Newport Folk Festival 2016 Preview

Just over fifty years ago, Bob Dylan went electric at Newport Folk Festival, and just as Dylan is still going, so is Newport Folk, which has kept up with the times, and the good times return to Rhode Island Friday-to-Sunday, July 22nd-24th:

FRIDAY, JULY 22nd

Fort Stage Flight of the Conchords, 6:15 PM – 7:30 PM “New Zealand’s fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo a-cappella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo,” Flight of the Conchords (QRO live review) is Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, musical comedians who found great acclaim in the States thanks to their HBO series and albums Flight of the Conchords (QRO review) and I Told You I Was Freaky (QRO review). After the series ended the Conchords went their separate ways, Clement appearing in movies (Dinner For Schmucks, Men In Black 3, Rio) and McKenzie writing music for movies (The Muppets, Muppets Most Wanted). But recently the two have reunited behind a big tour – but where’s manager Murray Hewitt?…

Ray LaMontagne, 4:40 PM – 5:50 PM He may be soft-spoken, but singer/songwriter Ray LaMontagne is one of the finest voices in today’s alt-folk scene. He’s also impressively successful, charting in the Billboard Top Twenty with his last four studio albums, most recently this year’s Ouroboros.

Violent Femmes, 3:10 PM – 4:10 PM The New Wave that acts like The Talking Heads ushered in back in the eighties saw a number of ‘geek rock’ outfits grab the listening public, from They Might Be Giants (QRO live review) to Violent Femmes (QRO photos outdoors), who hit it big in 1983 with the self-titled debut and singles such as “Blister In the Sun” and “Kiss Off”. Follow-up records didn’t find the same success, and the band went on numerous hiatuses/break-ups. Drummer Victor DeLorenzo left in 1993 only to return in 2002, but the biggest split was between singer/guitarist Gordon Gano and bassist Brian Ritchie over Gano selling the rights to “Blister” to be used in a Wendy’s commercial in 2007. A lawsuit ensued, and this break-up seemed to be for good, but this year they’ve somehow reunited again for another run at the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival), though DeLorenzo’s left again, to be replaced by Brian Vigilione of Dresden Dolls (QRO photos with Vigilione at a festival). This year they even released a new album, We Can Do Anything (QRO review).

St. Paul & The Broken Bones, 1:55 PM – 2:45 PM From Birmingham, Alabama, St. Paul & The Broken Bones (QRO photos at a festival) bring the true southern soul. They come to Newport Folk after the release this year of their sophomore record, Sea of Noise.

The Staves, 12:40 PM – 1:30 PM Folk-rock trio of sisters The Staves (QRO live review) hail from Watford in the south of England, but have since made it to the majors on Atlantic Records. Also: Amasa Hines, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM

Quad Stage The Arcs, 5:35 PM – 6:35 PM Everyone knows The Black Keys (QRO live review), one of the biggest rock bands in the twenty-first century. Singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach has long done his own side things (QRO solo album review), most recently with his new band, The Arcs (QRO photos), who came out with debut last fall, Yours, Dreamily.

case/lang/viers, 4:10 PM – 5:10 PM A great new team-up for a new millennium, case/lang/viers combines three great alt-folk songstresses, Neko Case (QRO live review), k.d. lang, and Laura Viers.

Matthew Logan Vasquez, 2:50 PM – 3:45 PM The frontman for the impressive Delta Spirit (QRO album review), Matthew Logan Vasquez comes solo to Newport Folk – as well as playing Sunday as part of Middle Brother (see below).

Raury, 1:35 PM – 2:35 PM Mixing soul, hip-hop, and folk is Atlanta’s eclectic Raury.

Basia Bulat, 12:25 PM – 1:10 PM Canadian songstress Basia Bulat (QRO photos) brings her autoharp and records like 2010’s Heart of My Own (QRO review), 2013’s Tall Tall Shadow, and this year’s Good Advice to Newport Folk (QRO photos outdoors).

Also: Wild Child, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM – QRO photos at a festival

Harbor Stage Brett Dennen, 5:05 PM – 6:05 PM Northern California pop/folk singer Brett Dennen headlines the Harbor Stage behind his sixth album, this year’s Por Favor.

Radical Face, 3:45 PM – 4:40 PM One half of superb indietronic duo Electric President (QRO album review), Ben Cooper does the solo alt-folk thing as Radical Face (QRO album review), having just finished his third of his The Family Tree releases.

Aoife O’Donovan, 2:25 PM – 3:20 PM Aoife O’Donovan fronts the progressive bluegrass/string outfit, Crooked Still, is a part of female folk-noir trio Sometymes Why, and worked with everyone from Jerry Douglas to Yo-Yo Ma.

Fruit Bats, 1:10 PM – 2:00 PM Singer/guitarist/pianist Eric Johnson may have been known for being part of indie-rock hits The Shins (QRO live review, with Johnson), but for well over a decade he’s had his own folk-rock outfit, Fruit Bats (QRO photos at a festival), who recently put out his latest, Absolute Loser.

Also: Freakwater, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM JP Harris, 11:00 AM – 11:40 AM

Museum Stage Motel Song Swap, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Converse Rubber Tracks, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM On Friday at the Museum Stage, Converse Rubber Tracks welcomes singer/songwriters Elvis Perkins (QRO live review) and B.R. Mackie.

For Pete’s Sake, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM When legendary American folk musician Pete Seeger (QRO photos at a festival) passed away (QRO R.I.P.), the country lost one of its greatest voices for the dispossessed, and one of the greatest folk musicians ever. At the Museum Stage at Newport Folk, the festival honors him by bringing together musicians to perform in his memory. Hosted by Chris Funk, Friday features Mariachi Flor de Toloache (QRO photos), Bryan Bowers, Tim Erikson, and Hanz Araki. Also: Martin Guitar Open Mic, 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM

SATURDAY, JULY 23rd

Fort Stage Patti Smith, 6:15 PM – 7:30 PM Newport Folk lined up a true punk icon for their festival – Patti Smith (QRO photos outdoors). The ‘Godmother of Punk’ was one of the first to truly fuse rock and poetry, and served as something of a bridge between the beatniks & hippies of the fifties & sixties and the punks of the seventies and eighties. Her music even gave the name to perhaps New York’s most important venue, Bowery Ballroom (QRO venue review), and she helped open its sister in Brooklyn, Music Hall of Williamsburg (QRO venue review). She may have been made a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture, but she hasn’t slowed down (QRO photos), and won’t be any less impressive in Newport (QRO photos at a festival).

Norah Jones, 4:40 PM – 5:45 PM Singer/songwriter Norah Jones (QRO live review) broke through in a huge way in 2002 with debut Come Away With Me, selling over 20 million copies and earning five Grammys (including Record of the Year and Best New Artist) – there was no way her subsequent work could match in terms of success. However, unlike the Lauryn Hills of the world, Jones (QRO photos outdoors) has not disappeared or faded away, but stayed in the eye & ear, most recently with 2009’s The Fall (QRO review) and 2012’s Little Broken Hearts.

Ryan Adams, 3:10 PM – 4:10 PM The alt-country/rock artist broke out in the first years of this century/millennium when he went alone, finding major success in the country/rock mainstream, but Ryan Adams (QRO photos) eventually embraced his backing band, The Cardinals, and kept on writing. After 2008’s Cardinology and tour, Adams announced he was leaving The Cardinals again, as well as going on a hiatus due to hearing loss and disillusionment with today’s music industry, but returned in 2011 with Ashes & Fire, 2014’s acclaimed self-titled record, and last year’s top-to-bottom cover of Taylor Swift’s 1989 (QRO review), and is now hitting the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival). Adams plays Newport Folk with The Infamous Stringdusters and Nicki Bluhm (QRO photos at a festival).

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM Denver’s Nathaniel Rateliff (QRO photos at a festival) brings sad indie-folks sounds with his band, The Nightsweats.

Also: Amy Helm, 12:35 PM – 1:20 PM – QRO photos at a festival Rayland Baxter, 11:25 AM – 12:10 PM – QRO photos at a festival

Quad Stage Father John Misty, 5:40 PM – 6:40 PM While a member of overrated folk outfit Fleet Foxes (QRO album review), guitarist Joshua Tillman found time to do his own solo stuff (QRO album review), but in 2012 he moved to solo full-time as Father John Misty (QRO photos) with Fear Fun, and he comes to Newport Folk (QRO photos at a festival) behind last year’s follow-up I Love You, Honeybear. As Aziz Ansari said in Master of None, “That’s a hot ticket!”

Graham Nash, 4:20 PM – 5:15 PM One of the names in the seminal Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, this Officer of the Order of the British Empire Graham Nash (QRO photos) is one the great folk artists of the last half-century.

Frightened Rabbit, 2:55 PM – 3:50 PM Scotland’s Frightened Rabbit (QRO live review) are at the forefront of the tragic, heartfelt wave coming from England’s neighbor to the north, most recently with this year’s Painting of a Heart Attack (QRO review), 2013’s Pedestrian Verse (QRO review) and 2010’s The Winter of Mixed Drinks (QRO review). They also really put themselves out there on record, but their live show (QRO photos at a festival) also sees them joking (QRO live review), in their Scottish brogue, capture on 2009’s live album, Liver! Lung! FR! (QRO review). Also a strong festival band, they can even take requests (QRO live review of all-request show).

Also: Margo Price, 1:40 PM – 2:30 PM Texas Gentlemen & Friends, 12:25 PM – 1:15 PM Banditos, 11:10 AM – 12:00 PM

Harbor Stage Del & Dawg, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Dave Simonett & Dave Carroll, 3:45 PM – 4:35 PM Lady Lamb, 2:30 PM – 3:20 PM – QRO photos at a festival John Moreland, 1:15 PM – 2:05 PM Ruby Amanfy, 12:05 PM – 12:50 PM Cactus Blossoms, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Museum Stage Motel Song Swap, 5:25 PM – 6:10 PM Converse Rubber Tracks, 3:15 PM – 5:10 PM On Saturday at the Museum Stage, Converse Rubber Tracks welcomes Good Friends and contest winner Sam Moss.

For Pete’s Sake, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM When legendary American folk musician Pete Seeger (QRO photos at a festival) passed away (QRO R.I.P.), the country lost one of its greatest voices for the dispossessed, and one of the greatest folk musicians ever. At the Museum Stage at Newport Folk, the festival honors him by bringing together musicians to perform in his memory. Hosted by Chris Funk, Saturday features Joel Rafael, Jill Andrews, Riley Baugus, Mike “Slo-Mo” Brenner & Hoagy Wing, and Gais Essar. Also: Martin Guitar Open Mic, 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM

SUNDAY, JULY 24th

Fort Stage Alabama Shakes, 6:15 PM – 7:30 PM Actually from Alabama, throwback rock ‘n’ rollahs Alabama Shakes (QRO photos at a festival) are well loved from their numerous, energetic live shows (QRO photos), which got them a slew of Grammy nominations in 2013 and again this year, with a well-earned headlining spot on the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival).

Elvis Costello, 4:40 PM – 5:45 PM What a wild ride it’s been for Elvis Costello (QRO album review). Playing Newport Folk (QRO photos at a festival), the quirky-yet-enigmatic front man will be capping off an illustrious career – one that took Costello and his oversized glasses on a punk rock tear that’s lasted almost four decades; one that still continues to this day (see last year’s memoirs, Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink). He’s kicked the Beastie Boys off the Saturday Night Live stage, drunkenly fought Stephen Stills, and survived a poorly reported racism scandal, all the while very publicly idolizing George Jones. He’s impossible to nail down, but one thing’s for sure: The world’s second-most famous Elvis embodies the phrase punk rock lives (QRO album review). Although the ‘90s may have mellowed him out – see co-writing sessions with Paul McCartney and guest staring on Frasier – Costello’s punk rock stature is unquestionable (QRO live review), and it’s exactly that kind of reputation that he’ll be bringing to Newport Folk (QRO photos at a festival), which he plays with special guest Larkin Poe.

Middle Brother, 3:10 PM – 4:15 PM John J. McCauley III of Deer Tick (QRO live review) + Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes (QRO photos at Newport Folk ’14) + Matthew Logan Vasquez of Delta Spirit (QRO album review) = alt-country/rock supergroup Middle Brother.

Glen Hansard, 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM Glen Hansard came to international prominence when he started in the much-beloved Once, which brought the Irish street performer to a whole new level. He teamed up with Once co-star & then-girlfriend Markéta Irglová as The Swell Season (QRO photos outdoors), but since their break-up has made his own solo name (QRO live review), most recently with last year’s Didn’t He Ramble (QRO review).

Also: The Oh Hello’s, 12:30 PM – 1:20 PM – QRO photos at Newport Folk ’14 Berklee Gospel Choir, 11:20 AM – 12:05 PM

Quad Stage Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Alex Ebert, former singer of Ima Robot (QRO interview), got a ton of buzz right after forming Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (QRO live review) – is it justified, or just PR hype (QRO spotlight on)? Judge for yourself (QRO photos at a festival) – but watch out for him jumping into the crowd (QRO live review), like at so many festivals (QRO photos at a festival)! The band comes to Newport Folk (QRO photos at a festival) behind their new album, PersonA.

Phil Cook’s Southland Revue, 4:05 PM – 5:05 PM Banjoist Phil Cook, of Megafaun (QRO photos outdoors) and GAYNGS (QRO album review), brings his Southland Revue north of the Mason-Dixon to Newport Folk.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band, 2:45 PM – 3:40 PM New Orleans’ Preservation Hall has been preserving the iconic city’s jazz tradition not just in the Big Easy but also around the world thanks to the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (QRO photos), who having been bringing Dixieland to other lands since the founding of the hall back in the sixties.

Julien Baker, 1:30 PM – 2:20 PM Memphis singer-songwriter Julien Baker comes to Newport, Rhode Island.

The Strumbellas, 12:20 PM – 1:05 PM The “folk popgrass” of Canada’s The Strumbellas (QRO photos at a festival) comes to Newport Folk behind this year’s third record, Hope. Also: River Whyless, 11:10 AM – 11:55 AM

Harbor Stage Brian Fallon, 5:05 PM – 6:05 PM Frontman for New Jersey’s excellent Gaslight Anthem (QRO live review), Brian Fallon returns to play Newport Folk solo for a second year in a row (QRO photos at Newport ‘15), now behind his new solo album, Painkillers (QRO review).

Hayes Carll, 3:40 PM – 4:35 PM Austin’s Hayes Carll (QRO photos) proves that being independent isn’t limited to indie. The country-folk singer/songwriter turned down a multi-album deal from Sugar Hill Records to release his Little Rock on his own label – and it became the first self-released record to reach #1 on the Americana charts. He did eventually sign with Universal imprint Lost Highway, but comes to Newport Folk on artist-runs Thirty Tigers for this year’s Lovers and Leavers.

Villagers, 2:25 PM – 3:15 PM Conor O’Brien (not Conan…) began Villagers (QRO live review) after the break-up of his previous, overrated the Immediate (QRO album review), and found success in his native Ireland (QRO photos at a British festival), but has since translated nicely to America (QRO live review in America) with 2013’s {Awayland} (QRO review), last year’s Darling Arithmetic, and this year’s Where Have You Been All My Life?.

Son Little, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM Catch the angular blues of Son Little (QRO photos). Also: Joan Shelley, 12:05 PM – 12:50 PM Ian Fitzgerald with Smith & Weeden, 11:00 AM – 11:40 AM

Museum Stage Lomax ’66, 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM Converse Rubber Tracks, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM On Sunday at the Museum Stage, Converse Rubber Tracks welcomes Larkin Poe and contest winner Sam Himself.

For Pete’s Sake, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM When legendary American folk musician Pete Seeger (QRO photos at a festival) passed away (QRO R.I.P.), the country lost one of its greatest voices for the dispossessed, and one of the greatest folk musicians ever. At the Museum Stage at Newport Folk, the festival honors him by bringing together musicians to perform in his memory. Hosted by Chris Funk, Sunday features Savoy Family Band, Kyle Craft, Anna & Elizabeth, and Lydia & Andrea. Also: Martin Guitar Open Mic, 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM