Shows
Newport Folk Festival 2008
August 1-3, 2008
at Fort Adams State Park in Newport‚ RI
by Kieran Delaney | photography by Eva Nowakowski
August 5, 2008
Newport Folk Festival 2008
August 1-3, 2008
at Fort Adams State Park in Newport‚ RI
by Kieran Delaney | photography by Eva Nowakowski
August 5, 2008
![](/photos/332/Picture 004.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 032.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 040.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 042.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 055.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 063.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 004.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 032.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 040.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 042.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 055.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 063.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 067.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 080.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 083.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 092.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 093.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 097.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 102.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 107.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 112.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 136.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 165.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 183.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 191.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 206.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 210.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 222.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 248.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 249.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 253.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 256.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 266.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 276.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 279.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 295.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 334.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 348.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 358.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 367.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 403.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 410.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 417.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 418.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 422.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 432.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 434.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 437.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 469.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 478.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 489.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 495.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 496.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 500.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 518.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 523.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 1001.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 1003.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 1007.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 1010.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 1014.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 1030.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 1044.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 1047.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 1049.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture 1053.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-002.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-003.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-021.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-032.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-037.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-047.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-057.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-057_1.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-061.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-068.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-078.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-082.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-083.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-092.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-104.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-105.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-108.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-126.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-135.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-140.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-142.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-150.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-157.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-165.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-172.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-175.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-195.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-197.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-215.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-222.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-232.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-258.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-265.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-286.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-291.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-305.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-312.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-316.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-321.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-333.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-348.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-367.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-379.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-408.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-410.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-414.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-419.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-454.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-454_1.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-478.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-495.jpg)
![](/photos/332/Picture-499.jpg)
Nearing its 50th anniversary‚ the Newport Folk Festival is showing no signs of age. Infused with youthful innovation and the exuberant spirit of the troubadours of the past‚ this year's performers took the festival in exciting new directions. Though at first glance the lineup seemed to be missing the traditional music of years past‚ many of the artists paid homage to the simpler acoustic music of their forebears. Founded in 1959‚ the festival is best known for Bob Dylan's 1965 performance‚ in which he first went electric to both popular acclaim and grassroots discontent.
In a similar moment of innovative folk/rock fusion‚ My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James opened his Saturday evening set with a synthesizer accompanied rendition of "Tonight I Want To Celebrate With You" to a hushed audience‚ attentive to both his soaring vocal lines and the swirling textures of his omnichord. After a few moments of expounding on the finer points of pointillism‚ James settled into the hour-long set‚ playing primarily on his acoustic guitar for a crowd that spilled out of the Harbor Stage tent on all sides. Despite weathering heavy rainfall for the duration of his performance‚ concertgoers remained in a state of hypnotic tranquility‚ enjoying a few quiet moments with James‚ better known for rafter-shaking rock with My Morning Jacket.
"That's the crazy thing about all these old festivals‚ is that it's been going on forever‚ and all the old festivals are still going on right now while this one's happening‚ so we're on top of ghosts that are on top of ghosts that are on top of other ghosts‚" James joked‚ hinting at his own sense of the depth of history inherent in the music he plays.
Earlier in the day‚ Jakob Dylan‚ the son of folk music's most prolific bard‚ played to a sun-drenched crowd of listeners at the intimate Harbor Stage. Known primarily as the songwriter and lead singer of mid-'90s chart-toppers The Wallflowers‚ the young Dylan is no slouch creatively and certainly not content to rest on his laurels. Trading in the college radio/alternative sound and payoff pop choruses of his former band for an alt-country flavor on his latest release Seeing Things‚ Dylan was nonetheless able to bring his unique sensibilities to the performance. Backed by a compact and highly capable‚ not to mention well-dressed‚ group featuring former Black Crowes guitarist Audley Freed‚ the famed hit-writer drew a diverse crowd to his early afternoon performance.
Trey Anastasio‚ formerly of Phish‚ played the towering Fort Stage to a crowd of several thousand on Saturday afternoon. His rare acoustic set included the ballad "If I Was a Sailor‚" which he dedicated to the many boaters enjoying his performance from the waterways surrounding the venue. Anastasio also took a moment to thank both his many fans and longtime songwriting partner Tom Marshall‚ who looked on from the stage wings. The day proved to be a quiet contrast to the progressive improvisational rock that became synonymous with Phish during their 21-year career.
Chan Marshall‚ aka Cat Power‚ was one of the highlights of the day. An expressive songwriter and vocalist‚ Marshall gave her audience their money's worth‚ climbing down from the stage mid-set and singing the majority of her songs from the center of the crowd. Noticing puzzled looks from her production staff‚ she offered only a brief explanation.
"I like it down here. I'm going to stay‚" Marshall put plainly.
A remarkable contrast to the gritty look and sound of Cat Power‚ She and Him recaptures and revamps the aesthetic and spirit of 1950s and '60s country music‚ reinventing the style in fanciful‚ awe-inspiring ballads. The group consists of guitarist M. Ward and musician/actress Zooey Deschanel backed by an adept rhythm section capable of impossibly delicate textures and harmony. Introduced on the set of 2007's The Go-Getter‚ in which Deschanel stars and Ward provided music‚ the duo went on to record Volume 1‚ released in March 2008 to popular acclaim. A haunting performance of "Sentimental Heart" highlighted the mid-afternoon performance notwithstanding some minor technical difficulties. The Harbor Stage set drew one of the most diverse and vocal crowds of the day despite the onset of heavy rain and scattered flashes of lightning.Saturday's headliners‚ The Black Crowes‚ were received at the Fort Stage later that evening with thunderous applause and a vibrant sunset as the storm cleared. Starting with an acoustic duet of Bob Dylan's "Girl From The North Country‚" the Robinson brothers brought out the other band members gradually‚ easing into their blues -- and country -- driven brand of rock. With any stage banter the group offered virtually drowned out by applause‚ it is clear that the Georgia natives are among the elite of the current folk/rock scene.
The exciting lineup of young folk-influenced groups that took the stage Saturday at Fort Adams State Park in Newport proved not only that traditional music continues to be a source of inspiration for people young and old‚ but that the Newport Folk Festival itself is as popular as ever. Make no mistake: This isn't your grandfather's folk.
related articles
Shows: The Peach Music Festival
Shows: Jim James
Shows: Kaki King
Shows: Trey Anastasio Band
Albums: Jim James - Regions of Light and Sounds of God
More on: Jesca Hoop, Steve Earle, Trey Anastasio, Cat Power, Stephen and Damian Marley, Jakob Dylan, Richie Havens, The Black Crowes, Jim James, Gillian Welch, Levon Helm, Over the Rhine, Kaki King, Kate Taylor, Calexico, The Honor, Jimmy Buffet, Son Volt
Shows: The Peach Music Festival
Shows: Jim James
Shows: Kaki King
Shows: Trey Anastasio Band
Albums: Jim James - Regions of Light and Sounds of God
More on: Jesca Hoop, Steve Earle, Trey Anastasio, Cat Power, Stephen and Damian Marley, Jakob Dylan, Richie Havens, The Black Crowes, Jim James, Gillian Welch, Levon Helm, Over the Rhine, Kaki King, Kate Taylor, Calexico, The Honor, Jimmy Buffet, Son Volt
new to state of mind
Shows: moe.
Shows: Yonder Mountain String Band
Shows: Grand Point North 2014
Shows: Catskill Chill 2014
Shows: moe.down 15
Shows: Gov't Mule
Shows: Umphrey's McGee
Shows: Newport Folk Festival 2014
Shows: Widespread Panic
Albums: Phish - Fuego
Shows: moe.
Shows: Yonder Mountain String Band
Shows: Grand Point North 2014
Shows: Catskill Chill 2014
Shows: moe.down 15
Shows: Gov't Mule
Shows: Umphrey's McGee
Shows: Newport Folk Festival 2014
Shows: Widespread Panic
Albums: Phish - Fuego
most popular
Blog: Radiohead: Adam King tries to convince me they are aliens…
Blog: New Video/Song From Dr. Dog - "Broken Heart"
Blog: Mountain Oasis welcomes NIN‚ Bassnectar and Pretty Lights
Blog: Mehliana Tour (Brad Mehldau + Mark Guiliana)
Blog: Video: Club d'Elf with Marco Benevento - "Bass Beatbox"
Blog: Reed Mathis and Victor Wooten Talk Bass
Features: Conversation with Kurt Rosenwinkel
Features: Conversation with Tommy Benedetti of John Brown's Body
Features: Conversation with Bill Kreutzmann
Shows: Rothbury 2009
Blog: Radiohead: Adam King tries to convince me they are aliens…
Blog: New Video/Song From Dr. Dog - "Broken Heart"
Blog: Mountain Oasis welcomes NIN‚ Bassnectar and Pretty Lights
Blog: Mehliana Tour (Brad Mehldau + Mark Guiliana)
Blog: Video: Club d'Elf with Marco Benevento - "Bass Beatbox"
Blog: Reed Mathis and Victor Wooten Talk Bass
Features: Conversation with Kurt Rosenwinkel
Features: Conversation with Tommy Benedetti of John Brown's Body
Features: Conversation with Bill Kreutzmann
Shows: Rothbury 2009