From Reggae to Jazz, and everything in between, we've got your top area music picks for this weekend and beyond. Keep reading below for our choice of the best in local music in “5 Live.”
Etana Appears Saturday at the Newport Waterfront Reggae Festival
Reggae and Greg Allman in Newport
The Newport Yachting Center has become the area’s #1 destination for summer comedy and concerts. This weekend is no exception. Tomorrow is the annual Newport Waterfront Reggae Festival with headliner Freddie McGregor. Tickets are $45, $50 day of show -the music starts at 12:30. And on Sunday it’s Rock Hall of Famer Greg Allman. Click here to read our interview with Allman from earlier this week on GoLocalProv. Tickets are moving fast – music begins at 5PM with Dean DePalma on the Harbor Stage.
The annual Foo Fest pulls into AS220 tomorrow with a variety of activities - it's a block party on Empire street with music, art, kid’s events, food trucks and more. Psychic TV is the musical headliner, with about a dozen other bands playing from 1PM to 1AM Sunday. It's one of the top events of the summer and tickets are only $10.
Roots at Narrows Center
Fresh off a rare appearance by the legendary Zombies, the Narrows Center has a roots weekend starting tonight with former Carolina Chocolate Drop Don Flemons. Flemons is a roots traditionalist playing really old songs on original and replica instruments. Tickets are $20 in advance, $23 day of show. Then tomorrow night, it's master dobro guitarist Jerry Douglas. He’s considered the best Dobro player out there and had 13 Grammy awards to show for it. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 day of show. Kris Delmhorst opens.
Downtown Sundown Series in PVD
Another free event tomorrow night is the Downtown Sundown Series, a summer evening concert series that happens at the Roger Williams National Memorial on North Main St. in Providence. Tomorrow night features four rocking local artists including Michelle Cruz, LilyFaith Milne, Dylan Sevey and Vudu Sister. Support local music and relax in the shadow of the State House. Concert starts at 7PM.
Phil Woods and Greg Abate at Chans
Monday night, there's a live recording session at Chan's with two leading sax players, the world famous Phil Woods and RI native Greg Abate. Greg’s quintet will join Woods, the legendary musician and four-time Grammy winner, considered among the best BeBop players of all time. In fact, he was known as the “new Bird,” a reference to the founder of the BeBop style, Charlie Parker. So, when we say legendary, we do mean legendary. Tickets are $30 for the 8PM show.
Boston Calling Music Festival is a three-day, two-stage festival featuring some of the biggest and best acts in live music. The event will be one big party with easy access to both stages, food, services and more. All ages are welcome and children under 10 are free.
Presented by the Wormtown Trading Company, the Strange Creek Campout features live music, on-site camping, disc golf, yoga, a holistic village, and the Strangers Helping Strangers Food Drive.
For a free music festival in Central Massachusetts, check out Leominster’s Starburst, hosted by the Leominster Cultural Council. Everyone in your family will enjoy this day of music and fun, topped off with a firework show in the evening.
Now entering its seventh year, the mission of Paulie's New Orleans Jazz & Blues Festival is to provide quality New Orleans & Louisiana jazz, blues, country, funk & zydeco music & food within an urban setting.
The New Bedford Folk Festival brings together over 70 renowned and emerging folk performers and 90 juried arts and crafts vendors in New Bedford's authentic historic district during the first weekend in July.
The Green River Festival is a premier Pioneer Valley Music event that takes place every July. The event attracts national talent, the great local food and fine crafts, and even hot air balloons.
The North Atlantic Blues Festival is an annual two-day blues music festival featuring national blues performers and considered one of the most prestigious on the East Coast.
One of the largest free folk festivals in the country, the Lowell Folk Festival attracts thousands of people over three days. The event features traditional music, food, crafts and good vibes.
The Pine Leaf Boys – Cajun
Bud Hundenski & the Corsairs – Polka
James Kelly, Donna Long, & Sean Keane – Irish
Kevin Doyle – Irish Step Dance
Marquise Knox – Blues
Seichi Tanaka & the San Francisco Taiko Dojo – Taiko Dojo Drums
Nikki D & the Browns – Sacred Steel Gospel
Sonny Burgess & the Legendary Pacers – Rockabilly
Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers – Bluegrass
Samba Mapangala & Orchestre Virunga – East African Rumba
E.U. – Go Go
Hassan Hakmoun – Moroccan Gnawa
Seizmos Band – Greek
Thomas Maupin, Daniel Rothwell, & Overall Creek with Kory Posey – Appalchian Buck
Gathering of the Vibes is an annual music, arts and camping festival now in its 19th year. Vibes has grown into a four-day festival that has featured such world-class talent as Crosby, Stills and Nash; all original members of the Grateful Dead; the Allman Brothers Band; Jane's Addiction; James Brown; the Black Crowes; Buddy Guy; Elvis Costello; George Clinton and P-Funk; Bruce Hornsby; Les Claypool; and many, many more big names, while continuing to showcase extraordinarily talented, young, up-and-coming bands to the 20 thousand people who attend each year.
Folk music has been a presence in Newport since 1959, when the Newport Folk Festival was founded by George Wein. Backed by board members Pete Seeger, Theodore Bikel, Oscar Brand, and Albert Grossman, the Festival became renowned for introducing a number of performers who went on to become major stars, most notably Joan Baez (who appeared as an unannounced guest of Bob Gibson in 1959), and Bob Dylan, whose first Newport appearance, as a guest of Joan Baez in 1963, is generally regarded as his premiere national performance.
Established in 1954, the Newport Jazz Festival begins its 60th year this August, one week after its sister event, the Newport Folk Festival, takes place. The first event was originally billed as "First Annual American Jazz Festival" and featured many notable jazz musicians, including Billie Holiday.
Lineup Features:
Bobby McFerrin
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
The Peacham Acoustic Music Festival is also a blend of the old and the new - roots music from the Celtic traditions, old time fiddle tunes, and a touch of blues and bluegrass - not to mention The Dance. Smoke and alcohol free.
Entering it's 18th year, the Boogie and Blues Festival features award-winning blues artists, food vendors, craft vendors, a climbing wall, and many fun activities for children --including Saturday night fireworks.
The 17th Annual Rythym&Roots Festival features award-winning roots music artists on the Main Stage and at two big tented dance floors, plus intimate one-of-a-kind workshops and kids activities.