Monthly Archives: April 2014

Week 10 Of Newport Folk Festival Lineup Announcements Started With A Bang!

Newport Folk Festival Logo
Newport Folk Festival Logo

The 10th week started off with an amazing announcement, as has every week before this week!

This additions to the Festival lineup are:

Ryan Adams – he’s finally playing the Festival!!!

The Deslondes – this band is incredible! I saw them last fall and was blown away – they’re going to be perfect for the Festival

Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer – I’ve heard good things about these singer-songwriters and look forward to catching their set

Sun Kil Moon – another artist of whom I’ve heard only positive opinions so I’m excited to have the opportunity to see them at the Fort

The lineup, so far, includes:

Friday:  The Devil Makes Three, Band of Horses, Death Vessel, Jenny Lewis, Phox, Robert Hunter, Reignwolf, Jimmy Cliff, Lake Street Dive, Tall Tall Trees, Noah Gundersen, Ryan Adams, Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer, Sun Kil Moon

Saturday:  Shakey Graves, The Oh Hellos, Benjamin Booker, Nickel Creek, Shovels and Rope, Houndmouth, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, The Milk Carton Kids, Aoife O’Donovan, Willie Watson, Puss n Boots, Lucius, Deer Tick

Sunday:  Hurray for the Riff Raff, Mavis Staples, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Trampled by Turtles, Gregory Alan Isakov, Lucero, Caitlin Rose, Conor Oberst, Dawes, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Leif Vollebekk, The Lonesome Trio, Jeff Tweedy, Valerie June, The Deslondes

An Ethereal Performance By A King

Carole King, that is…

Carole King

Carole King

Let me start by saying that this is not going to be a review but rather an expression of the high esteem in which I hold Carole.

Carole and The Blue States

Carole and The Blue States

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Huge Announcement from the Lowell Summer Music Series

Wow! When John Marciano, the man who books the talent for the Lowell Summer Music Series, said that there was going to be a huge announcement, he wasn’t kidding!  I’m pleased to announce that Gregg Allman with guest Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band will perform on Saturday, August 9.

Lowell Summer Music Series

Lowell Summer Music Series

This an incredibleaddition to the already wonderful lineup.
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A Real King Graced The Stage

BB King is one of the first blues musicians with whom I fell in love when I was around 13 years old. I had not seen the 88-year-old BB perform in at least fifteen years, so I was overdue for one of his shows.

Quinn Sullivan and BB King

Quinn Sullivan and BB King

BB is a living legend; he has been performing for 66 years, which is more than many artists can say. Last night, Lynn Auditorium was the scene of his most recent performance.

BB

BB

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Bluesy Soul Was In The House

I was not familiar with John Németh & The Bo-Keys before this show; to be honest, I went because I wanted a table for the late show that followed.

John Nemeth

John Németh

Whatever the reason, I’m glad I went to Johnny D’s early because I was introduced to a terrific blues/soul harmonica player and singer, as well as to The Bo-Keys.

The Bo-Keys

The Bo-Keys

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Stellar Guitarists At Club Passim

I saw Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge perform together at the Deadly Gentlemen’s Ball in January, so I knew what to expect or so I thought.

Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge

Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge

I would venture to guess that the more they play together, the better they get; that was certainly the case last week at Club Passim. Read the rest of this entry

Amazing Evening of Acoustic Soul and Blues

I had little idea of what to expect from Southern Soul Assembly, who performed at the House of Blues this week.

Southern Soul Assembly (Luther Dickinseon, Marc Broussard, JJ Grey, and Anders Osborne, l to r)

Southern Soul Assembly (Luther Dickinseon, Marc Broussard, JJ Grey, and Anders Osborne, l to r)

I knew this show was billed as ‘southern songwriters in the round’ and that’s an accurate description of it. It does not being to convey, however, the quality of what I heard this night. Read the rest of this entry

New Wave Music Is Still Relevant

Believe it or not, between 1981 and 2005, I did not go to many concerts so I never saw Neil Finn perform. Not with Split Enz in the 1980s. Not with Crowded House in the 1980s or 1990s. Not with his brother Tim in the 2000s.

Neil Finn and Band

Neil Finn and Band

Neil is currently touring in support of his recent release, ‘Dizzy Heights’; he appeared Monday night at the Shubert Theatre, a venue that hosts a variety of theatrical and musical productions.  Read the rest of this entry

Amazing Newport Folk Festival Lineup Announcements!

Newport Folk Festival Logo
Newport Folk Festival Logo

The 9th week started off with an amazing announcement, as has every week before this week!

This additions to the Festival lineup are:

Jeff Tweedy – what can I say other than this is my favorite announcement to date (I’ll bet I’ve said that before and I’ll probably say it again)!  I’ve only seen him with Wilco so seeing him solo – and hopefully with Mavis Staples in a reprise of ‘The Weight’…

Tall Tall Trees – described as a ‘psychedelic banjo-playing gentleman’ (sounds intriguing)

Noah Gundersen – a young singer-songwriter from Seattle who I’ve missed in his last few area shows

Valerie June – she describes her music as ‘organic moonshine roots music’ (also sounds intriguing)

The lineup, so far, includes:

Friday:  The Devil Makes Three, Band of Horses, Death Vessel, Jenny Lewis, Phox, Robert Hunter, Reignwolf, Jimmy Cliff, Lake Street Dive, Tall Tall Trees, Noah Gundersen

Saturday:  Shakey Graves, The Oh Hellos, Benjamin Booker, Nickel Creek, Shovels and Rope, Houndmouth, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, The Milk Carton Kids, Aoife O’Donovan, Willie Watson, Puss n Boots, Lucius, Deer Tick

Sunday:  Hurray for the Riff Raff, Mavis Staples, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Trampled by Turtles, Gregory Alan Isakov, Lucero, Caitlin Rose, Conor Oberst, Dawes, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Leif Vollebekk, The Lonesome Trio, Jeff Tweedy

A Couple Of Fine Additions To The Lowell Summer Music Series Lineup

The Lowell Summer Music Series lineup keeps getting better.  I’m pleased to announce that Lucinda Williams will perform on Friday, June 27, and Peter Wolf & The Midnight Travelers will perform on Friday, August 22.

Lowell Summer Music Series

Lowell Summer Music Series

These are two good additions to the already wonderful lineup.
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