New Bedford Folk Festival Day #1 ~ 2018 July 7 ~ mostly the Greasy Luck Showcase Stage ~ New Bedford, MA
Set List (The Kennedys)
She Worked Her Magic On Me - Umbrella - Cayenne In My Coffee - Be Silent No More - Mad Russian {Jimmy Reed} - Life Is Large - Borrowed Dress - Don't Talk to Strangers - Safe Until Tomorrow - Midnight Ghost - Stand
Set List (Laura Love Duo)
Nobody Gonna Turn Me Around - Poor Wayfaring Stranger - Passin' - Saskatchewan (Juneteenth) - We Shall Overcome - Your Greatest Hits - Let Your Freak Flag Fly - I Still Believe
Song title corrections welcome.
Scroll to below videos for review of the show.
Videos
"Oh Alma" (Grace Morrison)
"The Mad Russian" (The Kennedys)
"Passin'" (Laura Love)
Review
Concert Going Partner and I spent most of the day freezing our butts off at the ultra-air conditioned Greasy Luck Stage. I was happy I brought a light sweater, but I went back to the car after the first two sets to get a warmer sweatshirt. You could tell it was going to be a cold day by looking at the soundwoman, who was bundled up in a hooded sweatshirt with the hood up.
No matter about that, the music was sizzling hot. The day started off with a scintillating set from Grace Morrison, who recently suffered an injury to her right leg and performed while seated. The poor thing must have been freezing in a cute little strapless sundress that was appropriate for the beautiful summer day it was outside. Grace declared that she and husband Rick have recently celebrated their first year anniversary (congrats, Grace!). Grace has a new album out (I'm the Apple) and performed several howling good songs from it, accompanied by her long-time accompanist John Baptista on guitar and her young protege, Sam Babineau on violin.
Next, on came my favorite folk duo, The Kennedys. Maura and Pete also have a new album to promote, Safe Until Tomorrow, and they performed several songs from it, including my particular favorite, "Don't Talk to Strangers." Halfway through their set the duo called out for requests from the audience, of which there were several, including "Borrowed Dress," a Maura solo song, which was requested by a woman celebrating a birthday. Another request was the pair's song of affirming life, "Life is Large." Their set concluded with "Stand," accompanied on vocals by the three young girls who always sing along with this song at this festival. Even the youngest sister (sister #4) came up on stage for a piece of the song.
After a lunch break during which we missed Pete Mulvey, only returning for his last song, we heard a set by the fabulous Laura Love. I was not familiar with her, but Concert Going Partner was very excited to see her set since he had been a big fan of hers during the early years of her solo career. I can see why. She has a huge voice and is a really stylish bass player. Her songs focused on the African-American experience and included elements of soul as well as folk. Possibly her most moving song was "We Shall Overcome" with a new verse taken from the famous poem that is mounted on the Statue of Liberty. She was deftly accompanied by Terry Hunt on guitar; she said that he was partly responsible for reviving her career since he encouraged her to come and play with bands that he was with a few years ago.
We stayed put for Brooks Williams, bluesman extraordinaire, who performed a greatly varied 45 minute set, accompanying himself on an acoustic guitar and a gorgeous, lively resonator guitar. He said that playing that guitar outside for a music video was a challenge, since it got so hot in the sun! But he also commented it was "like winter" in the Greasy Luck venue. It hadn't warmed up at all since the start of the day!
We finished our day at the Freezy Luck (oh, I mean the Greasy Luck) with a set by Canadian folksinger/humorist J.P. Cormier. A superb singer/songwriter/guitarist, J.P. also was far and away the funniest performer we saw this day. He has a totally deadpan delivery (think Buster Keaton with words) and had the audience laughing out loud.
Finally we departed the Greasy Luck ice box and had time for one more set, so we thought we'd check out the Meet the Performer Stage, housed this year at a venue new to the NBFF, the historic Seamen's Bethel on Johnny Cake Hill. This is the historic church where the Preacher gives the famous sermon in "Moby Dick." The church has memorials covering its walls to many of the mariners from New Bedford who have lost their lives at sea, and the pulpit of the church takes the form of the bow of a whaling vessel. The performer, Kristin Andreassen, was somewhat overshadowed by the venue! There was also a problem with the sound system and she was performing un-amplified. She is a young singer/songwriter/stepdancer and was well received by the audience.
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