NEWPORT, R.I. — The Newport People Competition has a wealthy historical past of supporting civil rights and standing up for working women and men.
Ever since Lynn-born jazz promoter George Wein, musician/activist Pete Seeger, and others based the music fest in 1959, human rights has coexisted with performances by musicians new and previous.
“We Shall Overcome,” the gospel tune that helped usher within the civil-rights motion of the Nineteen Sixties, turned a rallying cry at this yr’s fest, held Friday via Sunday at Fort Adams State Park on this stunning seaside metropolis.
Joan Baez was at that preliminary competition in ‘59 and in 1963 she, Bob Dylan, and different musicians stood hand-in-hand with singers Black and white within the singing of this anthem. Baez was again this yr, and on the finish of Hozier’s headlining set on Friday, Baez and the legendary Mavis Staples had been amongst these becoming a member of the Irish singer and his band on stage performing the tune.
Given the incendiary political local weather in America this election yr, it was a on condition that some artists would share their opinions on the state of our nation and its place on the planet. On Saturday, British folks singer Billy Bragg and Georgia rapper Killer Mike had been particularly blunt and delivered two of the weekend’s finest units.
Bragg holds nothing again. His songs are overtly political. “By no means belief a person who could be king” is however one line from certainly one of his songs.
Killer Mike gave the impression to be an out-of-left-field addition to the competition’s lineup. What does hip-hop should do with folks music? Every thing! Accompanied by 5 distinctive gospel singers, Killer Mike’s hour-long church-like service on Saturday afternoon was masterful, persevering with Newport’s wealthy custom of protesting injustice.
Additionally on Saturday, Bertha: Grateful Drag, a collective of queer Nashville musicians who shaped to protest Tennessee’s banning of “adult-oriented performances which might be dangerous to minors,” drew an overflow crowd that supported the musicians and sang alongside to such positive-thinking Useless classics as “I Will Get By (I Will Survive).”
Music freed from politics was nonetheless on the forefront of most performances, which occurred on 5 phases all through the historic fort. It was a magical weekend.
The Friday afternoon schedule included an “artist to be introduced” proper as much as the three p.m. showtime. Hypothesis ran wild. Who would it not be? Noah Kahan, who lately performed two sold-out reveals at Fenway Park, was a well-liked alternative. In spite of everything, throat points compelled the cancellation of his Newport look in 2023 (James Taylor was a last-minute sub) and anyone posted on-line that he was seen at a close-by Walmart that morning.
It turned out to be Beck! “These are the songs that the Newport People Competition was constructed on,” stated Beck, earlier than he and his band paid tribute to such ‘60s folks revival trailblazers as Dylan (“Maggie’s Farm”), Fred Neil (“The Different Facet of Life”), and Jimmie Rodgers (the yodel-filled “Ready For a Practice”). Beck completed with certainly one of his finest tunes, “Loser.”
Friday additionally featured an invasion by dragonflies. No, that’s not a band. Hundreds of the flying bugs appeared out of nowhere, many coming to relaxation on the hats, shirts, and fingertips of competition attendees.
Saturday’s lineup was particularly sturdy, led by headliners Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, The Struggle on Medication, homosexual cowboy Orville Peck, and Hermanos Gutierrez.
The headliner Sunday was former TV speak present host/guitar participant Conan O’Brien, who introduced alongside some “actual musicians.” His joke-filled monologue led to some significantly good music, anchored by the band Dawes, his longtime TV bandleader Jimmy Vivino, and unannounced particular friends together with Jack White and the legendary Nick Lowe, who flew in from England to carry out simply two songs (“So it Goes” and “Merciless To Be Form”).
One other Sunday winner featured extra actually proficient musicians, led by guitarist Cory Wong and heavy hitters together with bassist Victor Wooten, drummer Nate Smith, mandolinist/vocalist Sierra Hull, and guitarist/singer Theo Katzman. It was a wondrous set of funky jazz, jazzy funk, and a spectacular Hull-led model of “Folks Get Prepared.”
Different Friday highlights:
Allison Russell, a vocal powerhouse, whose heart-tugging songs of empowerment and overcoming wrestle linked with the viewers. The Choir College of Newport County joined her on one tune.
Boston hitmakers Guster, whose heavenly pop tune “Satellite tv for pc” developed right into a loud singalong. The UMass Marching Band lent a hand.
Canada’s William Prince, this yr’s John Prine Songwriter Fellowship recipient. The 2023 Prine Fellowship recipient Jobi Riccio joined him for a hysterical model of Prine’s “In Spite of Ourselves.” (Riccio additionally was great throughout her Sunday showcase.)
Glitterfox, a enjoyable rock band from Oregon, with a superb frontwoman and catchy, well-written songs.
Different Saturday highlights:
Rihannon Giddens and an all-star band enjoying zydeco and up-tempo tunes had toes tapping and other people dancing… together with Joan Baez.
Josiah and the Bonnevilles! A mid-set solo acoustic efficiency by frontman Josiah Leming was a triumph. A exceptional cowl of Justin Bieber’s “Ghost,” which he devoted to his mother who died, had some viewers members sobbing.
Elle King’s uptempo 60-minute romp was a delight. “Ex’s & Oh’s” is one hell of a catchy single and her Nashville band actually rocks.
Chaparelle, a wonderful new country-ish band from Texas, is led by vocal powerhouse Zella Day and guitarist Jesse Woods.
Different Sunday highlights:
La Lom, a Los Angeles-based instrumental trio led by superb guitarist Zac Sokolow, performed uptempo Latin America-flavored tunes.
The Oh Hellos, led by siblings Maggie and Tyler Heath, introduced alongside seven manic musician associates who jumped and danced and had attendees smiling and dancing.
A remove-all-the-seats “experiment” that featured terrific units by De La Soul and Boston heroes Dropkick Murphys, who seemingly incited the primary mosh pit in Newport People historical past.
Invoice Brotherton is the previous options editor of The Day by day Merchandise. He might be reached at [email protected].
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