Newport Folk Festival
Fort Adams in Newport, RI
August 1, 2009

I tried to get up early, but the best I could do was roll out of bed at 9:30 (after a pre roll out of bed to go to the bathroom trip at 7:30). I was showered, ready and on the road by a little before 10:30, figuring I'd have plenty of time to make it to Newport by the time Ramblin' Jack Elliot hit the stage at 11:30. I didn't understand why a legend like him was opening the show, and I was a little bummed that Langhorne Slim was playing at the same time.
The ride didn't go as smooth as I expected. Traffic became a problem, which had the anxiety level high as the minutes ticked away. I was able to deal until an accident on the Newport Bridge brought traffic to a standstill. I eventually made it through the city, only to get lost due to a GPS miscommunication.

I finally made it to the doors, hearing the energy of Langhorne Slim as I walked in and tried to figure out the set up. The music was lively and a great introduction to everyone walking in as the show officially started.
I found Ramblin' Jack Elliot's stage soon after walking through the gate. He was playing a folk ballad story about a guy named Joe. I was hooked, but I could only stay for one song because I wanted to see Billy Bragg almost as much as I wanted to see Pete Seeger.

I found my way to the main stage, hearing another Langhorne Slim song on my travels along the way, bought a half dozen clam cakes and paced around as Billy Bragg blew me away with his British folk sound, punk rock flair and great between song banter. He was surprisingly funny (dedicating a song to the poor folks that couldn't afford tickets, instead parking their yachts on the water to hear the music), which made every part of his set entertaining. He didn't play anything from Back to Basics, but I was happy to hear his ode to Phil Ochs and just his voice in general. I didn't recognize as many songs as I expected, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of his powerful set.

I had some time to kill before Tom Morello, so I made sure to check out the other bands playing. I heard about a song and a half of Seeger, Pete Seeger's grandson, before catching what I thought would be the middle of Ben Kweller's set, but turned out to be the last song. It was a really good song, one that made me sad his set was over but eager to check out his music.

The main stage had somebody playing that I checked out for a little bit before heading to see Tom Morello, who played an incredible set. Any fan of music knows what a great guitarist he is, but his voice is nearly as good, making for a very special set. It was obvious that he was having an amazing time on stage. After an inspiring version of "This Land is Your Land," which had the whole crowd singing along, he told a story of sneaking into Niagra Falls with Rage Against the Machine and the incredible feeling that brought him. He compared that feeling to the time he saw a famous (I forgot which one) painting, the first time he looked in his wife's eyes and his set at the Newport Folk Festival. Most musicians will use that rhetoric to get a rise out of the crowd, but Morello was genuine. He had a huge smile and played two encores because he didn't want to get off the stage. It was a wonderful moment to be a part of.

I headed across the way to catch The Low Anthem, the lone local band playing this day. I'm a huge fan of Charlie Darwin, but they played a lot of slower songs that didn't have the kick I was hoping for, especially since they were playing a great sing along number when I got there. They had a big crowd, and they played well, but they were a little too bland. I will still check out their live show the next chance I get.

My father was dropping off my mother, who wanted to go to the show but thought 11:30-8 was too long a day. Due to excruciating traffic on the bridge, she didn't get there until after 3, during Mavis Staples' set. Once we met up, we found a nice spot in the shade and watched her blow me away with her powerful voice. She reminded me of a female James Brown, only stronger. She got the crowd into it and told a great story about going to hear Dr. King speak at a church with her family. The family was inspired and decided to create music for the movement. Her set was great, and it felt nice to relax in the shade, laying down and taking in all of her sound.

My mom was comfortable in the shade with her knitting, so she decided to stay there while I checked out Fleet Foxes. Their beards were in full swing, and I was able to enjoy a few songs while munching on apple dumplings and then laying down in the sun.

Making my way back to my mother (and the Italian tuna that awaited) at the beginning of Iron and Wine's set was straight out of a children's book. The crowd was packed in with hardly any room to move. The sun was beaming directly on me, and I was yearning for some shade.

I slowly crept my way to my saved spot as Iron and Wine played his soothing blend of indie and folk, which the crowd was loving, at least until The Decemberists started playing on the main stage and some people started clearing out, meaning I was finally able to get to my mom, the shade and that Italian tuna my stomach was yearning for. Full and happy, I was able to completely enjoy the rest of the set (which lasted over an hour) and got a chuckle out of someone asking if they could live in his beard.

The Decemberists played for a long time, and I must admit that they sound better live than on CD, which is decent in itself. The stories in the songs were really captivating, and they had a good hunk of the now entire festival crowd singing along, whether they knew the songs or not. Its not often that bands can have that kind of power, but The Decemberists did.

I was surprised that a good amount of people left at the end of The Decemberists' set, but there they were walking towards their cars, about to miss one of the most legendary musicians of all time in Pete Seeger. He admitted that his voice wasn't what it once was and he wouldn't be doing much singing, but the 91 year old icon did say that he, with the help of his grandson (and eventually the entire Folk Festival cast), would lead the crowd in song, which he did, putting a tear in my eye and a smile on my face. It was great hearing his stories about Leadbelly before playing "Midnight Special" and Woody Guthrie before playing "This Land is Your Land." He also played "If I Had a Hammer" and a few songs that I don't know. He only played seven songs, but there was so much feeling going on, and it felt good to be in the presence of such a legend that it was worth sitting in the frustrating traffic on the way home.

Written by: RFBACK