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.

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]

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...

Continue reading "Newport Folk Fest 50 - Day 1 pics, video, audio (Pete Seeger, Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, Shara Worden as Dylan & more)"

Old Crow Medicine Show + David Rawlings & Gillian Welch @ Town Hall (muzikspy)

Old Crow Medicine Show, Dave Rawlings Machine (feat. Gillian Welch), The Felice Brothers and Justin Townes Earle will join together for the Big Surprise Tour, a revue-style show that'll travel for two weeks this August.

Shows will be composed of two 90-minute sets broken up by an intermission. In a free form ramshackle flow the bands and artists will share the stage, taking part in each other's songs, resurrecting old standards, and playing newly written collaborative material as they go.

The tour hits NYC Thursday, August 6th, with a show at the Beacon Theatre. Tickets are now on presale (password = metro) ; general sale starts Friday, June 12th at 9am.

There are also plenty of chances to catch each of the acts this summer before the Big Surprise Tour starts. Old Crow Medicine Show will be at the Clearwater Festival on June 20th and will open two nights for the Dave Matthews Band at the Jones Beach Theater on July 21st and 22nd. The Felice Brothers are currently touring the West Coast -- they'll play the Surf Lodge in Montauk on July 11th. The Dave Rawlings Machine (featuring Gillian Welch) performs at the Newport Folk Fesival on August 2nd, where Welch plays her own set one day prior. Justin Townes Earle appears at Bonnaroo on June 12th.

All tour dates and Big Surprise poster, below...

Continue reading "Big Surprise Tour w/ Old Crow Medicine Show, Justin Townes Earle, David Rawlings, Gillian Welch, Felice Brothers"