FRIDAY
Big Thief was the reason I was there and was easily the highlight of the festival on Friday. Their set was very different compared to their performance at Brighton Music Hall I caught earlier this year and felt incredibly raw and very in the moment. They did a few tracks off "Masterpiece", a few off "Capacity", and the other four songs were new unreleased songs.
The version of Lenker playing the song “Capacity” by herself brought me to tears and the reimagined version of the song Mary was absolutely gorgeous and the highlight of their set for me. I don’t want to say too much about the new material…but I’m very excited for the direction Lenker is heading as a song-writer.
You can listen to the full set via NPR:
Caught a bit of Ben Gibbard's set which provided some good nostalgia hearing a few of those Postal Service and Death Cab tunes solo acoustic. And Fleet Foxes' played from all three of their records - some of the new material didn't sound as tight without the production that is on the record, and was surprising to hear as much material off that first record - but overall it was definitely a fun way to end the first day at the fest. 
(Fleet Foxes)
SATURDAY
(Angel Olson playing with Jim James)
The only thing I feel like writing about from Saturday is Wilco's set which closed out the day. The set was absolutely amazing and significantly darker than the last time I saw them at the Newport Folk Festival in 2012 - In “Via Chicago” they got way noisier and the drum freak out escalated to a point that was crazy gnarly, Nels Cline’s solo in “Impossible Germany” was mind blowing, and the some of the rockers (such as "I'm the Man Who Love's You" and "I'm Always in Love") grooved incredibly hard. They closed by bringing out Billy Brag out for the song “California Stars”, which is a song with lyrics by Woody Guthrie that they put music to on their 1998 record “Mermaid Avenue”. Wilco are one of the best live performers in rock and roll - and I'm incredibly thankful to have had the chance to see them again in this amazing venue.
SUNDAY:
Pinegrove were rad - If you hadn't heard them before they're like Emo-country-rock - if that sounds appealing to you, check them out.
(Rhiannon Giddens)
The set which was billed as Speak Out was a protest celebration from a variety of artists including Sharon Van Etten, Jim James, Billy Bragg and Nathaniel Rateliff, Margo Price, Lucius and a many more. These artists covered some classic rock/folk tunes such as Dylan's "Masters of War" and Lennon's "Working Class Hero" but also more current and less expected songs as well. As a whole the program was truly emotive - the only moment that I felt was not pulled off was featuring Shakey Graves who sang on a tune, "I'm Better Than You" - which was satirical, but to me the joke didn't quite fit with the rest of the set and detracted from the set.
(Sharon Van Etten singing Sinead O' Connor's "Black Boys on Mopeds")
It was really cool to see this and to see the Folk Festival come full circle - in a way back to it's roots in the 60s in which the music was so connected to the civil rights movement. It was so powerful hearing protest songs promoting peace coming from a military fort in this political climate in which there is so much hate, racism, and xenophobia.
The last set of the day was John Prine - this set was truly magical. He played a lot from his classic self titled debut, as well as several cuts off "Bruised Orange" and his 2005 record "Fair and Square" with guests such as Roger Waters (of Pink Floyd), Jim James, Lucius, Margo Price, and Justin Vernon. The whole thing thing seriously felt like a dream and still on cloud nine from being able to catch it. You can listen to the set via NPR
Looking forward to the Newport Jazz Festival next weekend - till then...
Much love,
<3
