Newport Folk Fest was where it all began. It’s been going on for over 50 years, it’s where Dylan “plugged in”, and it still feel fresh and classic at the same time. We’ve been slinging cream and pops there for the past three years and I think this year took the cake for the best. Not only was the lineup top notch but we landed some great bands for Spotify Goes Summer Jammin’ with Ice Cream Man and we slang at the first ever Backstage BBQ Benefit on Saturday night.
Before we event left for Newport, Rhode Island, while we were contemplating which bands to ask to play for us, I realized Middle Brother was going to be there. Even though the band is comprised of the three lead singers from Deer Tick, Dawes and Delta Spirit, I was more interested to find out if their buddy, and sometimes band mate, Jonny Corndawg, was going to be around. I checked his website and he had a date the night before in Charlottesville, North Carolina so it was a good assumption he wouldn’t be around. Yet… when the band arrived on Sunday to check out our treasure chest of instruments I asked about Jonny and they said he was on the way. I think he canceled his show and drove his car all the way north.. Crazy. It took a bit to wrangle everyone but it was well worth it and they all performed the title track “Middle Brother” with Jonny singing a couple versus. Later that day they had the crowd at the Quad Stage screaming and singing along, definitely a better show than at the Detroit Bar when I saw them a few months ago.
Stay tuned for another episode on Thursday. Also… check out my Newport Folk Fest playlist on Spotify. You can check out a few of Jonny Corndawg’s songs on Spotify but you should take a peak at his other creations too at http://www.corndawg.com/
Thanks to Jay Sweet, George Wein, Fern, Barrie, and everyone else at Newport.
