In a word, the lineup for the Newport Folks Fest is spectacular. KUNC & NPR Music are streaming the fest live all weekend.
It’s a tight weekend at that. There are 31 bands in all on the main bill, including Beck, The Avett Brothers, Shovels & Rope, Amanda Palmer and more. Here are our picks for the Friday schedule, which will be webcast here.
Benji: Mountain Goats
John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats may be one of the most prolific musicians going. The band has released 14 albums with no end in sight.
http://vimeo.com/7907281
Their sound ranges from low-fidelity home recordings on a boom box to lush fully produced autobiographical songs. They have played everywhere from the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival to Carnegie. The band should provide one of the most diverse and entertaining sets at this year’s Newport Folk Festival (streaming here at 4:30 ET/2:30 MST).
Wendy: JD McPherson
JD McPherson brings a fun retro mix of rockabilly, R&B, and bluesy rock & roll to the 21st century—complete with occasional (intentional) distortion. (JD's set is archived here, listen to it now.)
In 2012, he released his solo debut, Signs and Signifiers, which was picked up by Rounder Records.
http://youtu.be/066ZhVlK1mQ
His latest single, pays homage to his home state teaming up with musician, songwriter, bandleader, entertainer, and preservationist Pokey LaFarge for the song, "Good Old Oklahoma" -- a fun retro mash of Dixieland and Bob Wills (without the twin fiddles). 100 percent of the proceeds from the song on his website (“Pay what you like—minimum price $0.99”) goes to the Oklahoma City Community Fund‘s Tornado Relief Endowment.
Friday Newport Folks Fest Schedule (all times MST and subject to change)
- 12:30-1:00 Kingsley Flood
- 1:00-1:30 Milk Carton Kids
- 1:30-2:00 JD McPherson
- 24:00-2:30 Blake Mills
- 2:30-3:00 Mountain Goats
- 35:00-4:00 Phosphorescent
- 4:00-4:30 Amanda Palmer
- 4:30-6:00 Old Crow Medicine Show
