[4 articles] Newport folk, jazz festivals returning to roots
http://www.dailymail.com/ap/ApEntertainment/200904160953 April 16, 2009 ERIC TUCKER Associated Press Writer PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Lineups for the Newport folk and jazz festivals indicate both are returning to their roots. Joan Baez and Pete Seeger, who played the first Newport festival in 1959 and remain vital figures in the folk genre, are scheduled to perform again this year. Judy Collins and Arlo Guthrie also are on the bill, along with more contemporary acts like the Decemberists and Iron and Wine. "The whole concept of the folk festival is a reunion of the old people to celebrate 50 years of folk music in Newport - and to show how many young people are involved with folk music," said 83-year-old George Wein, who founded both festivals a half-century ago. He stepped forward to produce them again this year as they lost the backing of their longtime sponsor amid a flagging economy that's made people think twice about traveling and spending money. The jazz festival, meanwhile, will feature singers Tony Bennett and Etta James, saxophonist Branford Marsalis and the Dave Brubeck Quartet - a fixture at Newport. The folk festival, which this year is formally known as George Wein's Folk Festival 50, is scheduled for July 31-Aug. 2. And George Wein's Jazz Festival 55 is scheduled for the following weekend. Both events will take place at Fort Adams State Park in Newport. Both shows have a heralded history. Bob Dylan stunned the folk world in 1965 when he performed with an electric guitar, and the jazz festival has hosted Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and Frank Sinatra among others. Wein hadn't planned to produce the festivals again this year. He sold his production company in 2007 to the New York-based Festival Network, though he stayed on with the new owners. But Festival Network was found in default of its contract with the state of Rhode Island earlier this year, and suddenly the future of the festivals was hazy. Wein said he came forward to "save" them. "This is my life. To me, it's not business anymore," he said. "I'm not doing this to make money." A phone message left for Festival Network was not returned Thursday. But the company still lists the Newport festivals on its Web site and has previously indicated that it plans to be involved in producing shows in Rhode Island this summer. Wein is proceeding without the festivals' longtime sponsor, the JVC electronics company, which he said pulled out after running into financial troubles. He is bankrolling the concerts and expects to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on them. "I've been spoiled all my life," Wein said. "Sponsors have come to me. Now I just hope they'll come again. They have to feel that what you're doing has some significance and has some meaning." Wein said he doesn't know what effect the economy will have on the events, but he promises that the quality won't suffer. "I have to put on my festival. It has to be a quality event," he said. "It has to take care of the crowd." -------- New, old artists harmonize at Newport's Folk Festival 50 http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/04/new-old-artists-harmonize-at-newports-folk-festiva.html By Jeremy Goldmeier April 17, 2009 In the 50 years since the founding of the Newport Folk Festival, it's remarkable to realize just how much the term "folk" has expanded. Back in the old days, so much as plugging in a guitar was enough to brand a folk artist as a traitor of biblical proportions. But these days? Looking at the roster of Newport's latest iteration, "Folk Festival 50," fans can find every species of folk artist, past and present, rubbing shoulders with each other. Running from July 31-August 2, the festival is set to bridge musical generations at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, R.I. Representing the old guard are the ageless Pete Seeger and Joan Baez, who both played the original Newport Folk Festival in 1959. Also keeping things grounded in tradition are Arlo Guthrie and Judy Collins. Once you hit the contemporary indie-folk section of the roster, however, things become startlingly varied. The Decemberists, Neko Case, Iron and Wine, Fleet Foxes, The Avett Brothers... there are so many disparate strands of musical DNA in those artists, from prog rock and torch songs to '60s pop and bluegrass. Yet they all somehow fit under the big tent of "folk." Other notable artists include Billy Bragg, Josh Ritter, Gillian Welch, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Langhorne Slim, Ben Kweller and Low Anthem. You'll find many Paste favorites amongst this bunch. Here is the current slate of artists announced: Pete Seeger The Decemberists Arlo Guthrie Fleet Foxes Joan Baez Neko Case Billy Bragg Campbell Brothers The Avett Brothers Josh Ritter Gillian Welch Judy Collins Del McCoury Iron & Wine Joe Pug Tao Rodriguez Seeger Balfa Toujours Elvis Perkins in Dearland Tim Eriksen & Shape Note Singers Langhorne Slim Ben Kweller Low Anthem. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, May 6. Visit the festival website for ticket information and further line-up announcements. http://www.folkfestival50.com/ -------- Newport Folk Turns 50 http://www.relix.com/Features/Daily_News/Newport_Folk_Turns_50__200904173862.html by Mike Greenhaus Friday, 17 April 2009 Newport, RI's famed Folk Festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary from July 31-August 2. Festival founder George Wein has taken the reins once again after last year's producers, The Festival Network, experienced financial problems earlier this year. Though several title sponsors and producers have come and gone over the years, Newport Folk has flourished under Wein's watchful eyes, and the festival has run continuously since 1985. Similar to the likeminded Clearwater Festival, Newport Folk will update its lineup by mixing traditional folk and indie rock artists including The Decemberists, Arlo Guthrie, Fleet Foxes, Joan Baez, Neko Case, Billy Bragg, Campbell Brothers and The Avett Brothers. In addition, festival co-founder Pete Seeger will appear as part of his extended 90th birthday celebration. Other arts scheduled to appear include: Josh Ritter, Gillian Welch, Judy Collins, Del McCoury, Iron & Wine, Joe Pug, Tao Rodriguez Seeger,Balfa Toujours, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Tim Eriksen & Shape Note Singers, Langhorne Slim, Ben Kweller and Low Anthem. Several additional artists will be confirmed in the coming weeks. Newport Folk is best known as the festival where Dylan "went electric" in 1965. After several successful appearances at the already established festival, Dylan shocked folk purists by playing a series of electric tunes with a now all-star band that featured Mike Bloomfield (guitar), Sam Lay (drums), Jerome Arnold (bass guitar), Al Kooper (organ) and Barry Goldberg (piano). Joan Baez, who will return to the festival this year, also credits Newport folk with her discovery. -------- Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Decemberists To Play 50th Anniversary Newport Folk Festival http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/04/17/pete-seeger-joan-baez-decemberists-to-play-50th-anniversary-newport-folk-festival/ 4/17/09 by Daniel Kreps For its 50th anniversary, the Newport Folk Festival has recruited two artists who took the stage at the inaugural 1959 event: Joan Baez and Pete Seeger. Newer acts like Fleet Foxes, Iron & Wine, the Decemberists, Neko Case and Breaking artists the Low Anthem will also take part in "George Wein's Folk Festival 50," scheduled for July 31st-August 2nd at Newport's Fort Adams State Park. Tickets go on sale May 6th. "The whole concept of the folk festival is a reunion of the old people to celebrate 50 years of folk music in Newport and to show how many young people are involved with folk music," George Wein, who founded both the Folk Festival and the annual Newport Jazz Festival, told the AP. Wein indicated the recession threatened this year's celebrations their long-running sponsor JVC was forced pull its support but he kept the concerts alive by bankrolling the shows himself. "This is my life. To me, it's not business anymore I'm not doing this to make money," Wein said. "I have to put on my festival. It has to be a quality event. It has to take care of the crowd." This year's Jazz Festival, taking place the following weekend, will feature Tony Bennett, Etta James, the Dave Brubeck Quartet and many more. Full lineup is right here: George Wein's Folk Festival 50 Pete Seeger The Decemberists Arlo Guthrie Fleet Foxes Joan Baez Neko Case Judy Collins Campbell Brothers The Avett Brothers Josh Ritter Gillian Welch Del McCoury Iron & Wine Tao Rodriguez Seeger Balfa Toujours Elvis Perkins in Dearland Tim Eriksen & Shape Note Singers Langhorne Slim Ben Kweller Low Anthem . --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Sixties-L" group. To post to this group, send email to sixties-l@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to sixties-l+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sixties-l?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
