Newport Folk Festival: July 27, 2014 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI
Fort Stage
Mavis Staples (more photos HERE)
I declared musical lust a couple times over the weekend but it was Miss Mavis that I was outright giddy to see. All weekend she was popping up on stages singing with various artists, Lucius, Lake Street Dive, Puss N Boots (if memory serves me correctly) but did I see any of those? No! I kept missing her left, right and center but, I knew there was one set I was guaranteed to see her. The legendary Miss Mavis closed the Newport Folk Festival in style while celebrating her birthday. She announced that she's 30 with 45 years experience! One thing's for certain, she was enjoying herself immensely. She partook in some good natured teasing of her sister Miss Yvonne when she sat down for a bit. Lucius came out and did a song with her. She was joined by Jeff Tweedy and his son Spencer on "You Are Not Alone." Norah Jones & Taylor Goldsmith joined her for "The Weight". She had fun with Trampled By Turtles' name calling them Smashing Turtles and a few other variations of their name when they joined her on-stage with Jones. It was a grand celebration with many of the festivals performers joining her on-stage for what is a Newport tradition, a sing-a-long. It was the perfect ending to the weekend.
Jeff Tweedy (more photos HERE)
Conor Oberst (more photos HERE)
Dang, that man looked seriously mopey and at times offered up a rather vacant seeming stare. The guys from Dawes made up part of his band.
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down
The rain prevented me for catching more of Thao's set. I was really looking forward to checking her out but rain and camera gear are a bad marriage.
Ages and Ages
And the rain came… I caught a few minutes of Ages and Ages before my camera and I headed for a more dry location.
Berklee Roots & Gospel Choir (more photos HERE)
Quad Stage
Rodrigo y Gabriela (more photos HERE)
This was a set I was looking forward to from the moment it was announced they would be at the festival. Everyone at the Quad stage was on their feet dancing. When I say dancing, they were dancing hard and often unrestrained. It was an intense heady experience.
Hurray For The Riff Raff (more photos HERE)
If you were anywhere near me when they played my favorite, "Look Out Mama", then you likely heard me happily singing along rather off-key!
Gregory Alan Isakov
The Lonesome Trio
Leif Vollebekk (more photos HERE)
Harbor Stage
Valerie June (more photos HERE)
Hozier (more photos HERE)
Hozier was the second source of my musical lust. If you haven't heard him, put him on your must hear list immediately.
Pegi Young & The Survivors (more photos HERE)
Caitlin Rose
The Deslondes (more photos HERE)
So, see you next year?
