2010 Newport Folk Preview - Part 4: The Low Anthem

As the story goes, two years ago The Low Anthem volunteered at the Newport Folk Festival, collecting recyclable bottles and handing out copies of their record to anyone that would take one.  They returned triumphantly last year as performers, playing to an overflowing crowd at the Water Stage.  This year they return as local heroes to play the main stage.  While their ascent in the last 2 years has been remarkable, The Low Anthem remain incredibly humble and grounded - just a group of talented musicians who travel from town to town to play their songs for those who will listen. 

Theirs is one of my most anticipated sets of the weekend.  2008's Oh My God, Charlie Darwin and 2007's What The Crow Brings are both incredible albums, nearly note-perfect.  However, I'm most excited to to hear the evolution of the new songs that will comprise their upcoming record.  Ghost Woman Blues, Take Out Your Ashes, Dreams Can't Chase You Down and the handful of other songs I've heard so far are devestatingly honest and heartbreaking songs that show amazing growth in Ben Knox Miller's songwriting.  Below is a full recording of The Low Anthem's recent show in Portland Maine - including some fantastic covers, including The Band's Evangeline with members of Brown Bird.  Highly recommended.

The Low Anthem
SPACE Gallery - Portland ME
April 23, 2010

To The Ghosts Who Write History Books
Ticket Taker
Apothecary
Sally, Where'd You Get Your Liquor From
Charlie Darwin
Ghost Woman Blues
Evangeline
Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around
This God Damn House
Home I'll Never Be
Cigarettes, Whiskey & Wild, Wild Women
Cage The Songbird
Take Out Your Ashes
Dreams Can't Chase You Down
Ain't No More Cane
The Horizon Is A Beltway
Maybe So

Full set download

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!

2010 Newport Folk Preview - Part 2: Dawes

Dawes is a band that's doing things the old fashioned way - they put out a fantastic record, and they're touring the hell out of it.  Debut North Hills is full of laid-back folk-rock, rich with harmonies and tales of lost love.  Live the songs are delivered with a gritty intensity - frontman Taylor Goldsmith passionately spits out every word and carefully wrings each note from the neck of his telecaster.  With such a finely-crafted sound and commanding presence, its easy to forget these guys are in their mid-20s.  Below are two exclusive tracks from their fantastic set at Great Scott back in February -- listen to the crowd reaction(!):

That Western Skyline (Live at Great Scott 2.20.10)
When My Time Comes (Live at Great Scott 2.20.10)

Full recording of the show is available here

Dawes will be on the Quad Stage Sunday at 4:50, which leaves just enough time to make a beeline for the Fort Stage for John Prine.

2010 Newport Folk Preview - Part 1: Justin Townes Earle

Justin Townes Earle at Great Scott 3.4.10First up in the series of artist spotlights is Justin Townes Earle.  The son of Newport veteran Steve Earle mixes traditional country, bluegrass, blues and folk and the result are songs that are steeped in tradition, but somehow completely original.  And while the records are great, the live show is utterly captivating as Earle leads his band through energetic renditions of his songs, and engages the audience with his amusing anecdotes and Southern coloquialisms.  Check out a few songs recorded live at Great Scott back in March as well as a fantastic HD video of JTE covering Buck Owens' Close Up The Honky Tonks from the same show:

What Do You Do When You're Lonesome (Live at Great Scott 3.4.10)
Mama's Eyes (Live at Great Scott 3.4.10)

Full recording of the show can be downloaded here

Justin Townes Earle closes Newport's new Quad Stage on Sunday and provides the perfect segue into Levon Helm's festival-closing set.

Watch visible voice each day leading up to the festival for more artist spotlights!

Festival Express: New England summer music festivals

As June rolls into July the temperatures are warming up and it's finally festival season in New England.  There's no massive festival to rival Bonnaroo or Coachella, but that doesn't mean there aren't world class festivals in our neck of the woods.  Below is a roundup of just a few that we're looking forward to - check back throughout the summer for full coverage of each, including previews (with free downloads) and post-festival recaps with photos, video and - in some cases - live audio.

Nateva Music & Camping Festival
When:  July 2-4
Where:  Oxford, ME
Tickets:  $89 / $229  BUY HERE
Bands:  FURTHER, THE FLAMING LIPS, SHE & HIM, PASSION PIT, GRIZZLY BEAR, DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, GEORGE CLINTON, THE FELICE BROTHERS, YOU CAN BE A WESLEY, BRENDA, MAGIC MAGIC and more

Free track:  Magic Magic - Jellyfish

Green River Festival
When:  July 17-18
Where:  Greenfield, MA
Tickets:  $39.95 / $59.95  BUY HERE
Bands: CALEXICO, OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW, ALLEN TOUSSAINT, CAKE, THE FELICE BROTHERS, THE LOW ANTHEM, DAVID WAX MUSEUM, RED STICK RAMBLERS, CHATHAM COUNTY LINE, JOY KILLS SORROW and more

Free track:  The David Wax Museum - Colas

Newport Folk Festival
When:  July 30-August 1
Where:  Newport, RI
Tickets:  $69 / $125  BUY HERE
Bands:  LEVON HELM, JOHN PRINE, THE AVETT BROTHERS, ANDREW BIRD, THE SWELL SEASON, SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS, YIM YAMES, THE LOW ANTHEM, JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, DAWES, BLITZEN TRAPPER and more

Free track:  The Low Anthem - Home I'll Never Be (Live in Boston)

Solid Sound Festival (curated by Wilco)
When:  August 13-15
Tickets:  $91  BUY HERE
Bands:  WILCO, JEFF TWEEDY (SOLO), THE NELS CLINE SINGERS, ON FILLMORE, AUTUMN DEFENSE, VETIVER, MAVIS STAPLES, AVI BUFFALO, MOUNTAIN MAN, BRENDA, TODD BARRY, KRISTEN SCHAAL and more

Free track:  Jeff Tweedy - Bob Dylan's 49th Beard (Live in Northampton)

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