TVD Live: Newport Folk Festival, 7/28

NEWPORT, RI | The bottom line is: It’s a privilege to see these performers sing out across the sea in such a unique space, full of music history and cherished tradition. With two full days of music behind them, fans still had one more day to soak up the sun and sounds at the 65th Newport Folk Festival.

Colorado-bred, Tennessee-based singer-songwriter Jobi Ricco returned to Newport after winning last year’s John Prine Songwriter Fellowship Award. Ricco was all heart, getting a little emotional at this opportunity to play upon the historic stages of Newport. The pride and loving looks from bandmates and a standing ovation from the crowd only brought more joy-filled tears.

“Half of this band grew up as festival kids, running around and playing guitars,” said Ricco. “There’s a festival that is very close to my heart that happens during this exact same weekend—Rocky Grass Festival—and I always said the only reason I would ever miss Rocky Grass is if I got to play Newport Folk Festival.”

They may look like brothers with their uncanny resemblance of red hair, but it’s a visible musical bond that the Briscoe boys showcased that was amplified to the audience. Their folk-rock dynamic is “raw, rugged,” and the clear fun that the band has is incredibly contagious.

On Newport Folk Festival’s Fort Stage, Andrew Bird and Madison Cunningham performed a full-length rendition of Buckingham Nicks, live for the very first time. Billed as Cunningham/Bird, the two artists presented their own take on Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks’ cult classic. The reimagined production showcased stunning vocals by Cunningham, in particular and skillful violin by Bird.

Alyson Lefkowitz traveled from New Jersey for Newport Folk with her family. This was her nine-year-old daughter Claire’s fifth festival. “I like the tradition of seeing a lot of new bands and getting excited about revisiting some of the older ones,” said Alyson.

The much-anticipated set from Cory Wong felt like watching your friends play in an informal—yet, mind-blowing—jam. The only difference is that this friend (Cory) is a Grammy-nominated American guitarist. Rarely not beaming his enormous smile, Wong was having the time of his life with some of his incredibly talented friends: Sierra Hull, Victor Wooten, Theo Katzman, Nate Smith, and Ariel Posen.

Sierra Ferrell has come a long way from playing Honky Tonk Tuesday Nights at American Legion Post to a troubadour on the stages of Newport Folk. Immediately her set felt so very special, from her vocals to intricate guitar picking, to her elaborate yellow dress. Ferrell’s stage presence is unmatched. In a beautiful collaboration, Ferrell welcomed Gillian Welch for a rendition of “Handsome Molly.”

Newport has a tendency to give fans a taste of the unexpected, this year really granting a space for other musical genres. This was the case with some of the final performers of the night. Kelvin “Posdnuos” Mercer and Vincent “Maseo” Mason brought old-school hip hop and emotion-filled lyrics to the folk stage, welcoming surprise guest rapper Pharoahe Monch. These legendary artists are still on their game and after this energy infused set, De La Soul is now lovingly known as “De La Folk” among festival fans.

“The Boys are Back!” Dropkick Murphys shocked the folk world by encouraging the first ever mosh pit during the set at this “the notoriously chill fest.” Billy Bragg even popped in to join the boys on “Workers Song.” Bringing a notoriously raucous performance to Fort Adams, the Dropkick Murphys were a combination of pure joy and pure mayhem.

Brittany Howard was a powerhouse, giving a headliner performance on the Fort Stage. Her passionate vocals and guitar grooves left an awestruck audience wanting more—and that’s what they got later on in the evening as she returned with Dawes, glowing in a stunning stained-glass gown, performing Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love.”

The final performance of the night was billed as “Conan O’Brien and Real Musicians”—an unexpected route to conclude the evening. As Dawes and Jimmy Vivino, longtime band leader for the late night program Conan, geared up as supporting band, Conan O’Brien entered the stage to a curious, yet very excited crowd. “It is an honor to be here at the Newport Folk Festival. I am folk music legend Conan O’Brien,” He said to echoes of laughter. “Old timers are real pissed right now.”

“I know a lot of you are saying right now, ‘What is Conan O’Brien doing here?’ Trust me, I’ve been hearing that my whole life,” he joked. “I’m here tonight on a mission…to prove I can ruin any genre.” His performance was weaved with comedy, singing and showcasing of his own skills on the guitar, leading off with a Lonnie Mack cover of “Memphis.” Fittingly, it began to rain during Conan’s performance of Bob Dylan’s “Buckets of Rain.”

Much like his show, Conan introduced his tremendous special guests to perform, including Nick Lowe, Brittany Howard, Nathaniel Rateliff, Mavis Staples, and Jack White. Effortlessly funny, Conan lifted the audience up and was no doubt embraced by the Newport Folk Festival family. The joy that comes from openness to the unexpected, is what proved again to be what makes Newport so very special.

ANDREW BIRD AND MADISON CUNNINGHAM