Live In Concert from NPR's All Songs Considered - NPR

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David Wax Museum: Newport Folk Festival 2010 Aug 02, 2010

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David Wax Museum knows how to make the most of an opportunity. The talented Boston roots-folk band won its spot on a Newport Folk Festival stage after winning a contest, then spent the first day of the festival courting fans cheerfully but aggressively. By the time its set was half over -- after it had passed around its mailing list and hawked its line of hats -- the group had gathered a fairly enormous crowd, which it proceeded to win over in an increasingly big way. Before its set was over, the full band had congregated in the middle of the crowd to perform without amplification; judging by the deafening roar that followed, David Wax Museum won't need to enter contests much longer.

Punch Brothers with Chris Thile: Newport Folk Festival 2010 Aug 02, 2010

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When Nickel Creek broke up in 2006, it was only a matter of time before the massively popular bluegrass band would spin off into new projects. Among the most prominent is singer-mandolinist Chris Thile's creatively ambitious Punch Brothers, whose recordings have already included a 40-minute suite called "The Blind Leaving the Blind." Less than two months after performing at Bonnaroo, Thile and Punch Brothers are hitting the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I., wielding new songs from an album titled 'Antifogmatic.'

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings: Newport Folk Festival 2010 Aug 02, 2010

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One of the most self-assured stage performers in the business, Sharon Jones commands her audience's attention for every second of her hard-hitting concerts. For proof, look no further than her remarkable performance at NPR Music's SXSW showcase in Austin, Texas, this past March: Even if she didn't have the brilliant Dap-Kings horn section backing her blazing throwback soul songs, she'd have dominated. Jones performed music from this year's polished 'I Learned the Hard Way' when she takes the Newport Folk Festival stage in Newport, R.I.

April Smith and The Great Picture Show: Newport Folk Festival 2010 Aug 02, 2010

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April Smith sounds like an artist out of time: Her massive voice seems particularly well suited to the pop sounds of the '30s and '40s, when brassy belters reigned. Funded through $13,000 in donations from fans, Smith's recent album with her band The Great Picture Show, 'Songs for a Sinking Ship,' is a buoyant collection of quirky, charming songs. Here, Smith and her band perform live at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I.

Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons: Newport Folk Festival 2010 Aug 02, 2010

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Cory Chisel grew up in Appleton, Wis., where he got into music while singing in church for his father, a Baptist minister. But while that period of his life helped him find his voice -- particularly in performances with his family -- Chisel remained isolated from popular culture at large. That changed when his uncle introduced him to classic rock and soul music, which in turn helped lead to Cory Chisel's recording career. Expect him to showcase material from last year's full- length major-label debut, 'Death Won't Send a Letter,' in this live performance from the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I.

Tao Rodriguez Seeger: Newport Folk Festival 2010 Aug 02, 2010

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Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, the grandson of folk all-timer Pete Seeger, has carried on in the family tradition of musical activism, making frequent appearances at the venerable folk festival his grandfather helped found. But that's not his only claim to fame: The younger Seeger has also put out four albums with his band The Mammals, played with Sarah Lee Guthrie (Woody Guthrie's granddaughter) in the group RIG, and even sung with Bruce Springsteen and Pete Seeger at President Obama's inaugural celebration. Here, Tao Rodriguez-Seeger plays songs from his new solo album, 'Rise and Bloom,' at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I.

Dawes: Newport Folk Festival 2010 Jul 31, 2010

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This is a golden age for fans of beardy guys who infuse their indie-rock sound with rich vocal harmonies that recall the heady days of Crosby, Stills & Nash. The L.A. band Dawes may be led by singer Taylor Goldsmith, but the group's layered backing vocals are just as much the star of its sweetly melancholy debut album, 'North Hills.' Here, Dawes performs live at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I.

Horse Feathers: Newport Folk Festival 2010 Jul 31, 2010

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At first blush, Horse Feathers might seem like the prototypical purveyor of ineffectual beard-folk, complete with a stirring string section. But two factors elevate the band to greatness: 1) That is a 'hell' of a stirring string section, which helps Horse Feathers achieve rare exquisiteness; and 2) singer Justin Ringle knows how to use his warm, kind tenor to mask powerful lyrics about dark secrets and bruised souls. Hear Horse Feathers perform songs from this year's excellent 'Thistled Spring' live at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I.

O'Death: Newport Folk Festival 2010 Jul 31, 2010

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The only way O'Death could be a better name for a Gothic folk-punk band would be if the band only performed on St. Patrick's Day. As it is, the New York group plays grippingly intense Americana, in the process bringing to mind the white-knuckle hellrides of '16 Horsepower.' Here, O'Death plays songs from its latest album, 'Broken Hymns, Limbs and Skin,' at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I.

Calexico: Newport Folk Festival 2010 Jul 31, 2010

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An Arizona band led by singer-guitarist Joey Burns and drummer/multi- instrumentalist John Convertino, Calexico has spent a decade and a half as a go-to purveyor of atmospheric, even cinematic desert pop. With the aid of trumpets, pedal-steel guitars and piano, Calexico has become a festival favorite (playing a set at Bonnaroo earlier this summer), recorded high-profile collaborations (including 'In the Reins,' a tremendous album with Iron & Wine), and evolved into a consistent studio force (most recently releasing the well-received 'Carried to Dust'). Here, Calexico performs live at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I.