Recap: Newport Folk Festival, Day 2

Newport Folk Festival: July 26, 2014 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

Day 2, Saturday, at the Newport Folk Festival was bright and sunny which is great for a festival but frankly, it was a bit too warm for this old gal!  I ended up a sweaty mess with haphazard hair!  

The big deal of the day seemed to be Jack White and for the most part he was, I suppose.  There were lots of 'there's Jack White' loudly whispered when he was spotted strolling around.  Then came the excited loud whispers of  'did you see Joaquin Phoenix?', he's filming a movie in the area. Then more excited loud whispers of 'Beck's here, did you see him?', he had a show in the area. For the record, I saw White watching several sets, the back of Phoenix and not a glimpse of Beck though I had several phones thrust in my face showing me his presence. But, it was The Oh Hello's that stole the day.  This is what the day looked like through my lens… minus the sweat!

Fort Stage

Jack White

There were three I wanted to hear.  One he didn't play.  One I missed because I had to leave before he played it.  But, then there was that moment when my head said, 'is that "Icky Thump"?  Why yes, I do believe it is.'  Which means for one song, we were simpatico.  So, after a day full of folks excitedly speaking of sightings, loud whispers, pointing and squeals, Jack White closed out day two to a happy mass of folks.

Deer Tick (more photos HERE)

They made their main stage debut and were decked out in white.  "Baltimore Blues #1" happened so I have no bones to pick.

Shovels & Rope (more photos HERE)

Possibly the sexist set of the whole festival.   Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent sizzle when they perform.  They are a heck of a lot of fun and it was an excellent main stage debut.

Pokey LaFarge (more photos HERE)

Gosh darn it, what's not to like about Pokey?

Aoife O'Donovan

Quad Stage

Kurt Vile & The Violators 

The Milk Carton Kids (more photos HERE)

These guys won me over last year.  Good music and wit.  I saw them perform twice over the weekend. Their stellar set on the Quad stage had the audience captivated and laughing.  And, thanks to my friend Monica, who hooked me up with a ticket, I caught their revue style after show the night before at Jane Pickens Theater where they were joined by Joe Pug, Gregory Alan Isakov, Anais Mitchell, Jefferson Hamer, a guy who did a couple of songs that I really liked but for the life of me I can't remember his name (if anyone knows, drop me a line!) and more.

Houndmouth (more photos HERE)

Benjamin Booker (more photos HERE)

The Oh Hello's (more photos HERE)

Their fantastic set was the talk of the day.  Yeah, yeah, folks were all a buzz about Jack White but this was hands down the best set of the day.  Anyone who was anywhere near the Quad while they were playing got caught up in their high energy set.  For the rest of the day I kept bumping into people who questioned, 'did you catch The Oh Hello's?  and exclaimed, 'OMG! they were amazing!'  

The Haden Triplets

Harbor Stage

Puss N Boots (more photos HERE)

I was amazed at the amount of people who were surprised when they saw Norah Jones on stage.  The audience got a tickle when Catherine Popper offered Jones her "boob pick" when the latter's guitar pick went missing.  

Lucius (more photos HERE)

J. Roddy Walston & The Business (more photos HERE)

J. Roddy announced, 'we don't play folk music, we play rock n roll.'  No truer words, no truer words! They rocked the hell out of the Harbor stage.  My ears may still be recovering.

Willie Watson (more photos HERE)

If I Dropped By… with Roswitha + Ticket Giveaway

Today I posed my "If I Dropped By…" question to violinist, singer-songwriter Roswitha.  I've been hip to this versatile lady  for a little while now so I'm happy to to have dropped by.  

New York, you have the chance to see her live.  She'll be playing at the famed Blue Note on August 29 for their Late Night Groove series.  Doors are at 12AM (Midnight).  It'll cost you $10 if you make a reservation or $15 at the door.  BUT, I happen to have two (2) tickets for one reader…see below for ore deals on how to win!  Continue reading to see what I found out during my hypothetical visit.

* * *

Quirky NY Chick (QNYC): ... and brought a friend who didn't know your music, what song of yours would you play for them and why?

Roswitha: if he/she is...

in a summer mood: Smile

discouraged: Purpose, Destiny, My Life, Here & Now or Change

in love: Just near to me, Desire

mad at a partner who is unavailable: Do you remember

after or in the middle of a break-up: Connected, It's Time

not sure about a man/partner? Man of my life

interested in social change: One of us

Recap: Newport Folk Festival, Day 1

Newport Folk Festival: July 25, 2014 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

I once again headed out to the Newport Folk Festival. My camera and I took in as much music as possible.  Dang, those Newport Folk folks sure know how to cram a lot of music into three days!  This is what day one looked like through my lens.

Fort Stage

Ryan Adams (More photos HERE)

Everyone was all a buzz about Ryan Adams.  I feel like I should be able to name some of his songs. I know there was one I liked back in the day but, I'll be honest, I can't remember what it was.  At any rate, he was there, folks were excited and he looked like a walking version of his promo picture, fashionably raggedy hair and all.

Band of Horses (More photos HERE)

Jenny Lewis (More photos HERE)

The Devil Makes Three (More photos HERE)

Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer (More photos HERE)

I didn't get to hear much of their set but I dug them.  I was glad I heard more from them when they played The Milk Carton Kids' revue after show.

Quad Stage

Jimmy Cliff (More photos HERE)

Everyone should see this legend at least once in their lifetime.  I can only dream of having as much energy as he does when I reach his maturity.

Lake Street Dive (More photos HERE)

Reignwolf (More photos HERE)

If you read my previous post, then you know this was my highlight of the day. 

Phox (More photos HERE)

I'd been hearing loads of praise about Phox, so I was curious to check them out live.  It was an enjoyable set.

Mandolin Orange (More photos HERE)

Harbor Stage

Death Vessel

Tall Tall Trees (More photos HERE)

I didn't catch any of the Museum Stage sets.  I wish I had caught Blind Boy Paxton, I've heard good things about that set.  Oh well!  Too much to see and not enough time!

Recap: Reignwolf at the Newport Folk Festival

Newport Folk Festival: Reignwolf, July 25, 2014 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

Jordan Cook brought his Reignwolf to the Newport Folk Festival.  This was one of the most talked about sets all weekend…to think, this is someone who doesn't even have an album out yet.  Reignwolf basically owned and killed the Quad Stage.  This wasn't folk music, no, not even close…well, I guess if you count the fact that it was music and folks listened to it, then yes, it was folk music.  I left the Quad to shoot another set and ran right back to see the rest of the Reignwolf set…not something I generally tend to do.  

It was a bluesy, guitar heavy, sweat and swagger rock show that had Cook making his way into the audience to perform.  At some point during the set, I declared musical lust.  I walked away with that heady euphoric giddiness that only comes about when rock 'n' roll excites me. Yep, I got rock 'n' roll butterfly stomach…words I never thought I'd say while referencing an artist at a folk festival.  

This is what it looked like...

More photos HERE

Bari Koral & Oran Etkin Play Newport Festivals Foundation Annual Family Concert

Newport Festivals Foundation Family Concert: July 30, 2014 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

The Newport Festivals Foundation held their annual family concert.  Oran Etkin kicked things off with his program Oran Etkin's Timbalooloo: Wake Up, Clarinet! representing the jazz side of things.  The set was educational and incredibly fun introducing Clara and her Mama Tuba.  Etkin assembled/woke up Clara with children from the audience shouting out help before launching into a set that had the kids dancing and parents thoroughly entertained.

The Bari Koral Family Rock Band represented the folk side of things.  Koral and her band had the kids dancing and following song prompts.  The kids happily danced, jumped and performed yoga poses when called for.  

When the Newport Festivals Foundation says "family" they mean it.  This was a program that was easily enjoyed by the children as well as the adults they brought with them.

Oran Etkin's Timbalooloo: Wake Up, Clarinet! (more photos HERE)

Bari Koral Family Rock Band (more photos HERE)

The Audience (more photos HERE)