Langhorne Slim - "Life Is Confusing"

Langhorne Slim released Lost At Last Vol. 1 on November 10. You can pick the album up HERE. Check out "Life Is Confusing" and "Bluebird" below.

Newport Folk Festival 2015: Day 2

Saturday, July 25, 2015 -- Newport, RI

Day two of the Newport Folk Festival kicked off with a rousing set by The Suffers. They really got the crowd going at the Fort Stage.

I dashed off to catch a bit of the Spirit Family Reunion before walking around. I stopped by the big wooden FOLK lettering and manned several mobile phones for people who wanted to have their photos taken with it. I stopped by the Late July tent where the Ghosts of Paul Revere were just starting before I headed off for a little break.

It was then off to the Fort Stage for a bit of The Barr Brothers. I seem to remember them starting late due to some technical issues.

I made my way over to the Quad to catch Traveller…Jonny Fritz, Robert Ellis and Cory Chisel.  This is your new favorite band, seriously.  "Hummingbird" is still stuck in my head and I don't mind one bit.  I reluctantly missed the end of their set to catch another band I wanted to see.

I just made it over to the Harbor Stage in time to grab a few photos of Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear and hear a few tunes before heading over to the Fort Stage to catch some of Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn.

Next up, Langhorne Slim on the Quad. If you haven't seen Slim and his band, you should, they're a world of fun. My camera had one heck of a time keeping up with Langhorne!  Then about four songs in, he took to the audience. Anyone who wasn't already into the set sure was after that.

My next stop was over to the Harbor Stage to catch Nikki Lane whose set was as fun as her outfit. Then it was off to the Fort Stage to catch Jason Isbell whose set was tight.

I made it over to catch some of Courtney Barnett who has been getting a lot of hype. I wasn't as into her as the rest of the crowd was but I did like her better live than on record.

It was then off to the Fort Stage for the days "Unannounced" set. Just like the previous day, everyone already knew who it was. James Taylor took the stage. His appearance back in the day was interrupted by the moon landing so he came to finish it. Yeah, sure he's been back to Newport between then and now but hey, the story sounded good.  Sadly, there were sound problems which had cropped up earlier in the day but didn't detour Sweet Baby James. While there was a lot of "new blood" at the festival, Taylor and fellow legend Roger Waters were probably the two most talked about sets amongst the audience members I encountered over the weekend.

After taking a little break, I went back to the Fort Stage to catch Sufjan Stevens. Some ladies along the front barrier swooned. I'm not much into him but the few tunes I caught were solid and the swooning ladies were probably glad to have one less photographer in front of them.

Since everything on the Fort Stage was running late, I nearly missed getting photos of Jose Gonzalez. I love his work but I only stuck around for a little bit of his set…so much to see and hear!

My next stop was the Quad where Brandi Carlile closed out that stage for the day.  She rocked a highly enjoyable set leaving a very satisfied crowd.

The Decemberists closed out the day on the Fort Stage. 

Check out more photos in the slideshow below or see the photo album HERE. 

Newport Folk Festival: Day 2 Through My Lens

July 27, 2013 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

While we had to endure rain on day one of the Newport Folk Festival, day two turned out to be a right nice.  This is what it looked like through my lens.

Museum Stage

Joe Fletcher's Nashville To Newport

Joe Fletcher curated the Museum Stage for the afternoon.  I somehow managed to miss nearly everything over there.  I did catch some of Bobby Bare, Jr.'s set and I did spot Mr. Fletcher across the field and managed to say hey to him.

Harbor Stage
Sarah Jarosz More photos HERE

Rayland Baxter Listen HERE More photos HERE

  Justin Townes Earle Listen HERE More photos HERE

The Quad Stage
Hurray For The Riff Raff Listen HERE More photos HERE

The Lone Bellow Listen HERE More photos HERE

Shovels & Rope Listen HERE More photos HERE

Father John Misty More photos HERE

I saw Father John Misty here, there and every where roaming the grounds...and even doing nothing but simply standing, he pulled off the nonchalant rock star thing effortlessly.  He just has that look.  He took the stage with what he described as strawberry moonshine...we now have what we describe as a music crush on Mr. Tillman.

Colin Meloy Listen HERE More photos HERE

  Fort Stage
Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers Listen HERE More photos HERE
 

This was one of my favorite sets of the day.  And, if you happened to bump into Nicki Bluhm while strolling around the festival, then you know what a super nice, down to Earth, lady she is.

Langhorne Slim Listen HERE More photos HERE

Frank Turner Listen HERE More photos HERE

Jim James Listen HERE More photos HERE

Jim James seems like a nice fella...we've exchanged pleasantries in passing. But Mr. James, your art apparently goes over my head. I don't understand.  But there were a whole field full of people who did understand and did so enthusiastically.

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue More photos HERE

  The Avett Brothers Listen HERE More photos HERE

The Avett Brothers closed out day two to an enthusiastic crowd.  And, on a personal achievement note, I'm happy to say my Avett photo curse has been broken!

Frank Turner & More Added to Newport Folk Festival Line-up

It was announced yesterday, that Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls will be taking the stage at this year's Newport Folk Festival.  He'll be performing on Saturday, July 27 joining Langhorne Slim, Trombone Shorty, Iris DeMent among other recently announced artists who will take a stage that day. 

Turner has a new album, Tape Deck Heart, scheduled to be released on April 23 and is available for pre-order.  Check out the video for the single "Recovery" below.

The Newport Folk Festival takes place July 26 - 28 at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI.  Saturday and Sunday tickets are sold-out but, you can still get Friday tickets, HERE.   

*The line-up so far...

Friday, July 26, 2013

• JD McPherson
• Kingsley Flood
• The Last Bison
• The Mountain Goats

Saturday, July 27, 2013

• Father John Misty
• Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls
• Houndmouth
• Hurray for the Riff Raff
• Iris DeMent
• Jason Isbell
• Jim James
• Langhorne Slim & The Law
• Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers
• Rayland Baxter
• Shovels and Rope
• The Lone Bellow
• Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue

Sunday, July 28

• Andrew Bird
• Black Prairie
• Bombino
• Hey Marseilles
• Michael Hurley
• Michael Kiwanuka
• Spirit Family Reunion
• The Felice Brothers
• The Lumineers
• Tift Merritt

*Artists listed in alphabetical order, by day.

Year End Review: Langhorne Slim - Be Set Free

Back around late September/early October, Langhorne Slim released his third album, Be Set Free. Slim was one of the few artists whose performance I missed entirely at this years Folk Festival 50 in Newport. I was a bit disappointed as I'd heard he puts on a good show. Ah, perhaps another time.

When I first put Be Set Free on, my initial reaction to the record was "eh." It just didn't do anything for me really. I didn't think it was a bad record. It just didn't grab me. But, I put it on again a week or so later and thought to myself, "hm, this really isn't as "eh" as I remember it being. Maybe I should give this a closer listen." After that revelation and another week or so, I gave the record that closer listen.

Guess what folks? I like Be Set Free! It's records like this that support my "listen to it again even if it didn't do anything for you" theory. Yes, I have a theory. It being, just because something doesn't grab you on initial listen, doesn't mean you won't appreciate it later on down the line. This has happened on several occasions in my life. The theory also has something to do with loving a record and then down the line not being able to tolerate it. But, that's a discussion for another time!

Back to Langhorne and his record. The record kicks off with "Back to the Wild" which is one of the five songs on this 13 track effort that I find myself diggin' the most. The other songs that usually end up having me hit the repeat button on my nifty little media player of choice are, "I Love You, But Goodbye," "Cinderella" which ironically was my least favorite song on the album when I first heard it, the title track, "Be Set Free" and the one that I like the most, "For A Little While." Of course, the whole record is well worth listening too. Give Be Set Free a listen if you haven't already especially, if you're a fan of the modern day semi-alternative folk troubadours. It's an excellent piece of work; one of which I'm glad I gave another chance.

Track Listing

• Back to the Wild
• Say Yes
• I Love You, But Goodbye
• Land Of Dreams
• Cinderella
• Be Set Free
• For A Little While
• Sunday By the Sea
• Leaving My Love
• Yer Wrong
• Blow Your Mind
• So Glad That I'm Coming Home
• Boots Boy

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Langhorne Slim Visits Baebel Music Studios + MP3

Langhorne Slim, fresh off the heels of touring to support his recent release, Be Set Free, he paid a visit to the Baebel Music studios in NYC recently. Slim along with some friends performed a few songs in the intimate setting as well as did an interview. Check things out in the video below.

Watch the full concert at baeblemusic.com

MP3 Grab: "Say Yes"

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Langhorne Slim Set To Release New Record

Be Set Free, the upcoming record from Langhorne Slim is scheduled to be released on September 29. You can grab "I Love You, But Goodbye" from the album HERE.

Slim is also hitting the road this fall. For those in the New York area, he'll be at The Bell House in Brooklyn on October 15. Those of you outside New York, check out his MySpace page for dates.

Track Listing

• Back to the Wild
• Say Yes
• I Love You, But Goodbye
• Land Of Dreams
• Cinderella
• Be Set Free
• For A Little While
• Sunday By the Sea
• Leaving My Love
• Yer Wrong
• Blow Your Mind
• So Glad That I'm Coming Home
• Boots Boy

www.myspace.com/langhorneslim

Langhorne Slim To Play Folk Festival 50

Langhorne Slim will be playing George Wein's Folk Festival 50 on Saturday, August 1. Music impresario and festival founder George Wein and his team are celebrating the 50th anniversary of this legendary festival mixing legends and "new" kids for this grand event. Slim, will be in fine company for this grand celebration. Also taking the stage that day will be festival co-founder Pete Seeger, The Decemberist, Fleet Foxes, Gillian Welch, Mavis Staples and many more.

Folk Festival 50, a two-day event, takes place at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI. Performers for the second day of the festival, Sunday, August 2, will include another performance by Seeger with special guest Judy Collins, Joan Baez who performed at the first festival, Arlo Guthrie, Neko Case, Josh Ritter and many more.

It sounds like a great weekend of celebrating history, making history and great music!

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