Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings - If You Call (live on Conan) //

Conan O’Brien didn’t sit in with the band as he did with Jack White last week, but he did give Sharon Jones and her band the prime TV appearance they deserve. They will be playing in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, so you may want to get on that if you’re going to be in NYC.

-MW

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings feat. Lee Fields - Stranded in Your Love (live in Prospect Park) //

There were people filling every inch of the band shell area and beyond in Prospect Park on Saturday night for perhaps the most highly anticipated show of Celebrate Brooklyn’s summer season. The Budos Band set the mood with their instrumental funk jams.  But then Sharon Jones took the stage and the crowd erupted with energy that lasted until the last song of the night. 

One of the more memorable moments of the evening came when Daptone Records label-mate Lee Fields joined Sharon and the Dap-Kings on stage for s soulful duel of “Stranded in Your Love.”

-MW

The Budos Band - Unbroken, Unshaven //

The third album from the Daptone Records stalwarts, The Budos Band III, is set to drop on August 10th. You’re not going to want to miss them performing with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings at Prospect Park on August 7th. Listen to/download a track from the new album above.

-MW

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.”

 ”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

* Newport Folk Festival® is a registered service mark of George Wein and Festival Productions, Inc. All rights reserved.

David Byrne/Fatboy Slim feat. Sharon Jones- Dancing Together

Off the new concept album Here Lies Love, Sharon Jones teams up with David Byrne and Fatboy Slim to tell the story of Imelda Marcos, former First Lady of the Philippines. The disco-y interpretation of her life is set to take to the theatrical stage in the future, but for now we can picture what it would have been like to live in Imelda’s shoes through Tori Amos, Cyndi Lauper, Sia, Florence Welsh (of Florence and the Machine) and Santigold.

Music to your ears - from mine - with love

<3 LSizzle

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - She Ain’t A Child No More (live on Colbert) //

Stephen Colbert is on a musical roll.  After a performance by the “Gorillaz” last week, he welcomed Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings to the stage on last night’s show.  You can watch his interview with Ms. Jones at ColbertNation.com and enjoy the performance above.

-MW

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - I Learned the Hard Way

I just found the title track of the upcoming Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings album available as a free download (via Pretty Much Amazing).  The album drops on April 6 and should be as amazing as all of their previous work.  Take a listen and drift back the vintage funk-land.

-MW

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - “Ain’t No Chimneys in the Projects”

A brand new Christmas soul track from Daptone Records.

-MW