Newport Folk Festival 2010 Highlights

The Newport Folk Festival always fosters a sense of community -- both among the fans that relax on abutting blankets at the Fort Stage, as well as among the bands that are welcomed, if not encouraged, to mingle backstage and collaborate onstage.  This year's festival took that sense of community and collaboration to a new level with numerous artists, including Andrew Bird, Jim James, The Swell Season and headliners John Prine and Levon Helm, inviting others to share their stage.

Another high-water mark for Newport this year was the eclecticism of the lineup, a trademark of the festival in the Jay Sweet-era.  Sure, there were folk traditionalists like Ritchie Havens, Tim O'Brien and, of course, John Prine.  However, the lineup was rounded out by established songsmiths Jim James and Andrew Bird; up-and-coming artists like A.A. Bondy, Dawes, Daniel Martin Moore and Ben Sollee, The Felice Brothers, O'Death and The Low Anthem.  Nneka brought a refreshingly unique sound to the festival with her blend of Afro-hip-hop rhythms and a social/political message.  Calexico and The David Wax Museum took slightly different takes on Mexican/Southwest-inspired Americana, while Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Levon Helm and Elvis Perkins in Dearland brought varying degrees of New Orleans jazz to the festival.  It was an eclectic and successful mix, proving that the term "folk music" is a broad umbrella.

Here's my attempt at narrowing down a weekend of great memories to a handful of highlights:

Dawes:  I've been a fan of Dawes since I saw them open for Delta Spirit at the Middle East a couple years ago, and while their record North Hills is fantastic, it's still the live show that reminds me how fantastic this band is.  Their headlining set at Great Scott earlier this year was a revelation - the energy was off the charts from the start.  Dawes' set at Newport got off to a slower start - that isn't to say the performance wasn't great, but it took longer to win over a crowd that was undoubtedly less familiar with the music.  However, by the end of the show they had the entire crowd on their feet, singing along as Taylor Goldsmith stood at center stage, arm around his father as they both sang "I've got a feeling it's gonna be alright".  An amazing performance to close out the Quad stage on Saturday.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band:  I ducked out a few minutes early from The Avett Brothers because I know that Preservation Hall Jazz Band was a must-see, but to be honest, I didn't exactly know what to expect.  When I arrived at the Harbour Stage I found Jim James on stage, crooning along with a group of New Orleans jazz legends that looked like kids on Christmas morning.  The smiles from all parties were infectious, but the music moreso - Blue Yodel No. 9 with Jim James was downright nasty (in the best way possible).  Before the set was done Andrew Bird, Ben Sollee and Tao Rodriguez Seeger had also joined the band and the crowd was on its feet, dancing and singing along.  I was grinning from ear to ear - my favorite performance of the weekend.

  

The Avett Brothers:  I've only seen the Avett Brothers a handful of times, but I left each of those shows thinking that they were, hands down, the best band on the planet.  Last year the Avett Brothers came to Newport on the cusp of releasing their major label debut I And Love And You.  Their set was great, but not the catharsis that a normal Avetts show is - maybe it was the timeslot, or the fact that most of the crowd wasn't familiar with the new songs - or maybe it was just me.  But this year was completely different.  The Avetts put on an absolutely frenetic show, and the crowd at the normally laid-back Fort Stage was as active as I saw all weekend.  They mixed trademark ballads and banjo-punk stomps and kept the crowd on their feet.  They reminded me what a great band they are.  

  

The David Wax Museum:  I feel like I'm overdoing it a bit on the David Wax Museum love lately, but I can't help it - they're just too good.  To recap, the band entered a contest run by Magic Hat to win a slot at Newport.  From over 150 entries, they were selected as one of three finalists.  They won with over 3,000 votes - a testament to the number of fans they've collected through rigorous touring.  Obviously a big opportunity for the band to reach a larger audience, but it's what they did with that opportunity that made them one of the highlights of the festival for me - they absolutely played their hearts out.  Playing a mix of Mexican-influenced songs with eclectic instrumentation - accordion, jarana and donkey jawbone are featured prominently - they slowly won over the large crowd at the Quad Stage.  The clear turning point was when, halfway through the show, the band left the stage, trading the comfort of amplification for the intimacy of playing acoustically amongst the crowd.  The gospel-influenced "Let Me Rest" from 2009's Carpenter Bird showcased the band's harmonies, but it was "Unfruitful", an accordion and fiddle-led stomper from the band's upcoming album, that really brought the house down.  As the band climbed back on stage to finish their set the roar from the crowd was deafening - the had come to Newport as underdogs and conquered.

  

Green River Festival recap

By Seth Mitchell

Who would have thought that a family friendly festival - complete with children’s tent and a train - could actually rock?  Green River Music Festival in Greenfield, MA blew all preconceptions from my mind.  Now in its 24th year, the Green River Festival, which is held on the sprawling campus of Greenfield Community College, has had time to work out the kinks that plague most music festivals.  Great performers, shows that actually start on time, plenty of bathrooms and an air conditioned shuttle to transport festival- goers from the free parking lots can even make up for the lack of any on-site camping (though there are plenty of nearby state and private campgrounds, and even a few hotels).   

Families and children made up the majority of the crowd, and led to its overall friendly “mom and pop” atmosphere.  Umbrellas, chairs, and blankets took up 3/4 of the field, but allowed for those intrepid enough to actually sit on the ground or -gasp!- stand for a set to catch even the largest acts from the first or second row without any trouble.

Musical highlights of the weekend included:

A set by North Carolina bluegrass veterans Chatham County Line.  The well-dressed string quartet, who have released five albums over the past 7 years, brought huge cheers from the western MA crowd.  Their foot stomping fiddle and banjo playing brought an uncommon intimacy to the early Saturday afternoon that set the tone for the rest of the festival. 

Chatham County Line bring their folk-bluegrass to the main stageThe Felice Brothers, one of my most-anticipated sets at Green River, didn’t disappoint.  These rag-tag folk-rockers (complete with cut-off t-shirts and bandanas) mashed southern rock into bluegrass and folk in a way that would make Dylan or The Band proud.

James Felice rocking the accordion with the rest of the brothersDavid Wax Museum, one of the most energetic and entertaining acts out there, were the only performers of the festival (that I saw, anyway) to get a standing ovation large enough to warrant an encore- at which point the surprised festival planners wisely ushered the band back onstage.  Playing in the side tent, David Wax Museum whipped the crowd into a dancing frenzy with their Mexicana/folk-rock mix, with a sound so unique that the only relatively apt description would be a hybrid of Calexico meets Elvis Perkins.  David Wax (the band’s namesake) has a smile and stage presence that recalls Josh Ritter, and with such diverse influences and instruments as donkey jawbones and upright basses, his talented “Museum” seems poised to break through to new audiences. 

David Wax Museum amongst the crowdI have to admit that as a Green River virgin I entered the weekend with a pessimist’s before-realized fears for remote location festivals (anyone else remember the ill-fated Shangri-La festival of 2008? No?) 24 years in, and only 2 hours from Boston or Albany, all fears for Green River were unfounded.  This festival will continue to survive based on the locals alone.  While it is obviously a different beast than, say, Bonnaroo, that difference is a positive one.  Low key and laid back, but also festive and much more manageable.  And probably the best thing about the Green River Music Festival?  With only two stages and intelligent scheduling, you can actually see all the bands that you drove so far for.

2010 Newport Folk Preview - Part 3: David Wax Museum

David Wax Museum and the crew from Ktichen Sessions, Visible Voice and RSL celebrating their win with some Magic HatIt would be easy to make this up, but I swear it's the truth.  When I first heard that Magic Hat was putting on a contest to choose the final band added to the Newport Folk Festival bill my first thought was "The David Wax Museum would be perfect for Newport".  The folks at Magic Hat agreed, naming The David Wax Museum as one of three finalists.  Apparently the masses agreed as well, because David Wax Museum won in a very competitive contest that went down to the final hours. 

What makes them perfect for Newport, though?  They play a thoroughly original brand of Mexican-inflected Americana that is infectiously catchy and firmly rooted in tradition.  That, and their live show is something that just has to be experienced - at times a raucous party, at other moments incredibly intimate (they often play songs, unamplified, in the middle of the crowd) they make a connection with every crowd they play to.  Below is the "get out the vote" campaign video that helped secure the win in the Magic Hat contest - produced by RSL and Kitchen Sessions:

The David Wax Museum kick-off Sunday at Newport on the Quad Stage - the perfect way to start off your day in Newport!

Preview: Green River Music Festival

There's something special about local music festivals - while Coachella and Bonnaroo are great, some of my favorite festival memories are from the more intimate local festivals.  And there's no better setting for live music, in my opinion, than outdoors in the clean air of the Berkshires.  Therefore, you can understand my excitement for next weekend's Green River Music Festival.  The festival, now in its 24th year (!), features an electic mix of music -- ranging from bluegrass to folk to R&B -- and both local and national artists.  Things kick-off Friday night with a free show headlined by Hi-Country Lo-Fi (Jeffrey Foucault and Kris Delmhorst) and extends through Sunday evening with sets from Allen Toussaint, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Low Anthem, Calexico, The Felice Brothers, David Wax Museum and many more.

Tickets are a very reasonable $60 for a weekend pass - available here

Enjoy a few free tracks from some of our Green River artists and watch visible voice for full post-festival coverage:

Allen Toussaint - Southern Nights
Calexico - Sunken Waltz
The Felice Brothers - Frankie's Gun
The David Wax Museum - Persimmon Tree

Full Green River lineup:

Friday July 16: High Country Lo-fi / Joy Kills Sorrow / Academy Freightshakers

Saturday July 17
Old Crow Medicine Show / Allen Toussaint / Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars / Sweetback Sisters / Chatham County Line / Joy Kills Sorrow / Brooks Williams / Donna The Buffalo / Red Stick Ramblers / Rubblebucket / Primate Fiasco / Gandalf Murphy / Fancy Trash

Sunday July 18
Cake / Calexico / The Felice Brothers / The Low Anthem / David Wax Museum / Lake Street Dive / Unit7 / Rusty Belle / Anais Mitchell

Vote for David Wax Museum to play the Newport Folk Festival!

For those of you who have daydreamed about curating your own music festival - here's your chance (kind of).  Magic Hat has teamed up with the Newport Folk Festival for a contest that lets fans select one of the bands that will play at the festival later this summer.  From over 150 submissions, three bands were selected as finalists - and it just so happens that visible voice favorite The David Wax Museum are one of the three!

The David Wax Museum's organic Mexo-Americana sound suits the festival perfectly, and they put on one of the most energetic and fun live shows I have ever seen - they will undoubtedly win over many new fans if given the chance to play Newport.  Check out a free track from their fantastic record Carpenter Bird:

David Wax Museum - Colas

Of course, feel free to vote for whoever you like - but my vote and full support goes to DWM.  It takes only a minute to vote, let your voice be heard:  http://magichat.net/opener/voting

Then, once you've voted, make sure you have tickets to the festival.  Avett Brothers, Swell Season, Levon Helm, Yim Yames, John Prine, Justin Townes Earle, Dawes, and many more.  Get tickets here

While we're on the topic of David Wax Museum, check out this fantastic video from a house show a couple months ago, courtesy of kitchensessions.net

Kitchen Sessions #1: The David Wax Museum

Kitchen Sessions is the brainchild of visible voice contributor Steve Legare.  The idea is simple; great bands playing intimate house shows, filmed for all the world to enjoy.  Good deal.   

The first installment of Kitchen Sessions features the great David Wax Museum.  This amazing content comes courtesy of Kitchen Sessions - check out kitchensessions.net for more videos.  Also, huge thanks to guest contributor Maria Cristina Romero!

 

Combining many musical styles can be tricky, often resulting in mimicry, identity failure, or at worst, a total sonic nightmare. The David Wax Museum, however, pulls it off with seemingly effortless skill. Emerging at a time when indie roots-rock groups are a dime a dozen, the Boston-based band is an exciting exception, melding rural Mexican melodies with Mid-western folk. I was fortunate enough to experience this unique sound first-hand when The David Wax Museum brought its unparalleled musical chemistry into my living room last March.

Having heard only a few tracks off of the sextet’s second album, Carpenter Bird (September 2009), I didn’t know what to expect when Steve Legare, my housemate and Visible Voice contributor, told me the band would be coming to our apartment. Legare met Missouri-bred front man, David Wax, in February after an exuberant set at a sold-out Club Passim. When Legare invited Wax into our kitchen, he enthusiastically agreed. Just days later, The David Wax Museum was in our home, serving up its refreshing blend of Mexo-American roots-rock to an audience of intimate friends and new acquaintances.

Wax and Co. transformed the 15 x 24 living room with their effortless and ebullient play.  David stirred and strummed his guitar (and jarana), as Suz Slezak’s effervescent fiddling and occasional donkey jawbone rattling added melody and texture. Wax’s cousin and fellow Missourian, Jordan Wax, added extra flavor on accordion while Jiro Kobuko delivered masterful solos on the mandolin and dobro. With a set ranging from folk ballads to Andean-inspired chants, the foursome showcased its Latino alt-folk fusion, and left our eager ears wanting more. Despite being short two members—percussionist Greg Glassman and bassist Mike Roberts—the Wax Museum put on an unforgettable performance. Drawing us in with honey-smooth harmonies in “Beekeeper,” bringing us to our feet with “Colas,” and haunting us with hearty howls in “Unfruitful,” the band left with a roomful of Somerville fans that night. The evening culminated in the countrified son jarocho-inspired title track, “Carpenter Bird.” Jordan filled in for Glassman, the featured percussionist and vocalist on the album version, and the band performed beautifully, belting out verses from atop chairs scattered throughout the audience.

Using call-and-response techniques and an array of instruments, the group creates an engaging and authentic sound that is difficult to compare. Nestled somewhere in between Hank Williams and Calexico, The David Wax Museum carves an untapped niche for its distinct style. With more son influence than mariachi, and a lot more fiddle, “Boston’s homegrown answer to Calexico” (The Bostonist) effectively sets itself apart. What Wax lacks in natural fluency he makes up for with his smart lyrics and his infectious energy. Being tagged “one of Boston’s hottest new bands” is no easy feat, but The David Wax Museum lives up to its hype. See for yourselves this Sunday, May 2nd when the band returns to Club Passim in Harvard Square with Jiro Kokubu, Greg Glassman, and Mike Roberts. 

- Maria Cristina Romero

The David Wax Museum also play a free show in Harvard Square tomorrow (5/2) as part of the Harvard Square MayFair, and have a busy summer with many dates in the area.  Check out their full tour schedule here 

Unfruitful

 
Si Te Vas

More videos at kitchensessions.net

Recommended: Annie & The Beekeepers

Last night's Low Anthem show at the Paradise was one of those special nights where everything just fell into place perfectly.  The Low Anthem delivered a mesmerizing and heartfelt performance, but what made the night extra-special was the quality of the opening acts.  Visible Voice favorites David Wax Museum played a fantastic, energetic set and Annie & The Beekeepers started the night out with a excellent set of folk songs, highlighted by Annie Lynch's honest lyrics and complimented by upright bass, banjo and cello. 

Full show reviews (+ incredible audio!) for both The Low Anthem and David Wax Museum are coming very soon - but in the meantime check out the following track from Annie & The Beekeepers, and pick up the band's most recent EP here.  Enjoy!

The Wine Song

Annie & The Beekeepers are back in Boston at the Hyatt Regency for a Mother's Day brunch show with Ollabelle on May 9.  Get tickets here