The Best Folk Music Concerts of 2017

A list of the best folk music concerts of 2017.

Newport Folk Festival

The Newport Folk Festival is an American annual folk-oriented music festival in Newport, Rhode Island, which began in 1959 as a counterpart to the previously established Newport Jazz Festival. The festival is often considered one of the first modern folk music festivals. It remains a showcase for folk music and artists of all genres, including bluegrass, country, blues, and rock. This year’s lineup includes some of the best folk musicians of 2017.

Location

The Newport Folk Festival is an American annual folk-oriented music festival in Newport, Rhode Island, which began in July 1959 as a counterpart to the previously established Newport Jazz Festival. Held at Fort Adams State Park, approximately 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Newport on Aquidneck Island, the festival features performances by folk, blues, country, bluegrass, and more.

History

The Newport Folk Festival is an American annual folk-oriented music festival in Newport, Rhode Island, which began in 1959 as a counterpart to the previously established Newport Jazz Festival. The festival is often considered one of the first modern music festivals in America and helped lead the American folk music revival of the 1960s. The current festival includes musical performances by leading folk, rock, blues, and alternative country artists, as well as Talks & Workshops and Family Activities.

The Newport Folk Festival was founded in 1959 by George Wein, owner of the famed jazz club The Storyville in Boston. Wein had been tapped to produce a jazz event in Newport after producing successful jazz festivals in Europe, and he modeled the Newport Folk Festival after European folk festivals he had attended. The first festival featured a lineup of leading folk musicians, including Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, and Odetta; it was attended by 13,000 people and was widely considered a success.

In subsequent years, the festival continued to grow in popularity and size; by 1964, it was attracting over 20,000 attendees. That year’s lineup included Bob Dylan, who made his landmark “going electric” debut at the festival. Dylan’s performance caused an uproar among some traditional folk fans who felt that he was betraying the genre; however, others saw his performance as groundbreaking and influential. In any case, Dylan’s set sparked a major shift in popular music away from traditional folk towards folk-rock and other genre-bending styles.

Today, the Newport Folk Festival is one of America’s most popular and acclaimed music festivals; it has been praised for its excellent lineup of performers and its relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. If you’re a fan of folk music (or just good music in general), don’t miss out on this fantastic event!

Performers

The Newport Folk Festival is an annual event that takes place in Newport, Rhode Island. The festival is one of the most popular folk music festivals in the United States, and it features a wide variety of performers. This year’s lineup includes some of the best folk musicians from around the world, and you can check out the full lineup below.

-Aimee Mann
-Angus & Julia Stone
-Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
-Bon Iver
-Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers
– Dispatch
-Ed Sheeran
-Father John Misty
– First Aid Kit
– Gregory Alan Isakov
– Jack Johnson
– James Vincent McMorrow
– Jose Gonzalez
– Joseph Arthur
– Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band
– Aoife O’Donovan
– Arcade Fire

Cambridge Folk Festival

Considered one of the best folk music festivals in the world, the Cambridge Folk Festival is an annual event that takes place in Cambridge, England. The 2017 lineup included some of the biggest names in folk music, such as The Lumineers, Joan Baez, and Passenger. If you’re a fan of folk music, this is one festival you don’t want to miss.

Location

The Cambridge Folk Festival is an annual music festival held in the city of Cambridge, England. The event takes place during the last weekend in July at the Cherry Hinton Hall, a large parkland on the outskirts of the city.

The festival was first held in 1965 and has been running annually ever since. It is one of the longest-running and most prestigious folk music festivals in the world. Each year, the event attracts a diverse range of musical acts from across the globe, with a particular focus on traditional folk and acoustic music.

The Cambridge Folk Festival is widely regarded as one of the best folk music events in the world, and has won numerous awards over the years. In 2017, the festival was nominated for ‘Best Event’ at the UK Festival Awards.

History

The Cambridge Folk Festival is an annual music festival in England. The festival features a wide range of folk music and related genres, including traditional musicians from all over the world.

The first Cambridge Folk Festival was held in July 1965, and has been held every year since then, usually on the last full weekend of July. The festival is run by a small team of volunteers and is organised as a non-profit event. Since its inception, the festival has been held at various locations around Cambridge, including Parker’s Piece, Midsummer Common and Cherry Hinton Hall. The current venue is Cherry Hinton Hall, which has been the festival’s home since 1979.

Over the years, the Cambridge Folk Festival has hosted some of the most famous names in folk music, including Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Emmylou Harris, Leonard Cohen, Ade Edmondson and The Levellers. In recent years, the festival has expanded its remit to include a wider range of musical genres, such as world music, singer-songwriter and alternative rock.

Performers

The Cambridge Folk Festival is one of the most well-renowned folk music festivals in the world, and takes place every year in Cambridge, England. The 2017 lineup features some of the most talented folk musicians from around the globe, playing a variety of traditional and contemporary folk music.

Some of the performers at this year’s festival include:

-The Unthanks: A British folk group who are known for their beautiful harmonies and eclectic repertoire.
-Dougie MacLean: A Scottish singer-songwriter who is best known for his song “Caledonia”, which has been covered by many artists.
-Patty Griffin: An American singer-songwriter who has been awarded Grammy Awards for her work in both the country and folk genres.
-Mary Gauthier: An American singer-songwriter whose songs have been recorded by such artists as Tim McGraw, Melissa Etheridge, and Jimmy Buffett.

Fairport’s Cropredy Convention

Location

The Fairport’s Cropredy Convention is a three-day music festival that takes place in the village of Cropredy in Oxfordshire, England. The festival is organized by the folk rock band Fairport Convention and features a wide variety of folk, roots, and acoustic music.

History

Fairport’s Cropredy Convention is an annual three-day music festival which takes place in the village of Cropredy in Oxfordshire, England. The event was first held in 1976 as a one-day event to mark the tenth anniversary of Fairport Convention, a British folk rock band. It has since grown into one of the largest and most popular music festivals in the UK, with an attendance of around 20,000 people each year.

The festival features a wide range of musical styles, from traditional folk to contemporary pop, and from local up-and-coming acts to internationally renowned headliners. There is also a strong emphasis on community and family fun, with a selection of fairground rides, children’s entertainment, and food and drink stalls.

In recent years, the festival has been held over the weekend of August Bank Holiday (the last Monday in August), making it one of the last opportunities for live music fans to enjoy their favorite bands before the end of summer.

Performers

2017 lineup to be announced.

In 2016, the Fairport’s Cropredy Convention celebrated its 40th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the festival assembled one of its most diverse and exciting lineups to date, with a mix of veteran performers and fresh voices.

This year’s lineup includes:

Alison Krauss
The Decemberists
Jimmy Buffett
Kasey Chambers
Lyle Lovett
Martin Simpson
Nicole Atkins
The Secret Sisters
The Waifs
Yola