Newport Folk Festival
After taking last year off for the birth of our son, the whole family returned to The Fort for Newport Folk Festival this year. The vibe of this fest remains fantastic. Before we even talk about the music, a few words about the atmosphere of the festival. What strikes you about the festival grounds is that even though the space is relatively small, it feels spacious in its arrangement and compliment of people. Everything has a place at Newport and the Folk respect the system – dancers at the front, then chairs then families with shade structures at the back. In our little patch of fest we met families from all over with kids all around the age of our boy. It’s nice to have that sense of shared camaraderie and support. As to the music, it is rare to attend a festival where everything is a conflict. There wasn’t really anything to take a pass on, we wanted to see everything. As always the collaborations were epic. Margo Price with John Prine then with Brandi Carlile then Lucius. Jason Isbell and David Crosby, Amanda Shires and husband Jason Isbell, Lucius and Bedouine, Lucius and everyone. St. Vincent put on one of the best shows I have ever seen without even touching her guitar. Father John Misty played an earnest solo acoustic show at the Jane Pickens that ended with a heartbreaking version of “Leaving LA”. I’ll have much more to say about both of these shows soon.
This year we are hanging out to see what the Newport Jazz Festival is like so I’ll have more coherent thoughts on both festivals when I get back. For now check out the photos below.
Satchmo SummerFest
Friday kicks off the 18th Satchmo SummerFest and the organizers have put together quite a lineup for us. On Friday you can catch Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses at 1:30 p.m., Ellis Marsalis at 4:30 p.m. and Bonerama at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday you can catch Lars Edegran at noon, Topsy Chapman and Solid Harmony at 3:20 p.m., Charmaine Neville at 4:30 p.m. and The Original Pinettes Brass Band at 6 p.m. – end the day with Corey Henry’s Treme Funktet at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday you can catch the Storyville Stompers Brass Band at 1:20 p.m., The Dukes of Dixieland at 3 p.m., Wendell Brunious at 4 p.m., Irma Thomas at 5:20 p.m. and Big Chief Donald Harrison Jr. at 7 p.m. Everything kicks off Friday at the Mint on the edge of the Quarter. You won’t want to miss it.
To Do This Week
Tomorrow night you can catch Ganja White Night at The Joy also Sweet Crude will be at Gasa Gasa. The Iko Allstars are the Free Friday show at Tipitina’s this week. Saturday night, Gaslight Street are at Gasa. Sunday, Imagine Dragons are at the Smoothie King Center with Grace VanderWaal and He Is WE are at the Parish. Tuesday, Field Trip roll into Gasa.
To Listen This Week
- Sky Ferreira covers ’Til Tuesday’s “Voices Carry” via CoS
- Amazing new track from Spiritualized via Youtube
- Watch Toto respond to Weezer’s cover of “Africa” with a cover of “Hash Pipe” via Youtube
