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Posted in music | pictures on August 7, 2009
Newport Folk Fest 50 - Day 1 pics, video, audio (Pete Seeger, Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, Shara Worden as Dylan & more)
photos by Jim Brueckner
"Half a century ago, Pete Seeger helped found the Newport Folk Festival, a weekend notorious for its dichotomies- Rhode Island high society and scrappy folk singers, old time traditions and new sounds, social rebellion and responsible activism. At this year's 50th anniversary, the festival came full circle for Seeger and other Newport regulars.While we were busy worrying about the weather and All Points West here in NYC, The Newport Folk Festival was turning 50 up in Newport, Rhode Island (Aug 1-2, 2009). NPR was there and has archived streams of many of the performances. We have more pictures (from the first day for now), and some videos (including one of the Bob Dylan reenactment), below...In addition to appearing and performing for the umpteenth time, Seeger was honored with an all out stage show courtesy of indie rockers the Decemberists. With frontman Colin Meloy narrating and guitarist Chris Funk playing the part of Seeger, plus Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) as Bob Dylan, the crew reenacted an infamous scene from the 1965 festival: the moment when Bob Dylan "went electric." According to Rolling Stone, while Funk was miming a frazzled Seeger attempting to unplug Dylan's raucous reinvention, Meloy quipped, "This was back in the day when the PA system was fueled entirely by burning wood. Pete was back there cutting the wood, and he became so overwhelmed with emotion that his hatchet almost slipped and severed the power cables."
Seeger knew the sketch was all in good fun and soon joined the Decemberists on stage for a sing-a-long. Gillian Welch, Fleet Foxes, and even Seeger's grandson Tao joined in on the jam. The 90-year-old legend even cranked out a solo or two. After all, as festival promoter George Wein said Saturday, "Pete Seeger is the Newport Folk Festival."" [American Songwriter]
The Avett Brothers
Tom Morello
Low Anthem
Gillian Welch
Brett Dennen
Fleet Foxes
Iron and Wine
The Decemberists
A Singalong with Pete & Tao Seeger and friends
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Newport Folk Fest DAY TWO PICS HERE.
Fleet Foxes also played All Points West too.
Newport video...
"Wanting Comes In Waves/Repaid" PART I by The Decemberists @ Newport Folk Festival 50 (8/1/09)
"Wanting Comes In Waves/Repaid" PART II by The Decemberists @ Newport Folk Festival 50 (8/1/09)
Decemberists Re-enact Bob Dylan Going Electric - Newport Folk Festival 2009
Pete Seeger & Friends at Newport: This Land Is Your Land
Pete Seeger singing "This Land Is Your Land" at the 2009 Newport Folk Festival, accompanied by most of the day's other performers: Tao Rodriguez Seeger, Billy Bragg, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Ben Kweller, The Fleet Foxes, The Low Anthem, The Decemberists, and others.Pete Seeger-Turn, Turn, Turn at Newport
Day 2 coming soon...
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Posted on August 7, 2009 1:17 AM
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Comments (18)
It was a pretty awesome day, the weather couldn't be better. Low Anthem were easily the highlight.
Posted by Anonymous | August 7, 2009 1:29 AM
Fuckin' hippies....
Posted by Anonymous | August 7, 2009 6:10 AM
Nice "folk costume" from Decemberist guy.
Posted by Anonymous | August 7, 2009 6:18 AM
this was definitely the festival of the summer!
Posted by Anonymous | August 7, 2009 8:38 AM
Ramblin' Jack Elliot in there with Gillian and David.
Shouldn't Gillian Welch call her act Gillian Welch and David Rawlings?
BTW, They were absolutely fantastic last night at the Big Surprise tour at the Beacon. (Billed as the Dave Rawlings Machine).
Posted by Kurt C. | August 7, 2009 9:18 AM
I agree with 8:38am! The weather, the lineup, the setting, the experience = a win for a classic barebones festival compared to all the rest that fork out big cash for huge names and glitzy setups.
Posted by Anonymous | August 7, 2009 9:33 AM
RI yay!
Posted by Anonymous | August 7, 2009 9:48 AM
Great vibe, great show.
Posted by Anonymous | August 7, 2009 9:53 AM
when I see pictures like that it makes me think I'm a bad person because all I want to do is smack those people
Posted by Anonymous | August 7, 2009 10:00 AM
Rubbish, all of it. It's 2009 and young people are making tired old music.
Posted by Anonymous | August 7, 2009 10:10 AM
Check out another recap of the festival here: http://www.sonixperience.com/home/2009/8/3/newport-folk-festival-day-1-8109.html
Posted by Anonymous | August 7, 2009 10:14 AM
"when I see pictures like that it makes me think I'm a bad person because all I want to do is smack those people"
You are undoubtedly a bad person. You're probably into schadenfreude too, aren't you?
Posted by Shiny Happy Person | August 7, 2009 11:08 AM
That guy from Decemberists looks like shit! I'd like to punch him in the face.
Posted by Anonymous | August 7, 2009 11:45 AM
no you wouldn't.
Posted by Anonymous | August 7, 2009 12:05 PM
earthy.
Posted by Anonymous | August 7, 2009 12:50 PM
this does nothing to quell my hatred for the decemberists
Posted by Anonymous | August 7, 2009 1:39 PM
When I'm 90 years old, I hope I am in as good a shape as Pete Seeger is in.
Posted by Kurt C. | August 7, 2009 2:29 PM
This looked infinitely better than All Points Worst
Posted by Travis | August 7, 2009 3:36 PM