Brown Bird won over hearts at Newport Folk
Newport Folk 2011
Photos by Emma Dessau
NEW ENGLAND POWERHOUSE - The powerful indie Americana duo, Rhode-Island-based Brown Bird, alternated between foot stomping back porch fiddling and haunting Eastern European gypsy caravan. David Lamb’s guitar & banjo picking and bluesy singing wove beautifully in with Morganeve Swain’s fiddle, upright bass and darkly sensuous backing vocals. Lyrically dramatic, they tell tales of ghosts and angels; soul struggles and salvation. They performed mostly songs from their upcoming October release Salt for Salt.
Swain’s brother Spencer came up to join them for the instrumental “Shiloh,” adding stark, eerie violin lines that at times resembled bird cries, to a richly layered musical odyssey that sounded like it was coming from a large ensemble and not just three people. Their hour-long set covered a wide musical range and makes one anxious to hear their new album in its entirety. In the spirit of Newport Folk Festival and to honor those before them, they closed with an exuberant, rollicking rendition of Johnny Cash’s “I’m Going to Jackson,” which was of course a huge audience favorite and had everyone cheering. - JULIE STOLLER
Swain’s brother Spencer came up to join them for the instrumental “Shiloh,” adding stark, eerie violin lines that at times resembled bird cries, to a richly layered musical odyssey that sounded like it was coming from a large ensemble and not just three people. Their hour-long set covered a wide musical range and makes one anxious to hear their new album in its entirety. In the spirit of Newport Folk Festival and to honor those before them, they closed with an exuberant, rollicking rendition of Johnny Cash’s “I’m Going to Jackson,” which was of course a huge audience favorite and had everyone cheering. - JULIE STOLLER
RSL STREAMING PHOTO ALBUM
DID YOU SEE THE BROWN BIRD SET?? - One of the big, big winners of Newport Folk 52. Everywhere I went, practically everyone I was talking to mentioned this set. By lyric and now by reputation - this may have been the first new step for Brown Bird's promising tomorrow. Check out the NPR set download, you will not regret it. - RYAN SPAULDING
- NEWPORT FOLK SET LIST -
Ebb & Flow
Fingers to Bone
Thunder and Lightning
Blood and Angels
Come My Way
Nothing Left
Shiloh
Bilgewater
Ragged Old Town
By the Reins
Bottom of the Bottle
Cast No Shadow
I’m Going To Jackson
DOWNLOAD this set at NPR
Ebb & Flow
Fingers to Bone
Thunder and Lightning
Blood and Angels
Come My Way
Nothing Left
Shiloh
Bilgewater
Ragged Old Town
By the Reins
Bottom of the Bottle
Cast No Shadow
I’m Going To Jackson
DOWNLOAD this set at NPR
Comments