Newport Folk Fest // 2014

newport folk fest 2014 // a thousand threads
I might’ve suspected it before, but a second trip confirmed beyond a doubt that Newport Folk Fest is a world unto itself. One where the memory of Pete Seeger hangs heavy on the hearts of all music-loving attendees there searching for a little bit of that same spirit and light. One where artists come to each others’ shows, and mingle in the crowd without incident. And one where the spirit of folk is raised to new heights, to a significance that embodies not just a genre, but an ethos.

I was raised on music. As a kid my dad would call me upstairs and turn on the tv, or the record player, and tell me all about the band I heard or saw. From The Wall to Jethro Tull to The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.

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In the car he refused to play anything but a carefully curated mix of indoctrination… meaning I knew the words to both St. James Infirmary and Rock ‘n’ Roll High School before I knew how to read. And then there was that time we listened to Springsteen, and nothing but Springsteen, for a year.

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Newport feels like going home. Home to a playground of music geeks with as much respect and love for the history and the craft as anyone I’ve ever met. And the artists aren’t exempt. Watching Hozier, whose star seems to be itching to soar onto the world stage at any given moment, talk about growing up in Ireland, watching clips of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez at Folk Fest, and break into tears at the thought of playing that same hallowed stage. Or hearing Jack White muse over how nice it is to be able to walk around at a festival, something he hasn’t done in seventeen years. Those are the moments that belong to Newport alone.

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Our second year at Folk Fest was as amazing as we could’ve hoped. With bike rides to the festival, beautiful meals, and incredible shows, both at the fort and in town, that left us buzzing for days (even now).

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If we can help it at all, we hope this little trip can become a tradition. Once a year for a lifetime worth of inspiration seems well worth the drive.

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…and the gorgeous location doesn’t hurt the cause one bit.

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