My Newport Folk – Day 3

 

The inevitable happens every year. I write my first and second day reviews of NFF right away and then hold onto the memory of day 3 as long as I possibly can. It is a defense mechanism of sorts I suppose. Knowing as long as I have the third day to write up I have to and can revisit late July at the fort. Well, I can no longer avoid it…I have to get that last fix 2 and a half months later. So here it goes, My Newport Day 3 at last.

I am lost. I cannot find myself. Walking up to the gates on day 3 of the Newport Folk Festival is bittersweet. You know it’s going to be good, but you can’t extend the day to last forever. And then you wait an entire year before you get that feeling again. Alas, it is life and at least life was good for 3 long days at Fort Adams…here we got Day 3:

We get to the fort early every day, every year. So inevitably we have a little time to kill before each official set. I wander, around the vendors, around the grounds, see who might be backstage, but today I don’t want, I stay. And where I stay is the Museum stay. Christopher Paul Stelling plays a beat up guitar. Like holes in the guitar. Etchings in the top tell stories, just as the words from his mouth do. I am mesmerized by his playing and his voice. This guy is absolutely incredible and very well may be the best act that I have seen at the festival thus far. 2 songs is not quite enough, as Stelling plays acoustic guitar behind his head to end the most enjoyable 10 minutes of the weekend.

The Deslondes…I called it. They became the sweethearts of 2014 for me. Cowboy sad, longing love songs. These guys are “it”. So good, sodamn good.

I head into the fort walls to catch Leif Vollebeck for a few and the crowd loves him. I head back down to catch Caitlin Rose and the crowd loves her. She is a powerhouse with an attitude to boot. But its forgivable because the immediate charm she follows up with endear the hell outta ya.

The skies open up as I am standing out the tent to see Rose and her guitarist singing duet. I then head for cover in hopes I can sneak under the Quad stage tent for The Lonesome Trio. I will say how impressed I am at Ed Helms’ ability to separate  actor from musician. The guys blended together bluegrass tightly grouped around mics and folk in a really fun and energetic set.

Thao and the Getdown Staydown were also a treat to catch as I weaseled through the backstage to the Fort stage and caught some of the set as the rain came and went. As I did, when I headed back through the fort walls to the quad to see Gregory Alan Isakov woo-ing the crowd. Great songs, an absolutely amazing and genuine voice. This dude is excellent and his band was too.

Dawes, well, Dawes is Newport and Newport is Dawes. These guys are always good to see. Incredible, meh. Pretty damn good and a crowd pleaser, yes definitely.

The rain picks up again, I am standing on a hill. Hozier is ripping some guitar riffs and singing. Life is good. I run to catch most of Conor Oberst. He never disappoints, full band, heartfelt, amazing songwriting. This guy is on fire…we even get an ‘Oberst spin’ or two.

Dan Blakeslee and Silverteeth play an impromptu set in the Late July tent…Jeff Tweedy starts playing. I fade into the day as the sun lowers on the Newport harbor. Was it a dream? If it was, it was one of the best I have ever had.