Jim James At Newport Folk Festival

George Wein’s Newport Folk Festival celebrated its 51st installment over the weekend. The music at Fort Adams State Park opened on Saturday July 31st, with My Morning Jacket’s Jim James making the rounds. In addition to his own solo set which included material from Monsters of Folk (“His Master’s Voice”) as well as MMJ (“What a Wonderful Man”), James also guested with a number of other acts over both days of the fest. On Saturday James joined John Prine and helped him close out the Fort Stage with “All the Best” and “Paradise.” On Sunday, James was one of a few artists who appeared with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, singing “St. James Infirmary,” while Andrew Bird, Cory Chisel and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger sat in as well (Bird’s Fort Stage performance was on Saturday where he also sang with Calexico). James then made his way over to the Quad Stage (the smallest of three) and guested with Daniel Martin Moore and Ben Sollee (the three musicians just wrapped up their Appalachian Voices Tour). The event later culminated with a performance by the Levon Helm Band, who drew out numerous Newport Folk participants including Richie Havens, members of Dawes, The Felice Brothers and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros for a festive conclusion to the weekend.

– Jambands.com