Newport Folk Festival - 2013 Slide Show

The Newport Folk Festival does a great job of recognizing its illustrious history without being burdened by it. The times are always a-changing, and the festival has done a masterful job of adapting along with it.

In fact, some of the weekend’s best attended and most memorable acts hardly belong within the folk genre. Like Bombino, whose guitar playing wizardry conjures up sandstorms of hypnotic grooves; or the UK-punk rock of Frank Turner; or Trombone Shorty, who has successfully weaponized jazz and funk for mass consumption.

 The festival has broken new wave artists and expanded bands’ audiences, audiences that now stretch multiple generations. And each year sell-out crowds come to experience music that push buttons, blur borders and even inspire change - and that’s what folk music, and the Festival, is all about.

Enjoy some memorable moments from NFF 2013 in this slide show!

Photos // Adam Richert

Words // Photos // Brian Hodge

Spirit Family Reunion and John C. Reilly and Friends - Adams Avenue Unplugged:

Adams Avenue Unplugged in San Diego was lively and overrun by sun, good musicians, and good vibes.

* The Spirit Family Reunion introduced themselves to a new crowd and gained brand new superfans (like they do.) On a personal level, it is great to watch other people discovering a band like SFR for the first time. Their music is nothing but contagious! 

* John C. Reilly (and friends) proved that he is not just an actor/comedian but a genuine musician who has the chops for some good ol' country music. He played in a church which was very fitting for his performance. I really hope to see more of John C. Reilly in the future, possibly an old fashioned style church tour?

*Spirit Family Reunion*
 

*John C. Reilly and Friends*

John C. Reilly covered "Color of the Blues" in honor of the recently deceased George Jones:

"Rock Island Road"

"I Ain't Got No Home" *Some sound issues but definitely worth a listen!

"Sweet Roseanne"

Newport Folk Preview: Spirit Family Reunion LIVE

 

Words // Scott Pingeton

Spirit Family Reunion's recently-released, self-titled debut is one of my favorites of the year.  They don't make it that easy to buy or listen to, so why not check out one of their incredible live shows and buy it at a show?  Your next chance is Saturday afternoon at Newport Folk where they will kick off the weekend in style.  I can't wait, it's sure to be one of my favorite sets of the weekend and a launching pad for SFR.

I've seen them a bunch of times int he past few months, first opening for David Wax Museum in a church, and most recently at the "Road To Newport Folk" show we put on in Gloucester MA.  In the middle was the fantastic Brewery Sessions brunch show that you can listen to below.  Hear the entire house concert, documented in true Alan Lomax style for your listening pleasure.  Enjoy and please support the band by going to their shows, buying their merch and telling your friends.

Spirit Family Reunion
Boston MA - April 15, 2012

I Belong To The Band (?)
Alright Prayer
Green Rocky Road
Carry Me
No Separation
Leave Your Troubles At The Gate
Trouble (?)
Gazebo Song
On That Day
Unknown song
The Night Replaced The Day
When My Nname Is Spoken
I'll Find A Way
On My Mind (?)
Battle Hymn of the Republic

Full set download: mp3 zip

TONIGHT!! Spirit Family Reunion + Hurray For The Riff Raff / Gloucester MA, June 8

 

Spirit Family Reunion
Hurray For The Riff Raff
The Broken Wing Routine

Friday June 8 - DogBar, Gloucester MA
65 Main Street  Gloucester, MA 01930

9pm // FREE!!

Presented by...
Narragansett - Visible Voice - GloucesterGoods.com

Escape from the city and head north to the seaside town of Gloucester MA for what's going to be an incredible night of music.  Spirit Family Reunion is set to tear up Newport Folk this year with their brand of backyard folk-bluegrass - don't miss an opportunity to see them in an intimate venue.  Seriously.  And as if that wasn't enough, they'll bring along two amazing bands from down south in New Orleans -- Hurray For The Riff Raff and The Broken Wing Routine.

There's no cover, no advance tickets - just show up, and enjoy an incredible night of music.  It doesn't get any better than heading to the shore in the summer to see some amazing music!

Check out the Facebook Event page for more details (RSVP does not guarantee entry)

I Am Following The Sound - Spirit Family Reunion
Look Out Mama - Hurray For The Riff Raff

Preview // FreshGrass Festival @ Mass MoCA 9/21-23

Words // Scott Pingeton

Mass MoCA is becoming a destination known as much for their excellent music programming as world class modern art.  Wilco's annual Solid Sound Festival has played a big part in putting the Western Mass museum on the map, but there are plenty of other events throughout the year that are well worth the drive.  One of those events that I personally will be happily making the 3 hour trek from Boston for is the FresGrass Festival in late September.  You really don't need a reason to visit the Berkshires in late-September - it's just gorgeous out that way as summer starts to fade into fall - but if you really need your arm twisted, a top-notch bluegrass festival should do the trick.  The lineup includes David Grisman, Trampled By Turtles, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Devil Makes Three, Infamous Stringdusters, Spirit Family Reunion and lots more.  Spread out over 3 days, it's the perfect excuse for a long weekend away from the city.

Tickets are on sale now for the incredibly reasonable price of just $46 for the whole weekend.  Make your plans now, I am.  Here is some brand new music from three of my favorite artists that will be at FreshGrass:

Alone - Trampled By Turtles

Boodle-De-Bum-Bum - Carolina Chocolate Drops

I Want To Be Relieved - Spirit Family Reunion

New music // Spirit Family Reunion - I Am Following The Sound

Words // Scott Pingeton

Two of my favorite artists will put out their debut albums this June - Field Report and Spirit Family Reunion.  SFR's debut No Separation drops June 15, perfect timing to claim its spot as my summer roadtrip jam.  The band's irresistable blend of ramshackle folk and back-porch bluegrass is the perfect soundtrack to a summer jaunt -- whether a camping trip, a weekend at the lake or just a long drive with the windows down.  "I Am Following The Sound" is the first studio take I've heard from the record, and I'm happy to report that the recording captures the perfectly-ragged, stomp&clap of the band's live sound.  If this isn't the perfect music for that moment when the hazy late-summer sun softly gives way to purple dusk, then nothing is.

Spirit Family Reunion - I Am Following The Sound

You can catch the band at Newport Folk this summer, or in Biddeford Maine at The Oak & The Axe on June 7 or June 8 in Williamstown MA where they will play a Billsville House Concert.

In case you missed it - here's the band playing "I'll Find A Way" from a recent house show in Boston (also, don't miss the full live recording)

Spirit Family Reunion // Live at Brunch Sessions Boston MA 4.15.12

 

Words // Scott Pingeton

One of the things that I love about the Boston music scene is that it's big enough for lots of cool shit to be happening all the time, but small enough to feel like a community.  Last Sunday was one of the days that really underscores that point.  Sharing breakfast*, beer** and an intimate house show with half of my twitter feed is pretty fucking cool -- not to mention that later that night I had my mind blown for a second time by Alabama Shakes. 

The folks behind Brewery Sessions have the right idea.  Intimate events devoted equally to craft beer and music.  Perfect.  They teamed up with Music Savage to put on a special "Brunch Sessions" event, featuring homemade breakfast and cocktails, beer and performances from 2012 Newport Folkers Spirit Family Reunion and Summercult.  It was a magical start to a flawless day.  The crowd started out a bit reserved, but loosened up as the show went on - maybe it was the beer.  By the end of Spirit Family Reunion's 45 minute set of bittersweet folk laments and ragged bluegrass stompers, the crowd was on its feet.  Dancing, clapping, singing along and turning a swanky Southie loft into a wild barn party.

I left the show thinking two things.  First, we need more Brewery Sessions.  Second, Spirit Family Reunion is going to absolutely kick ass at Newport this summer.  If this is your first exposure to the band, get to know them now and be ahead of the curve.  I have a feeling they're going be a lot more well known after their debut album comes out this summer.  If you dig Trampled By Turtles, you'll find a lot to love with Spirit Family Reunion.

Here is the entire house concert, documented in true Alan Lomax style for your listening pleasure.  Enjoy and please support the band by going to their shows, buying their merch and telling your friends.

Spirit Family Reunion
Boston MA - April 15, 2012

I Belong To The Band (?)
Alright Prayer
Green Rocky Road
Carry Me
No Separation
Leave Your Troubles At The Gate
Trouble (?)
Gazebo Song
On That Day
Unknown song
The Night Replaced The Day
When My Nname Is Spoken
I'll Find A Way
On My Mind (?)
Battle Hymn of the Republic

Full set download: mp3 zip

* Technically I arrived too late to partake in the waffles
** Ditto for the beer :(

#ff Newport Folk Festival edition

This week's edition for #ff is all about some of the artists playing Newport Folk that you might not know yet, but need to.

Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons (website)

Spirit Family Reunion (website)

Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires (website)

Robert Ellis (website)

VV's Favorite EPs of 2011

#10.Crystal Stilts - Radiant Door (Buy)

 

#9. Kingsley Flood - Colder Still (Buy)

 

#8. Typhoon - A New Kind Of House (Buy)

   

#7. Conrad Plymouth - Comrade Plymouth (Buy)

   

 
#6. Pickwick - Myths (Buy)

 

#5. Milo Greene - The Hello Sessions (Buy)

 #4. Ivan & Alyosha - Fathers Be Kind (Buy)

#3. The Wooden Sky - City of Light (Buy)
 

#2. Spirit Family Reunion - Self-Titled (Buy at a show)

 

#1. Alabama Shakes - Alabama Shakes EP (Buy)