Jamie Cullum Charms At The Newport Jazz Festival

CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival: August 7 @ Fort Adams, Newport, RI

The headliner for both the Friday night show at the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Saturday evening show at Fort Adams was the young, charismatic, British singer/pianist Jamie Cullum who took the Fort Stage and played to an enthusiastic audience.

Cullum, a tiny fella, jokingly compared himself to a hamster in size when telling the audience that the powers that be were concerned about him romping atop the piano. For those who haven't witnessed Cullum perform, he stands on the piano, he leaps from it and at times he rocks out on it from a standing position. The man is a bundle of energy whose approach to performing is more akin to rock 'n' roll than the pop laced jazz he plays.

Sporting a disarming smile throughout the set, Cullum interacted with not only the audience, but, the boats in the harbor as well. He often played and sang with his eyes closed. At times he looked to be in a peaceful place, smiling and swaying to his own music while at other times, his face twisted into an emotion filled grimace. In the end he leaped from the stage and made his way to the people much to the delight of many as it seems he's quite a heartthrob. Cullum injected a dose of playfulness with a wee bit of cheekiness into his energy filled, entertaining set. I think it's safe to say, he thrilled his fans and made some new ones that perfect, sunny, Saturday by the water.

(More photos HERE)

www.newportjazzfest.net

Photo Review: Newport Folk Festival, 8/1

Newport Folk Festival: August 1 @ Fort Adams, Newport, RI

Fort Stage

Tao Rodriguez Seeger
(More photos HERE)

The Avett Brothers
Richie Havens
The Swell Season
(More photos HERE)
The Levon Helm Band's Ramble On The Road
(More photos HERE)

Harbor Stage

Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons
(More photos HERE)

Quad Stage

David Wax Museum
(More photos HERE)

April Smith and the Great Picture Show
(More photos HERE)

Ben Sollee and Daniel Moore

(More photos HERE)

Elvis Perkins In Dearland
(More photos HERE)

www.newportfolkfest.net

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings Sizzle At The Newport Folk Festival

Newport Folk Festival: August 1 @ Fort Adams, Newport, RI

Sunday morning, the weather was perfect and the crowd in front of the Fort Stage began to swell. The second act was preparing to take the stage for a much anticipated set.

The band took the stage, the band leader began his old school highlights intro and then ...

The tiny little woman with the big voice took the stage. Sharon Jones from go commanded the stage belting out song after song. The audience was seriously into every moment of it, shouting out words of adoration and dancing. It was possibly the first time I've ever seen multiple members of a photo pit dance while trying to take photos. In the end, Jones and the Dap-Kings showed that even at 12:30 on a Sunday afternoon, you can turn a folk festival into a funky party. I heard more than one person say the performance ranked right up there among the group's best. They certainly tied with What Cheer? Brigade as highlight of the festival in my book.

(More photos HERE)

www.newportfolkfest.net

Goldfrapp Get Remixed

Goldfrapp will be releasing their next single, "Believer," on September 6. The song is from their fifth studio album Head First. To whet your appetite, you can grab Little Loud's remix of the song below.

Goldfrapp - Believer (Little Loud Remix) by MuteUSA

Head First is Goldfrapp's most powerful trip to date, a speedy rush of synth optimism, euphoria, fantasy and romance. With life affirming lyrics and stellar production it lifts off at full tilt and takes us on a journey to the heart of 2010.

The diversity, ambition and direction of the new album continues to highlight Goldfrapp as true agenda-setters and modern British musical icons. Head First follows the critically acclaimed Seventh Tree, and is the latest in a brilliantly consistent body of work - from the captivating electronic balladry of Mercury nominated debut Felt Mountain and its distorted-dancefloor follow-up, Black Cherry to the glitterball glamour of Supernature which came out in summer 2005 and went on to sell over a million copies worldwide.

www.goldfrapp.com

Video: Gilli Moon - "Days In November"

I first became aware of the California based Australian singer/songwriter Gilli Moon when I came across her albums extraOrdinary Life and Girl In The Moon on Amie Street a couple of years ago. So, it was a pleasant surprise when I received an email announcing her newest record.

the stillness, Moon's sixth record was released here in the US on June 29 on her own Warrior Girl Music. For those unfamiliar with Moon, she's writes smart melodic pop music. Her vocals are often delicate but full of raw passion. I haven't had the chance to listen to the stillness yet, but based on the few songs I've heard so far, I'm looking forward to hearing the whole record. Check out the video for "Days In November" from the record below.

www.gillimoon.com

What Cheer? Brigade: Brassy Fun At The Newport Folk Festival

Newport Folk Festival: August 1 @ Fort Adams, Newport, RI

If you went to the Newport Folk Festival this year, then you no doubt encountered the What Cheer? Brigade. The brass band from Providence, RI kicked things off bright and early Saturday and Sunday and made appearances throughout both days. I've never been a big fan of marching bands but, that was before having the What Cheer? experience. If you saw them, then you know they were one of the major highlights of the festival. For me, they were the highlight. With all of the much hyped artists on the bill, it was this tattooed, punk looking, brass toting band that had people dancing, clapping and wanting to know where and when they'd make their next "surprise" appearance. They're a must see band.

(more photos HERE)

www.whatcheerbrigade.com
www.newportfolkfest.net

Photo Review: Newport Folk Festival Harbor & Quad Stages 7/31

Newport Folk Festival: July 31 @ Fort Adams, Newport, RI

Quad Stage

Liz Longley

A. A. Bondy
(more photos HERE)
O'Death
(more photos HERE)

Horse Feathers
(more photos HERE)

Dawes
(more photos HERE)
Harbor Stage

Sarah Jarosz
(more photos HERE)

Blitzen Trapper
(more photos HERE)

Sam Bush

Jim James
(more photos HERE)

www.newportfolkfest.net

Junip To Tour North America

Swedish band Junip will tour North America in November. New York, they'll be making a stop at Irving Plaza on November 24. They'll be supporting their upcoming release, Fields, which is scheduled to hit stores on September 14. Check out the full list of dates below.

Mute and City Slang Records are excited to announce the launch of Junip’s new website. New and improved with lots of exclusive downloads and video, the site URL is www.junip.net. On the site, besides being able to download the Rope & Summit EP for free, you can now stream the new single, “Always,” from the band’s new record, Fields, being released on September 14, 2010.

Tour Dates

• 11/1--World Cafe--Philadelphia, PA
• 11/2--Royale Nightclub--Boston, MA
• 11/4--Belmont--Montreal, QUE
• 11/5--Lee's--Toronto, ONT
• 11/6--Lincoln Hall--Chicago, IL
• 11/7--Cedar Cultural Center--Minneapolis, MN
• 11/10--Neumos--Seattle, WA
• 11/11--Venue--Vancouver, BC
• 11/12--Doug Fir--Portland, OR
• 11/13--The Independent--San Francisco, CA
• 11/14--Music Box At The Henry Fonda--Los Angeles, CA
• 11/16--Rhythm Room--Phoenix, AZ
• 11/18--Mohawk--Austin, TX
• 11/19--Fitzgerals--Houston, TX
• 11/20--Spanish Moon-Baton Rouge, LA
• 11/21--The Earl--Atlanta, GA
• 11/22--Cats Cradle--Carrboro, NC
• 11/23--Black Cat--Washington, DC*
• 11/24--Irving Plaza--NYC*

*The opening band for all of the above tour dates EXCEPT FOR: Washington, DC and New York will be Sharon Van Etten.

www.junip.net

The Minutes Release Video For Upcoming Single "Fleetwood"

Irish trio The Minutes have released a new video. The video is for the song "Fleetwood" which will be released next month as a single. It was directed by Philip Kelly and features Charlene Gleeson and Gary Byrne. Check it out below. Y'all may remember (search tag The Minutes if you want to refresh your memory) that I fell in love with and posted their song "Black Keys" earlier this year. I really dig these guys.

www.theminutesmusic.com
www.myspace.com/theminutesireland
www.twitter.com/theminutes
www.facebook.com/theminutes

Newport Folk Festival: Fort Stage, 7/31

Newport Folk Festival: July 31 @ Fort Adams, Newport, RI

I took in the Newport Folk Festival again this year. The weather was magnificent and there was plenty of good music to listen too. With camera in hand, I took in the sounds and ate "outdoor" food which, if you know me, is shocking! Check out photos from Saturday, July 31 ... the Fort Stage.

Nneka kicked off things on the Fort Stage. If you haven't had a chance to check her out you should. She made a variety of serious faces. I wasn't sure if she was feeling some sort of pain, metaphorically or literally and if we should be feeling and frowning the same way too. At any rate, she was good.

More photos of Nneka's set, HERE.

Up next, The Low Anthem. They played the Newport Folk Festival last year only on the much smaller Waterside Stage which has moved locations and received a name change. I've come to realize that on record, I'm not all that into the band. But, The Low Anthem are a good live band. They're one of those bands whose members rotate on instruments.

More photos of The Low Anthem's set, HERE.

Brandi Carlile took the stage next. I'd been hearing about how good she is. She was okay, but I wasn't as blown away by her as I expected to be based on the word of mouth that had filtered through my ears. She covered The Beatles, "I've Just Seen A Face" and Johnny Cash, "Folsom Prison Blues" during her set.

More photos of Carlile's set, HERE.

Calexico took the stage next. Their sound was heavily tinged with the Mexican folk sound. It wasn't my thing but several people I spoke to, were seriously digging them.

More photos of Calexico's set, HERE.

Crowd favorite Andrew Bird took the stage next. He whistles and fiddles. I'm sorry I just wasn't feeling him though I find him much more enjoyable live than I do on record. The audience loved him so I was clearly in the minority!

More photos of Bird's set, HERE.

The headliner for the day, John Prine, put on a stellar set and was shown some major love by the audience. Jim James, who performed his own set earlier that day on another stage joined Prine. The highlight of his set for me was "Angel From Montgomery." Being the first time I've had the opportunity to see him perform, it was a treat to hear the man himself do the song.

More photos of Prine's set, HERE.