In the era of Covid, the seemingly eternal Newport Folk Festival must rise again. Splitting the festival in half (half the people and the acts) and adding a second trio of days was a novel idea. It satisfied the board of health and the desperate fans. It sold out quickly (long before artists were announced) and with good reason. Newport’s list of acts has been reliably top-notch for quite a while.
With two instead of four stages, Newport’s crowded feel did not completely dissipate, but the bottlenecks at the harbor stage were now gone. The overall anticipation was palpable throughout the day as hushed crowds were drawn to every word of the often acoustic sets of many performers.
Margo Price and Jeremy Ivey were first up on the list. Their on-stage chemistry was easy and both seemed completely devoted to serving each other’s songs. Margo’s powerful country-inflected voice is equally suited to both acoustic and electric settings, and it did not disappoint. “Letting Me Down” was a particular standout. While I loved the original rock number on her 2020 record “That’s How Rumors Get Started,” the acoustic version further showed off her pipes.
Next up was Waxahatchee. Her 2020 record “St. Cloud” showed a new side to her sound. Her vocals soared on the record and the stripped-down acoustic setup at this Newport performance even more. She knows how to hold a note! Her loving ode “Can’t Do Much” truly demonstrates how a song can use few lyrics with emotional delivery to keep an audience at her fingertips. Katie Crutchfield (aka Waxahatchee) seems to be finding a new sound.
Jason Isbell, Sadler Vaden, and Amanda Shires came next. Jason’s catalog of tunes is really second to none. In an acoustic setting, the three sounded like a well-oiled machine. While I did miss Isbell’s guitarwork and the 400 Unit rhythm section, the acoustic scenario opened up the focus to vocals on numbers like “Overseas,” “Letting You Go,” and “Hope the High Road.” Isbell paid tribute to Randy Newman who, without hesitation, delivered his witty lyrics with only a piano. Newman was definitely a highlight with his wry sense of humor and swear words. He knows how to write a song and play a character!
All photos by Suzanne Davis McMahon
About the author: Jeff is a teacher in the Boston area. When not buried correcting papers, Jeff can be found plucking various stringed instruments and listening to all types of americana music.