Rest In Peace, Pete

I'll always remember Pete Seeger's performance in 2009 at George Wein's Folk Festival 50.  It seemed like just about every musician from the day had joined him on stage for a spirited finale. I vividly remember the look of joy on the performers faces as they sang "Guantanamera."

I had the biggest smile on my face as I captured these images. I was overcome with the feeling that I was a part of a special moment in time.

Judging from the look of admiration on the other musicians' faces as they lovingly watch Pete perform, I can see they probably felt the same way. You can listen to the set on NPR: Here

Rest in peace, Pete. Newport will miss you. Your legacy lives on.

Newport Festivals Foundation's First Family Concert

Newport Festivals Foundation had it's first Family Concert this year at Fort Adams. Held during Newport’s annual BridgeFest – which bridges the gap between Folk Festival and Jazz Festival – the free concert featured jazz vocalist Amy Cervini and The Sleepy Man Banjo Boys, made up of eleven year-old banjo phenom Jonny Mizzone and his brothers Robbie, 13, on fiddle, and Tommy, 15, on guitar. While I was there shooting the concert as a feature for the newspaper, Eamon and Evangeline got to hang out and have some fun.

This was Evangeline's reaction when she spotted me from afar. Is there anything better than being loved by a small, joy-filled human?

Surprisingly, when Amy Cervini asked Evangeline to name her favorite food, she froze under the pressure of having a microphone in front of her. She just stared blankly at Amy like a deer in headlights.

Oh, my, what lovely eyes miss Aria has!

Newport Folk Festival 2013

I look forward to the Newport Folk Festival all year. It's a weekend filled with unforgettable moments, inspiring new discoveries (Lord Huron, Bombino, Hurray For the Riff Raff) and collaborations you won't see anywhere else (Beck and Ramblin Jack Elliott!) in a setting that can't be beat. A few of my highlights from this year include being just inches away from The Lumineers during an impromptu performance among the crowd, checking out Jim James' one-of-a-kind dance moves from above the stage with my daughter Evangeline (perhaps his youngest superfan), watching Phosphorescent's head-banging keyboard player Scott Stapleton, hearing the sweet sounds of one of my all-time favorites, Andrew Bird, and getting goosebumps when the sun peeked out from behind the clouds as Beck closed out the festival with "Sunday Sun." For a music lover, it was a magical weekend. I love the moments when I share a smile with the person next to me, perhaps a perfect stranger, and know we are thinking the same thing – that we're bearing witness to something special, a moment that will stay with us forever. These are the moments that drive me to take pictures. Beck summed up my motivation perfectly when he said, “I see all these pictures backstage from the early days. (It has me) thinking about how good it looked back then, but it looks really good right now. Some day, in the 2024s, people will look back at the golden days of the 2010s.” I hope that someday in the future I'm lucky enough to have my photos serve as a window to this wonderful time in music.

Stelth Ulvang and Neyla Pekarek of The Lumineers take their performance from the Newport Folk Festival's main stage into the crowd.

Scott Stapleton plays keyboard with Phosphoresecnt.

Lord Huron

James Felice of The Felice Brothers plays accordion and sings.

Brian Elmquist, left, andZach Williams of The Lone Bellow

Kanene Pipkin performs with her band The Lone Bellow

Bassist Alan Hampton and guitarist Tift Merritt collaborate with violinst Andrew Bird on stage at the Newport Folk Festival. During the performance, Bird debuted the new song "Begging Questions."

Annah Hardesty sings and plays percussion with The Last Bison.

Teresa Totheroh plays violin with The Last Bison at the Newport Folk Festival.

Paul Niehaus plays pedal steel with Justin Townes Earle.

My girl, soaking in the scene, wearing the same serious expression as her father.

Did these ladies coordinate their outfits?

Evangeline couldn't get enough of the bottomless supply of Late July chips in the Family tent.

Ian Felice of The Felice Brothers

Left: Justin Townes Earle performs at the Newport Folk Festival. Listen to his set on NPR: Here Right: Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes joins Houndmouth's Katie Toupin on stage during the Indiana band's first Folk Festival Performance. Listen to the set on NPR: Here

Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent, of the Charleston, SC, band Shovels and Rope, perform a high energy set.

Jim James puts on a performance full of dance moves including twists, jumps, and even a short waltz with a golden animal figurine, on the main stage.

Note the excitement on Evangeline’s face as she watches her favorite performer Jim James.

Jim James makes the most of his wooly mane during his performance.

Tuareg guitarist and singer/songwriter Bombino brings his hyponotic desert rock from the Sahara to Newport.

Rhode Island’s own John McCauley plays an acoustic set.

Brothers Seth and Scott Avett and bass player Bob Crawford come together to sing during their Newport Folk Festival performance.

Avett Brothers fans show some love for the wildly popular North Carolina band during their Newport Folk Festival performance. Listen to the set on NPR: Here

Seth Avett of the Avett Brothers plays piano and sings during their performance.

Throughout the weekend I kept noticing the fantastic outfits worn by this stylish beauty, Odessa Rose. I love the way she combines this look, reminiscent of the late 60's/early 70's, with a pair of leather boots.

Guitarist Matt Myers and bassist Zak Appleby perform with their band of Houndmouth.

Folk music legend Ramblin' Jack Elliott entertains the Newport Folk Festival crowd with stories and songs.

After dedicating the Jimmie Rodgers song "Waitin ' For A Train" to Ramblin Jack Elliott, Beck is surprised on stage by Elliott himself, whom he calls "a big influence."

After I quickly squeezed my way through the crowd to capture this wonderful moment between Beck and one of his music idols Ramblin Jack Elliot together on stage, I made a couple of new friends and discovered these awesome sunglasses made of wood

This was our view as we enjoyed Beck's set backstage after a long weekend full of wonderful music.

Beck, seen in silhouette from backstage, closes out the 2013 Newport Folk Festival.

The sun comes out from behind the clouds as Beck fittingly closes out the 2013 Newport Folk Festival with the song Sunday Sun.

Newport Folk Festival producer Jay Sweet lights a sky lantern to release from the roof of Fort Adams in celebration of another successful weekend of music coming to a close.

Newport Jazz Festival 2013

The highlight of this year's Newport Jazz Festival for me was seeing the charismatic bandleader and piano virtuoso Jon Batiste perform with his band Stay Human. The Juilliard graduates are based in New York City, but their music and performance style is all New Orleans. Batiste, who comes from a long line of Louisiana musicians, has the spirit of The Crescent City in his soul. His band's mission is to bring the joy of live music to the masses, to lift people up by engaging with them during performances. Jon Batiste and Stay Human had the crowd on their feet and filled the Harbor Tent with the kind of rousing excitement that comes naturally with music rooted in the New Orleans tradition. I love it when I can experience a little piece of home here in Newport.

John Batiste smiles at the crowd, harmonaboard in hand, as he performs with his band Stay Human at the Newport Jazz Festival. In the background is Joe Saylor on tambourine. Listen to the set on NPR: Here

Jon Batiste joins Joe Saylor on the drums while performing with his band Stay Human at the Newport Jazz Festival. Listen to the set on NPR: Here

Jon Batiste and his band Stay Human get the crowd on their feet at the Newport Jazz Festival. Listen to the set on NPR: Here

Jon Batiste (melodica) and members of his band Stay Human (from left) Ibanda Ruhumbika (tuba) and Eddie Barbash (saxophone) play among the crowd during their set at the Newport Jazz Festival. Listen to the set on NPR: Here

Jon Batiste, right, and members of his band Stay Human (from left) Joe Saylor, Eddie Barbash and Ibanda Ruhumbika receive applause from fans when they enter the crowd to play a few tunes during their set at the Newport Jazz Festival. Listen to the set on NPR: Here

Hiromi is quite possibly the most dynamic musician I have ever seen. She is a photographer's dream!

Eddie Palmieri laughs at a comment made by a fan as he performes with his Salsa Orchestra during the Newport Jazz Festival. Listen to his set on NPR: Here

Jonathan Powell plays a trumpet solo with Eddie Palmieri and his Salsa Orchestra during the Newport Jazz Festival. Listen to the set on NPR: Here

(from left) Pauline Smith of New Rochelle, NY dances with friend Ronald Hancox of East Hartford, CT, while Ernestine Jennings of Barrington, Eric Mosley of Boston and Rhonda Persip of Boston get down to the sounds of Eddie Palmieri and his Salsa Orchestra during the Newport Jazz Festival. Listen to the set on NPR: Here

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Trumpet players Gregory Davis, left, and Efrem Towns perform with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Our Evangeline is becoming a Jazz Festival regular. She hasn't missed a festival since 2010 when she was in my belly. Here she is with my mom, clearly feeling the familiar New Orleans love coming from Jon Batiste and Stay Human.