RecommNeds | Newport Folk Festival Preview Edition

Words By: Aaron “Neddy” Stein

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Fort-worthy

I won’t be making my annual trip to Newport this year, which stinks because the line-up is characteristically stacked this year. Here are two new releases from 2015 Newport artists that might not yet be on your radar.

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Christopher Paul Stelling: Labor Against Waste

 

We definitely play favorites around here at RecommNeds HQ and anyone who’s been following these missives know that we’ve been big fans of Christopher Paul Stelling for a while. His brand new album, Labor Against Waste, is a perfect example of what’s to love: tremendous songwriting, a voice brimming with power and emotion and quick-fingered acoustic guitar picking that gives the music a feeling of intimacy and urgency. I was super happy to see Stelling finally got the call to play in Newport this summer -with music like his, it’s been long overdue.

Spotify: https://open.spotify .com/album/3lqyBlFTWPs2tYqW6oarIf

Rhapsody: http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/christopher-paul-stelling/album/labor-against-waste

Rdio: http://www.rdio.com/artist/Christopher_Paul_Stelling/album/Labor_Against_Wa ste/

Bandcamp:

https://christopherpaulstelling.bandcamp.com/album/labor-against-waste

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Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear: Skeleton Crew

 

I don’t know what’s cooler: that Madisen Ward plays sweet folk music with his mother or that he calls her “Mama Bear.” Their music together on their debut album, Skeleton Crew, is a perfect mix of Ward’s honey voice with mom’s harmonies adding an extra lovely punch. This is stripped down, happy folk for living rooms, back porches, and, you know, big folk festivals in Rhode Island. Don’t miss these guys.

Rdio: http://www.rdio.com/artist/Madisen_Ward_and_The_Mama_Bear/album/Skeleton_Cre w/

Spotify: https://open.spotify .com/album/32CKmpHJ27bzFKh038QoPv

Rhapsody: http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/madisen-ward/album/skeleton-crew-glassnote-entertainment-group/