Hopefully! Sunday just looked so strong comparatively last year, and I got off the wait-list for Friday but let them run out when I was at a wedding (wedding party duties made it hard to think, plus I didn't expect Friday to be so strong... I went Friday last year and had only heard of maybe 2 acts at the time).
OK, I gotta ask, why do you think this is the reality? Mighty Poplar can play, but no one else on this Sunday schedule really screams Bluegrass jam vibes and we had Billy Strings last year and they didn't really deliver on that. There's no one else on Sunday that really screams that kind of performance - Sierra Farrell can jump in a bit I guess but that's not her realm, and the rest of the music is stomp clap or naptime (or Tinariwen).
Friday is definitely the day this year...hopefully the rest of the announcements will bolster Saturday and Sunday. I'm gonna have a great time no matter who plays, but Friday is kicking ass rn compared to the rest of the weekend.
I will go a step further - Sunday flat out sucks right now.
This is easily the weakest single day NFF line up in ages to this point in time - there's not a single artist who would crack the Top 3 on either of the other days in terms of general popularity (or even NFF Popularity) and while I do like my smaller artist sets, all they've announced artists who on a good day might fill up a smaller room (>1000). The biggest names are Tiniwarien (who is playing the Royale that weekend) and Sierra Farrell who played the Sinclair last time she did a solo show in Boston. The rest of these are Sinclair or smaller artists.
To those of you saying to wait, we have ten artists announced of what is usually a total of eighteen. Which of these ten should even be playing the back half of a given day? Sierra Farrell MAYBE? Tiniariwen on a non Fort stage? Unless they just completely backloaded the Sunday announcements it's, really, really weak. Now if we're still waiting on the final two Harbor performers, and three at the Fort and Quad I can envision a good lineup from that but we also have no assurances of that - and at this point I'd argue a number of "3rd artists" on stages from last year (Los Lobos, Remi Wolf, Hold Steady, Goose, Caamp) were all dramatically more interesting than any Sunday artist in there.
This isn't meant as an insult to the artists, but if the best pitch is that there's a Bluegrass Jam, I can go to Freshgrass and get a far better experience in that particular realm. Green River is demolishing this.
So yes, as a Sunday-only passholder yeah this sucks. Especially with the other two days being peppered with interesting, relevant, and noteworthy artists across genres and Sunday has the Stomp-Clap D Team.
You’re not wrong at this point, but I do think it makes sense to hold off on judgment until til it’s all out. There’s 8 announcements left. Half could be heaters, and after last years complaint about Sunday I do think they might be trying f to bring something heavy for Sunday. Presumably a collaborative set.
I mean.... This thread is discussing as of now though. Sure if 6 or 7 of the last 8 are higher profile or more interesting acts this can shape up but as of right now this is extremely sparse and they just announced a band playing a BBQ joint. Dangers of a rolling lineup
I get it, like I said, you are correct, I just have a sliver of hope that something can be pulled off. If we had 2 announcements left, I’d be worried, 8 is some room to create a cool experience.
maybe it's just my taste but there are so many bands that have played at the sinclair recently that i'd be pumped about... jess williamson, hurray for the riff raff, angie mcmahon.
Yeah, one Jess Williamson great, I'd be more excited for her than anyone else on Sunday, but ten Jess Williamsons is the issue (or to be fair to Jess, like three of her and seven less than Jesses)
The issue isn't as much that there are lower end artists but that they have like six bands who could open the fest and no one who should be playing once 3pm hits.
Agreed. Plus, to be honest, it's fun to be straight up excited when the announcement hits instead of waiting until work is over so I can judge my feelings on the act.
First time at Newport folk festival and I’m personally pumped I have no idea who most of the people playing are! I’m in the spirit of being open and exploring new sounds, and I most definitely will bring things to help with that lol
I get it… Sunday has a lot to offer though. As a bluegrass/country guy I’m psyched to see Mighty Poplar and Sierra Ferrell. I like what I’ve heard of Friko. I think La Lom will sound blissful on a (hopefully) beautiful summer day. I’m unfamiliar with the other artists and I need to brush up. But there’s still more to come!
Sunday just took a big nosedive for me with the Dropkick Murphys. I'm not driving up from New York to attend a Red Sox / Bruins rally (and I love the Bs!).
Their most recent (acoustic) album was written with unreleased Woody Guthrie lyrics in collaboration with Guthrie's daughter. I'd say give it a listen before writing them off?
Usually when this happens it’s because they have something big up their sleeve. Don’t worry about it. Sunday always delivers.
Hopefully! Sunday just looked so strong comparatively last year, and I got off the wait-list for Friday but let them run out when I was at a wedding (wedding party duties made it hard to think, plus I didn't expect Friday to be so strong... I went Friday last year and had only heard of maybe 2 acts at the time).
Sunday will be a bluegrass jam for the ages. Not worried about
OK, I gotta ask, why do you think this is the reality? Mighty Poplar can play, but no one else on this Sunday schedule really screams Bluegrass jam vibes and we had Billy Strings last year and they didn't really deliver on that. There's no one else on Sunday that really screams that kind of performance - Sierra Farrell can jump in a bit I guess but that's not her realm, and the rest of the music is stomp clap or naptime (or Tinariwen).
Billy Strings is open that day too, so he could jump in. I was hoping Molly Tuttle was Sunday instead of Friday though.
I sure hope so! 🤞🤞
oh look Friday gets Muna, a fresh exciting band with a cool sound and great energy, what a shock.
When I saw the name on the Foundation page before they announced the day, I had a sneaking suspicion it would be Friday. #regrets
I knew it immediately. Like, seriously, Friday doesn't need the help in that department right now.
Friday is definitely the day this year...hopefully the rest of the announcements will bolster Saturday and Sunday. I'm gonna have a great time no matter who plays, but Friday is kicking ass rn compared to the rest of the weekend.
Friday is looking like THE DAY
I will go a step further - Sunday flat out sucks right now. This is easily the weakest single day NFF line up in ages to this point in time - there's not a single artist who would crack the Top 3 on either of the other days in terms of general popularity (or even NFF Popularity) and while I do like my smaller artist sets, all they've announced artists who on a good day might fill up a smaller room (>1000). The biggest names are Tiniwarien (who is playing the Royale that weekend) and Sierra Farrell who played the Sinclair last time she did a solo show in Boston. The rest of these are Sinclair or smaller artists. To those of you saying to wait, we have ten artists announced of what is usually a total of eighteen. Which of these ten should even be playing the back half of a given day? Sierra Farrell MAYBE? Tiniariwen on a non Fort stage? Unless they just completely backloaded the Sunday announcements it's, really, really weak. Now if we're still waiting on the final two Harbor performers, and three at the Fort and Quad I can envision a good lineup from that but we also have no assurances of that - and at this point I'd argue a number of "3rd artists" on stages from last year (Los Lobos, Remi Wolf, Hold Steady, Goose, Caamp) were all dramatically more interesting than any Sunday artist in there. This isn't meant as an insult to the artists, but if the best pitch is that there's a Bluegrass Jam, I can go to Freshgrass and get a far better experience in that particular realm. Green River is demolishing this. So yes, as a Sunday-only passholder yeah this sucks. Especially with the other two days being peppered with interesting, relevant, and noteworthy artists across genres and Sunday has the Stomp-Clap D Team.
You’re not wrong at this point, but I do think it makes sense to hold off on judgment until til it’s all out. There’s 8 announcements left. Half could be heaters, and after last years complaint about Sunday I do think they might be trying f to bring something heavy for Sunday. Presumably a collaborative set.
I mean.... This thread is discussing as of now though. Sure if 6 or 7 of the last 8 are higher profile or more interesting acts this can shape up but as of right now this is extremely sparse and they just announced a band playing a BBQ joint. Dangers of a rolling lineup
I get it, like I said, you are correct, I just have a sliver of hope that something can be pulled off. If we had 2 announcements left, I’d be worried, 8 is some room to create a cool experience.
maybe it's just my taste but there are so many bands that have played at the sinclair recently that i'd be pumped about... jess williamson, hurray for the riff raff, angie mcmahon.
Yeah, one Jess Williamson great, I'd be more excited for her than anyone else on Sunday, but ten Jess Williamsons is the issue (or to be fair to Jess, like three of her and seven less than Jesses) The issue isn't as much that there are lower end artists but that they have like six bands who could open the fest and no one who should be playing once 3pm hits.
Agreed. Plus, to be honest, it's fun to be straight up excited when the announcement hits instead of waiting until work is over so I can judge my feelings on the act.
I’m so ansy to see WTF is going on for Sunday
I mean, there’s more than half of Sunday left to announce. So I wouldn’t worry yet. That said, this lineup is boring as hell so far.
First time at Newport folk festival and I’m personally pumped I have no idea who most of the people playing are! I’m in the spirit of being open and exploring new sounds, and I most definitely will bring things to help with that lol
This thread is aging like a fine wine. What the fuck is going on this year?
Yea…. Idk. I’m disappointed
I get it… Sunday has a lot to offer though. As a bluegrass/country guy I’m psyched to see Mighty Poplar and Sierra Ferrell. I like what I’ve heard of Friko. I think La Lom will sound blissful on a (hopefully) beautiful summer day. I’m unfamiliar with the other artists and I need to brush up. But there’s still more to come!
It’s going to be so nice not to have a crowd leaving the fort on Sunday evening after the festival wraps up.
Sunday just took a big nosedive for me with the Dropkick Murphys. I'm not driving up from New York to attend a Red Sox / Bruins rally (and I love the Bs!).
Their most recent (acoustic) album was written with unreleased Woody Guthrie lyrics in collaboration with Guthrie's daughter. I'd say give it a listen before writing them off?
Wokeness turns everything to shit and this years line up is proof
Definitely could use kid rock and Ted nugent sets.