2010 Newport Folk Festival - Jul 30-Aug 1 - Fort...

2010 Newport Folk Festival - Jul 30-Aug 1 - Fort Adams State Park //

“This is the place where Dylan went electric and The Pixies went acoustic.” (Jay Sweet, Paste Magazine)

3 days. 3 stages. Get your ticket NOW at http://www.newportfolkfest.net/

The 51st Annual Newport Folk Festival is NOT just easy-listening for those with silver hues in their locks or folklore fest-head hipsters. No, no, no. “Folk festival is a misnomer; it’s way more than that,” says Sweet. “Like Pete Seeger said, folk is what you make it.” (via melophobe).

This years line-up will have you frolicking around your office in anticipation:

Friday, July 30 (International Tennis Hall of Fame):

Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers
Tim O’Brien
Sarah Jarosz

Saturday, July 31 (Fort Adams State Park):

John Prine
Andrew Bird
Brandi Carlile
The Low Anthem
Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket
Doc Watson & David Holt
Calexico
Dawes
Nneka
O’Death
Liz Longley
Blitzen Trapper
A.A. Bondy
Sam Bush
Horsefeathers

Sunday, Aug. 1 (Fort Adams State Park):

Levon Helm’s Ramble on the Road
The Swell Season
The Avett Brothers
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
Richie Havens
Justin Townes Earle
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Punch Brothers with Chris Thile
The Felice Brothers
Tao Seeger Band
Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons
Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore
Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three

Many of these musicians have performed and recorded together or crossed paths along the musical highway and they see this storied festival as being so steeped in cultural and historic importance that they liken it to “coming home” to the very roots of the folk-music tradition.

“Newport is like a second home to me and I always look forward to the next visit,” said George Wein (Festival Director). “After celebrating the 50thanniversary [last year] with Pete [Seeger] and 17,000 fans, I can’t wait to see the magic unfold over the three days.”

Fort Adams State Park

”There is something so perfect about being in Newport near the water and that old stone fort – all gathered in to sing with family and friends – that keeps me wanting to come back year after year,” said Yim Yames (aka, Jim James from My Morning Jacket). “It’s like the walls of the fort are arms, and I feel secure when I am near them, protected by the spirits there – past, present, and future. And, I like to hear our voices bouncing off those old stone walls as my eye drifts to the sailboats on the seashore and the people just smiling and taking it all in.”

The 2010 edition builds upon the energy of the last year’s half-century celebration to include such legends as Doc Watson, whose infectious “picking” on the flattop guitar expanded the expressive possibilities for traditional country-and-bluegrass and John Prine, whose idiosyncratic, yet soulful compositions have been recorded by the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash and George Strait. Writer-actor-comedian Steve Martin also shows his commitment to serious banjo picking at this year’s festival where he’ll appear with his Steep Canyon Rangers.

Andrew Bird, who’s been engaging audiences throughout the country with his resourceful deployment of fiddling, picking and whistling makes his only 2010 U. S. festival appearance on the weekend bill.

We vagabonds are looking forward to personal favourites Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeroes, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Yim Yames. Rhode Island artists O’Death and The Low Anthem also will perform on one of the three stages at Fort Adams.

All tickets for George Wein’s Newport Folk Festival are available on-line, by phone and by mail. General admission tickets (single-day passes only) also can be purchased in person at the Newport Visitor Information Center, located at 23 America’s Cup Avenue.

There will be a festival office in the Newport area where tickets can be purchased in person at a later date. For general information, craft vendor information or to leave a message for festival staff, call the festival hotline at (401) 848-5055. For more information, log on to www.newportfolkfest.net.

Music to your ears. From mine. With love. -k

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