5 Live Music Musts - July 17, 2015
Ken Abrams, GoLocalProv Music Critic
5 Live Music Musts - July 17, 2015
Soja at Lupos Saturday
With the Providence Waterfront Reggae Festival still a few weeks away, reggae fans will want to check out Soja, playing at Lupo's tomorrow night. The Grammy nominated band from Arlington, VA has a sweet summer sound guaranteed to make you smile. Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad opens at 7PM. Note: It’s an early show ending by 10PM. Tickets are $22 in advance, $25 at the door.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTJoe Fletcher and Friends at Narrows Center Saturday
Former Rhode Islander and current Nashville dweller Joe Fletcher returns to the area for a few shows ahead of his third appearance at the Newport Folk Festival next week. He’s in between releases, but just recorded a Daytrotter session that can be heard here. Tomorrow night at the Narrows Center, Fletcher will be joined by some friends including highly touted opener Ian Fitzgerald. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door. Music starts at 8.
Foo Fighters at Fenway this Weekend
As the main tenants continue to struggle this season, Fenway Park has some great concerts scheduled with Billy Joel this past Thursday and the Foo Fighters this weekend. Add James Taylor and the Zac Brown Band to the schedule in August and you’ve got a pretty fine summer concert venue. This weekend, the Foo Fighters plan to rock the big house for two shows, Saturday and Sunday. Foo Leader Dave Grohl’s gotten a lot of attention lately after breaking his leg during a show in Sweden, cancelling a couple of shows but then returning with a cleverly designed stage that allows him to move around in his cast. Mission of Burma opens Saturday and Dropkick Murphy’s open Sunday. Good times await! Click here for all the details.
R&B with Dave Keller Met Sunday
An annual event returns to the Met Sunday when the Rhode Island Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society and the RI Music Hall of Fame present R&B Soul Sunday. The show features Dave Keller and the R&B All Stars. It’s a 2PM start and tickets are $10 at the door. Proceeds benefit the R&B Preservation Society and the RIMHOF.
Neil Young at Xfinity Center Wednesday
The Godfather of Grunge is playing with the children of Nelson (Willie) next Wednesday July 22 at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield. Neil Young is on a protest tour of sorts, speaking out against a variety of corporate entities - check out his new album The Monsanto Years, for more. Word has it he’s playing inspired shows and bringing out a lot of rarities on the tour with Promise of the Real, a band led by Willie Nelson’s sons. Puss and Boots, a Nora Jones led act that charmed at Newport Folk last summer, opens at 7:30. Tickets are available here starting at $46.
Coming next week on 5 Live: More top acts not to miss at Newport Folk!
10 "Don't Miss" Acts at Newport Folk
Roger Waters
Roger Waters needs no introduction. He’s the well known co-founder of Pink Floyd, simply one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time. He’s planning a special show on Friday designed specifically for the Newport Folk Festival. His set begins at 6:30 PM on the Fort Stage. It should be pretty spectacular.
Calexico
Calexico is a critically acclaimed Americana band that blurs the boundaries between Folk, Rock, and Tejano creating a sound with a unique Tex-Mex vibe. The core of the band is made up of songwriter/lead vocalist Joey Burns and drummer Jon Convertino. They’ve been together almost 20 years and return to the Festival with an impressive new release Edge of the Sun. Catch them Friday on the Quad Stage at 2:50 PM.
Haunt The House
Festival rookies and local favorites Haunt the House will bring intense songwriting and organic harmonies to the Harbor Stage on Friday. We are anticipating a break out performance from one of Rhode Island’s top Americana/Folk acts, led by Will Houlihan. Get there early Friday as they are officially the first band on the Harbor Stage beginning at 11:00 AM.
Heartless Bastards
Cincinnati’s Heartless Bastards are a garage rock band making their first festival appearance this year. The band, often compared to The Black Keys, is led by female vocalist Erica Wennerstrom. They’re scheduled to play the Harbor Stage on Friday at 5:00 PM. For more Bastards, check out their rockin’ new release Restless Ones.
Courtney Barnett
The award for lyric of the year so far for 2015 goes to Aussie upstart Courtney Barnett who channels Dylan’s Subterranean Homesick Blues, the ghost of Kurt Cobain and the edgy sincerely of Liz Phair.
“Put me on a pedestal and I’ll only disappoint you. Tell me I’m exceptional I promise to exploit you. “
The lyrics from “Pedestrian at Best,” a tune from her critically acclaimed new album Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit. She’s got a folky acoustic side to balance her grungy rock sound. Don’t miss her on the Quad stage Saturday at 2:55 PM.
Jason Isbell
Jason Isbell may be the best songwriter in America right now. His story telling is eloquent and his characters are gut real. Clearly, his deep Alabama roots connect him to the great American singer-songwriter tradition. He returns to Newport Saturday with his new release Something More than Free, out a week before the festival. Catch him on the Fort Stage at 2:35 PM.
Leon Bridges
Leon Bridges just oozes classic R&B. He’ll bring some Memphis Soul to the Quad Stage at 1:35 PM on Friday. He’s got it all – good looks, retro inspired threads, and a smooth voice reminiscent of Sam Cooke or Otis Redding. Hear more on his new album Coming Home and check him out at Newport!
Hozier
Hozier made a big splash on the Harbor Stage at the 2014 Folk Fest just before he was “discovered” the mainstream media and the public. (We told you he was going places...) He’s become a superstar over the past year behind his award winning anthem “Take Me to Church.” Don’t be surprised if he is joined once again by the Berklee Gospel and Roots Choir, a festival highlight last year. He plays the Fort Stage at 4:45 PM Sunday.
Jon Batiste & Stay Human
New Orleans native Jon Batiste and will be playing both Newport Folk and Newport Jazz this year, only the second act ever to play both festivals. (The Preservation Hall Jazz Band did it in 2012.) Batiste has had quite a run since last year’s Jazz Festival, as he was recently announced as the new bandleader for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Don’t miss his set Sunday on the Fort Stage at 12:40 PM – you’ll see what all the buzz is about.
'65 Revisited
There is a lot of excitement this year for the final event on Sunday dubbed “65 Revisited.” The event will commemorate the night Bob Dylan “went electric” stunning the Folk crowd 50 years ago. Surprise guests are expected, but there is little to no chance that Dylan will appear. (Although the Festival claims that an invitation is extended every year.) Dylan has never been the sentimental type to say the least. We’ll tweet the surprise guest(s) as soon as we hear. It starts at 6PM Sunday.
