onstage with her.
Festival Weekend
The Newport Folk Festival is happening this weekend July 25-27. For more details on all the artists, check the Festival website and download the mobile app. And while at the festival, don't forget to buy local. Several RI companies are festival sponsors including Newport Storm, Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineyard and Alex and Ani. See you in the Fort!
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May 23-25
City Hall Plaza
Boston, MA
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May 23-26
Camp Kee-Wanee
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Rusted Root
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Zach Deputy (2 Shows)
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Ryan Montbleau
Turkuaz
Goosepimp
Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band
Fungus Amungus
Consider the Source
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Bellows Falls, VT
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James McMurtry
Curtis McMurtry
Mary Gauthier
Carolyn Wonderland
JD McPherson
Sean Rowe
Poor Old Shine
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Caitlyn Canty
Hayley Reardon
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Leominster Starburst Festival
Website
June 14 (Rain Date June 15)
Various Locations
Leominster, MA
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Paulie's New Orleans Jazz & Blues Festival
Website
June 20-22
Canal District
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Roomful of Blues
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Marcia Ball
Little Freddie King
Mem Shannon & The Membership
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New Bedford Folk Festival
Website
July 5-6
New Bedford Whaling National Park
New Bedford, MA
The New Bedford Folk Festival brings together over 70 renowned and emerging folk performers and 90 juried arts and crafts vendors in New Bedford's authentic historic district during the first weekend in July.
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Chris Smither
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John Gorka
Poor Old Shine
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RUNA
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Green River Festival
Website
July 12-13
Greenfield Community College
Greenfield, MA
The Green River Festival is a premier Pioneer Valley Music event that takes place every July. The event attracts national talent, the great local food and fine crafts, and even hot air balloons.
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Puss'N'Boots Featuring Norah Jones
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Hurray for the Riff Raff
Trampled by Turtles
Lucius
Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin & The Guilty Ones
The Lone Bellow
Ana Tijoux
James Hunter Six
The Iguanas
Poor Old Shine
Barnstar!
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
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Website
July 12-13
Public Landing
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Mr. Sipp
Joe Louis Walker
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Teeny Tucker
Joanna Connor
Victor Wainwright
Melvin Taylor
C.J. Chener
Jimmy Thackery
In Layman Terms
The Mannish Boys
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Lowell Folk Festival
Website
July 25-27
Various Locations
Lowell, MA
One of the largest free folk festivals in the country, the Lowell Folk Festival attracts thousands of people over three days. The event features traditional music, food, crafts and good vibes.
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Bud Hundenski & the Corsairs – Polka
James Kelly, Donna Long, & Sean Keane – Irish
Kevin Doyle – Irish Step Dance
Marquise Knox – Blues
Seichi Tanaka & the San Francisco Taiko Dojo – Taiko Dojo Drums
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Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers – Bluegrass
Samba Mapangala & Orchestre Virunga – East African Rumba
E.U. – Go Go
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Website
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Seaside Park
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John Fogerty
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Rusted Root
Widespread Panic
Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros
moe.
Slightly Stoopid
Maceo Parker
Deep Banana Blackout
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Newport Folk Festival
Website
July 25- 27
Fort Adams State Park
Newport, RI
Folk music has been a presence in Newport since 1959, when the Newport Folk Festival was founded by George Wein. Backed by board members Pete Seeger, Theodore Bikel, Oscar Brand, and Albert Grossman, the Festival became renowned for introducing a number of performers who went on to become major stars, most notably Joan Baez (who appeared as an unannounced guest of Bob Gibson in 1959), and Bob Dylan, whose first Newport appearance, as a guest of Joan Baez in 1963, is generally regarded as his premiere national performance.
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Deer Tick
Ryan Adams
Nickel Creek
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Jimmy Cliff
Mavis Staples
Band of Horses
Jeff Tweedy
Kurt Vile and the Violators
Conor Oberst
Sun Kill Moon
The Devil Makes Three
Puss N Boots
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Newport Jazz Festival
Website
August 1-3
Fort Adams State Park
Newport, RI
Established in 1954, the Newport Jazz Festival begins its 60th year this August, one week after its sister event, the Newport Folk Festival, takes place. The first event was originally billed as "First Annual American Jazz Festival" and featured many notable jazz musicians, including Billie Holiday.
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Bobby McFerrin
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
David Sanborn & Joey DeFrancesco
George Wein & Newport All-Stars
Dee Dee Bridgewater - To Billie With Love
Dave Holland
Dr. John
Gregory Porter
Gary Burton
Robert Glasper
Vijay Iyer
SFJAZZ Collective
Danilo Pérez
Ravi Coltrane
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Website
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Carl Jones
Alan Greenleaf & The Doctor
The Bayley-Hazen Boys
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Website
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Sugar Shack Campground
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Brandon Santini
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Samantha Fish
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Rhythm&Roots Festival
Website
August 29-31
Ninigret Park
Charlestown, RI
The 17th Annual Rythym&Roots Festival features award-winning roots music artists on the Main Stage and at two big tented dance floors, plus intimate one-of-a-kind workshops and kids activities.
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