Artists to Watch at Newport Folk Festival 2008
Newport Folk Festival kicks off August 1, 2008, in Newport, Rhode Island. This is one of the most popular folk music festivals in North America, and the history of artists to have graced the Newport Folk Festival stage is long and impressive. A lot has changed since Newport's glory days during the 1960s folk revival, but there are still plenty of artists on the roster you don't want to miss this year. Here are my recommendations.
Hardly an up-and-comer, Gillian Welch has established herself as one of the most admired and respected contemporary American folk songwriters. Together with David Rawlings, her live performances are absolutely infectious. And, if at least one of her songs doesn't make you cry, you need to check your pulse.
Performing: Sunday, Aug. 3
Purchase/Download: "Revelator"
For fans of: Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Dar WilliamsMore »
The Avett Brothers are one of the most exciting bands coming out of the vibrant roots music revival down in North Carolina. If you're still unfamiliar with their work, there's no better place to become acquainted with it than at Newport Folk Festival, where they'll be hitting the stage fresh off the release of their latest disc, The Second Gleam.
Performing: Sunday, Aug. 3
Purchase/Download: "Souls Like the Wheels"
For fans of: Bombadil, Infamous Stringdusters, Bob DylanMore »
What's not to like about Brandi Carlile's music? She could sing the Happy Birthday song and make it a chills-inducing statement of vocal artistry, as her dexterous backup band plays impressively along. Besides, word has it they've been working in a Nashville studio on their follow-up to 2007's T Bone Burnett-produced The Story, which means their Newport set this year will likely be sprinkled with some of those new songs.
Performing: Sunday, Aug. 2
Purchase/Dwonload: "Downpour"
For fans of: Indigo Girls, kd lang, Patsy ClineMore »
The Felice Brothers are another one of those acts coming up these days, garnering a whole lot of attention. Keeping attuned to the roots of contemporary American folk music, the Felice Brothers are also clearly influenced by bluegrass, country, and modern rock. They'll be showing off their stuff this year at Newport, and you may as well hop on the train.
Performing: Saturday, Aug. 2
Purchasel/Download: "Take This Hammer" (Live)
For Fans of: Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan, the Avett BrothersMore »
I came to know of Kaki King as an innovative, mind-blowing guitarist. Since then, however, she's released a couple of albums full of original music with vocals. Arty and esoteric, her music is nothing if not exquisitely creative.
Performing: Sunday, Aug. 3
Purchase/Download: "Legs to Make Us Longer"
For fans of: Janis Ian, Ani DiFranco, Bob DylanMore »
•Gillian Welch
Hardly an up-and-comer, Gillian Welch has established herself as one of the most admired and respected contemporary American folk songwriters. Together with David Rawlings, her live performances are absolutely infectious. And, if at least one of her songs doesn't make you cry, you need to check your pulse.
Performing: Sunday, Aug. 3
Purchase/Download: "Revelator"
For fans of: Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Dar WilliamsMore »
•The Avett Brothers
The Avett Brothers are one of the most exciting bands coming out of the vibrant roots music revival down in North Carolina. If you're still unfamiliar with their work, there's no better place to become acquainted with it than at Newport Folk Festival, where they'll be hitting the stage fresh off the release of their latest disc, The Second Gleam.
Performing: Sunday, Aug. 3
Purchase/Download: "Souls Like the Wheels"
For fans of: Bombadil, Infamous Stringdusters, Bob DylanMore »
•Brandi Carlile
What's not to like about Brandi Carlile's music? She could sing the Happy Birthday song and make it a chills-inducing statement of vocal artistry, as her dexterous backup band plays impressively along. Besides, word has it they've been working in a Nashville studio on their follow-up to 2007's T Bone Burnett-produced The Story, which means their Newport set this year will likely be sprinkled with some of those new songs.
Performing: Sunday, Aug. 2
Purchase/Dwonload: "Downpour"
For fans of: Indigo Girls, kd lang, Patsy ClineMore »
•The Felice Brothers
The Felice Brothers are another one of those acts coming up these days, garnering a whole lot of attention. Keeping attuned to the roots of contemporary American folk music, the Felice Brothers are also clearly influenced by bluegrass, country, and modern rock. They'll be showing off their stuff this year at Newport, and you may as well hop on the train.
Performing: Saturday, Aug. 2
Purchasel/Download: "Take This Hammer" (Live)
For Fans of: Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan, the Avett BrothersMore »
•Kaki King
I came to know of Kaki King as an innovative, mind-blowing guitarist. Since then, however, she's released a couple of albums full of original music with vocals. Arty and esoteric, her music is nothing if not exquisitely creative.
Performing: Sunday, Aug. 3
Purchase/Download: "Legs to Make Us Longer"
For fans of: Janis Ian, Ani DiFranco, Bob DylanMore »
Source...