What I Did This Summer: Newport Folk Festival, Day 2

Today we have a look at day two of the 2011 Newport Folk Festival. The legendary festival was a great mix of classic and modern folk.

On the main stage where we spent most of our time, we got the soulfulness of Amos Lee, had one heck of a party with Miss Wanda Jackson and a musical journey with the Carolina Chocolate Drops who one minute played traditional folk from the 20's to beat boxing the next even tossing in a cover of R&B pop song "Hit 'em Up Style (Oops!)." Also on the main stage, Elvis Costello, headliner Emmylou Harris and the David Wax Museum who played one of the smaller stages as contest winners the previous year.

Meanwhile, over on the Quad stage, Middle Brother killed and The Secret Sisters charmed. At the Alex and Ani Harbor Stage, my guest blogger, Addison Braver Walsh, loved The Head and the Heart and I might have squealed a little bit and definitely sang along when Brown Bird, after an already impressive set, launched into the classic "Jackson" to close their set.

If you missed it or want to re-live it, this is what it looked like!

Fort Stage

Emmylou Harris

(more photos HERE)Above, folk legend Pete Seeger backstage with Harris.

Elvis Costello

Amos Lee
(more photos HERE)
Wanda Jackson
(more photos HERE)

Carolina Chocolate Drops
(more photos HERE)
David Wax Museum
(more photos HERE)

Quad Stage

The Secret Sisters
(more photos HERE)

Alex and Ani Harbor Stage

The Civil Wars
(more photos HERE)
Mountain Man
(more photos HERE)

In case you missed it, this is what we had to say about...

Wanda Jackson http://www.quirkynychick.com/2011/08/newport-folk-festival-wanda-jackson.html

Middle Brother http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkynychick/sets/72157627381264017/

The Head and the Heart
by guest blogger Addison Braver Walsh
http://www.quirkynychick.com/2011/08/newport-folk-festival-concert-review.html

Brown Bird http://www.quirkynychick.com/2011/08/newport-folk-festival-brown-bird.html

Day 1 What I Did This Summer: Newport Folk Festival, Day 1

Newport Folk Festival: Wanda Jackson

Wanda Jackson took the stage at the Newport Folk Festival this past Sunday. She delighted the crowd with songs from her recent record along with classics and her familiar rock 'n' roll growl. Jackson, rocked, rolled, charmed and shimmied for an adoring crowd telling stories of Elvis and made me a happy camper when she launched into "Fujiyama Mama," the song that introduced me to her work many years ago when I was but a wee lass.

Wanda Jackson at the Newport Folk Festival, July 31, 2011

The above photo... Jackson telling the person tossing around the beach ball to knock it off by saying whenever there's something being tossed around in the audience, it eventually finds her face. She said she's had black eyes and lost a tooth and while a beach ball wouldn't do all of that, it's distracting and would appreciate them not playing with it during her set. It was possibly the most polite reprimand I've ever heard from a musician onstage.

While there were a lot of younger acts performing over the weekend who were great and lots of fun, it's always a pleasure to have the opportunity to see a veteran performer rocking out and having a good time. Rock on Miss Wanda!

Wanda Jackson Announces US Dates

Rockabilly legend Wanda Jackson has announced she will play select dates with the Third Man House Band featuring Jack White on guitar. The shows are in celebration of Jackson's latest record, The Party Ain't Over. The album was produced by White and is scheduled to be released January 25 via Third Man/Nonesuch Records.

Tickets for the Brooklyn show at Music Hall of Williamsburg as well as the Los Angeles show will be available for Third Man Record's Vault subscribers starting Wednesday, December 15 at 11am Eastern time. The general public will be able to get their hands on tickets Thursday, December 16 at 11am Eastern time. A full tour will be announced in 2011.

With a remarkable career that began in 1955, Jackson, credited with being the first woman to ever record a rock and roll song - “Let’s Have a Party” in 1958 – was convinced by her friend Elvis Presley to cross over from country to rock and rockabilly music. Now known around the globe as “The Queen Of Rock” and “The First Lady Of Rockabilly,” Wanda has teamed up with Jack White for The Party Ain’t Over, 11 tracks dating in origin from the early 1900’s to 2007. Recorded in White’s studio where he brought together a formidable band, including himself, Jack Lawrence (The Dead Weather/Raconteurs), Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket), Patrick Keeler (Raconteurs), Ashley Monroe,Jackson Smith and Karen Elson, to name a few, the album is a retro modern collection of music that showcases Wanda, now in her seventh decade and sounding as wickedly charismatic as ever.

Tour Dates

• 1/21 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (TICKETS)
• 1/23 Los Angeles, CA @ The El Rey Theatre (TICKETS)