The Newport Folk Festival dates back to 1959, but has always adhered to a somewhat loose definition of “folk.” Among the people who played there in the early days of the festival and early in their careers were Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Johnny Cash and Howlin’ Wolf. More recently people as diverse as Jakob Dylan, The Decemberists, The Low Anthem, Jimmy Buffett, Nickel Creek, the Allman Brothers Band, Agenlique Kidjo, and Emmylou Harris have played the festival that now takes place annually at Fort Adams State Park.
This year’s festival was impressive, as usual. We got there just in time to see Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. As usual they were brilliant. Sharon Jones interacts with her audience more than any other performer I have seen live, and if you get a chance to see her in a small club, do. She’ll bring folks on stage to sing to them, or even to have them sing and dance with her. She singles people in the audience out for recognition when they show affection, and she handles unruliness with particular dexterity. I wasn’t sure how that would play out in the noonday sun on the highly elevated stage in Fort Adams State Park.
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Monthly Archives: August 2010
Lessons Learned on a Dusk Ride
South Natick
Here’s my ride from today. I was gone about 50 minutes by I took a nice long break just to sit and think in front of the dam in South Natick. I love that spot.
I took this ride on impulse around 6:30 as it was getting dark. Thanks to my contemplative rest, I was out long enough for dusk to start settling in. So I made a few mental notes:
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Academic Freedom Media Review, July 31-August 6
Academic Freedom Media Review
July 31 – August 6, 2010
Compiled by Scholars at Risk
The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here or at their site. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
U. of Miami President Halted at Israeli Airport
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 8/6
Iran’s publish ‘at any cost’ mentality blamed for surge in academic fraud
Hannah Fearn, Times Higher Education, 8/5
I swear I am just doing my job
Rebecca Attwood, Times Higher Education, 8/5
Three Student Activists Appear in court
The Students Solidarity Trust, The Zimbabwean, 8/5
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Citizens Medal
President Barack Obama turns 49 today. Happy Birthday Mr. President! But the celebration at the White House that really deserves attention today is the announcement of the recipients of The Citizens Medal.
The Citizens Medal is the second highest civilian honor in our nation. For over 40 years, some of America’s most respected heroes and public figures like Muhammad Ali, Colin Powell and Bob Dole, and everyday heroes like Oseola McCarty, a washerwoman who left her entire life savings to establish a scholarship for students in need, have received this award.
This year the White House solicited nominations for the medal directly from the general public and narrowed them down to 13 recipients who have done great things in their community. See who they are and what they did here. Isn’t it wonderful to see people acknowledged for good works?
Whrrling around the deCordova Sculpture Garden
Spent a couple of hours this this afternoon at the deCordova Museum in the Sculpture Garden. It’s awfully interesting that place.
The deCordova Sculpture Park encompasses 35 acres of beautiful rolling woodlands and lawns, and is the largest park of its kind in New England. The Sculpture Park is open to the public every day of the year from dawn ’til dusk, and contains approximately 75 artworks at any given time.
Here’s a few images from the day.