Newport Folk Festival - 2013 Slide Show

The Newport Folk Festival does a great job of recognizing its illustrious history without being burdened by it. The times are always a-changing, and the festival has done a masterful job of adapting along with it.

In fact, some of the weekend’s best attended and most memorable acts hardly belong within the folk genre. Like Bombino, whose guitar playing wizardry conjures up sandstorms of hypnotic grooves; or the UK-punk rock of Frank Turner; or Trombone Shorty, who has successfully weaponized jazz and funk for mass consumption.

 The festival has broken new wave artists and expanded bands’ audiences, audiences that now stretch multiple generations. And each year sell-out crowds come to experience music that push buttons, blur borders and even inspire change - and that’s what folk music, and the Festival, is all about.

Enjoy some memorable moments from NFF 2013 in this slide show!

Photos // Adam Richert

Words // Photos // Brian Hodge

Songs for Wednesday // Cold Specks, BOY and more

Words // Adam Sharp

'Blank Maps'- Cold Specks
This is an album more people need to be excited about (it comes out May 22nd, just so you know). It's crackling with unvarnished honesty and urgency.
Website: http://coldspecks.com/

'I Got You Babe'- Bahamas
Crunchy guitars and sun-soaked laments. This one does it all exactly right.
Website: http://bahamasmusic.net/

'Just For Me But I Thought of You'- Nathaniel Rateliff
A gorgeous and heartbreaking new song from Mr. Rateliff that, like most of his songs, sounds perfect in the springtime.
Website: http://nathanielrateliff.com/

'How Do I Know'- Here We Go Magic
This song is candy.
Website: http://herewegomagicband.tumblr.com/

Here We Go Magic - How Do I Know

'Little Numbers'- BOY
Good. Lord. This is a catchy jam.
Website: http://www.listentoboy.com/index2.php

Songs For Wednesday / Japandroids, Vacationer and more

Words // Adam Sharp

'The House That Heaven Built'- Japandroids
Noisy, brash, full of call and response shouting and a guitar line that makes me feel 15 again. There's not a lot to dislike.  (website)

'Broken Minds'- Northern Youth
A really well-executed, beautifully troubled anthem.  (website)

Northern Youth - Broken Minds

'Winter Solstice'- Cold Specks
An absolutely beautiful, breathtaking piece of work.  (website)

'Gone'- Vacationer
Fact: there can never be enough dreamy, shimmery pop songs full of handclaps and fingersnaps like this.  (website)

'Where I'll Be'- Horse Feathers
This is right around my 564th straight favorite new song from Horse Feathers.
website: http://horsefeatherstheband.com/