Aug 05
by Jim Brock in Reviews 0 comments tags: #eyeonthemusic, #folkyeah, #jimbrockphotography, #newportfolk, #preshalljazz, 90s music, Alynda Lee Segarra, Amanda Shires, Amy Ray, Benmont Tench, Billy Strings, Bonny Light Horseman, Brandi Carlile, Cedric Burnside, Charley Crockett, Colin Meloy, concert photography, Courtney Marie Andrews, D'angelico hollow body, Danny Clinch, Dawes, Decemberists, Dolly Parton, Eric Johnson, Eye on the Music, Fleet Foxes, Fruit Bats, George Wein, Gibson hollow body, Grateful Dead, Gregory Alan Isakov, Highwomen, Hozier, I'm With Her, If I Had a Song, Indigo Girls, Infamous Stringdusters, Jade Bird, jam bands, Jason Isbell, Jay Sweet, jazz photography, Jeff Tweedy, Jim Brock Photography, Jim James, JS Ondara, Judy Collins, Jupiter and Okwess, Kermit the Frog, Lake Street Dive, Leyla McCalla, Linda Perry, live music photography, Lucy Dacus, Lukas Nelson, Madison Cunningham, Maggie Rogers, Maren Morris, Mavis Staples, Milk Carton Kids, Molly Tuttle, New Orleans music, Nilufer Yanya, Our Native Daughters, Phil and Friends, Phil Lesh, Phish, Portugal The Man, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Promise of the Real, Rachael Price, Rambling Jack Elliott, Rayland Baxter, reggae, Rhiannon Giddens, Robin Pecknold, Sara Watkins, Sheryl Crow, Stephen Marley, Taylor Goldsmith, Trey Anastasio, Warren Haynes, Wilco, Wylie Gelber

NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL 2019, FORT ADAMS, RHODE ISLAND

July 26-28, 2019 As the sun dipped to meet Naragansett Bay a few Sundays back, the 60 years since the first Newport Folk Festival seemingly came full circle. The Fort Stage crowd serenading Rambling Jack Elliott, and the dozens of singers and musicians paying tribute to the spirit and songs of Pete Seeger (who appeared at the first Newport in 1959) with one last chorus of “Goodnight, Irene”. On what would have been the troubadour’s 100th birthday, it was producer Jay Sweet who encouraged the audience to have the last word and shower the stage with the love shared by all who performed and attended over the course of the three days. That the Lead Belly lyrics so simply convey love lost and always eternal, was a fitting coda to a closing set that left me more than a little teary. In a good way. Let’s just say that there are moments as a photographer when you have to put the camera down, and take it all in, and this was one of them. Welcome to Newport Folk. Newport 2019 was true to form. Full of collaboration, a few surprises and plenty of discoveries. But what was most different about […]
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Aug 17
by Jim Brock in Reviews 0 comments tags: #folkyeah, #newportfolk, 12-string, alt-country, Americana, Ben Harper, Beneath the Sacred Mountain, Bermuda Triangle, blues guitar, blues music, blues photography, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Change Is Gonna Come, Charlie Musselwhite, Charlie Parr, Cheech & Chong, Chris Thile, concert photography, Coulter Wall, Courtney Barnett, Daniel Norgren, Eric Johnson, Eye on the Music, funk, Gary Clark Jr., Gibson SG, Glen Hansard, Glorietta, Hamilton Leithauser, Hiss Golden Messenger, indie folk, indie rock, Jason Isbell, Jay Sweet, JD McPherson, Jen Cloher, Jenny Lewis, Jerry Douglas, Jim Brock Photography, Jim Brock Photography. Newport Folk Festival, Jon Batiste, Kanene Pipkin, Khruangbin, Langhorn Slim, Leon Bridges, LMB, Lone Bellow, Lucius, Lukas Nelson, Maggie Rogers, Marcus Mumford, Margo Price, Mavis Staples, MC Taylor, Michael Rosenberg, Moses Sumney, Mumford & Sons, Nels Cline, Newport Folk Festival, Nicole Atkins, Passenger, Phoebe Bridgers, post, Promise of the Real, Rachael & Vilray, Rachael Price, reggae, Resonator, rock photography, roots music, Shakey Graves, Side Toure, St. Vincent, Stratocaster, Sturgill Simpson, Tank & the Bangas, Telecaster, The Weather Station, This Is The Kit, Toots & the Maytals, Valerie June, Wood Brothers, world music, Zach Williams

Newport Folk Festival 2018, Fort Adams, Rhode Island

July 27-29, 2018   In a recent podcast, producer Jay Sweet reflected on Newport Folk this way “if this festival for you is about the headliners, I don’t think this is your festival”. Not that the headliners were too shabby. Jason Isbell (with a David Crosby sit-in), Unannounced (aka, Mumford & Sons) and the closing Change is Gonna Come set, more than held down the Fort. But Newport Folk (and Jazz) is about discovery, collaboration and experimentation. It’s The War & Treaty, The Weather Station, This is the Kit, Charlie Parr, Phoebe Bridgers, and Glorietta, to name a few that stood out. It can be “a bunch of people from a bunch of bands playing a bunch of songs” as Eric Johnson said from the Quad Stage, during Saturday’s Beneath the Sacred Mountain set. If not for Newport, The Lone Bellow (Sunday) and Hiss Golden Messenger (Saturday) would not have worked their way into my world years ago. Not to mention all the goodness my ears and heart enjoyed in between the new and familiar.   The Fort’s four stages are close, but not tight, and stage times rarely compete like so many other festivals where you can’t tear yourself […]
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Jun 08
by Jim Brock in Reviews 1 comments tags: 610 Stompers, Aaron Wilkinson, accordion, Acura Stage, Aerosmith, Amanda Shaw, Americana, Anders Osborne, Anita Baker, Archie Shepp, Astral Project, Beck, Ben Ellmen, Big Chief Red, bluegrass, blues photography, Blues Tent, Bo Dollis, Bonerama, Brandon Lewis, Buddy Guy, Butler Bernstein, Cage the Elephant, cajun music, Carolyn Wonderland, Charles Lloyd, Charlie Gabriel, Chris Mule, Christian Scott, classic rock, Clint Maedgen, Commodores, concert photography, Congo Square Stage, Corey Henry, Darcy Malone, Dave Malone, David Byrne, David Shaw, Debbie Davis, Delbert McClinton, Dianne reeves, Dirty Notes, Doug Kershaw, Dumpstaphunk, Ellis Marsalis, Epiphone guitar, Erica Falls, Eye on the Music, Fais Do-Do Stage, Fats Domino, Galactic, Gentilly Stage, George Benson, George Wein, Gibson SG, Givers, Glen David Andrews, Gospel Tent, Henry Butler, Hiss Golden Messenger, Honey Island Swamp Band, Hot 8 Brass Band, Hot 9, Hot Rize, Instruments a'Comin', Irma Thomas, Ivan Neville, Jack Johnson, Jack White, Jake Shimabukuro, Jason Isbell, Jazz & Heritage Stage, jazz photography, Jeff Raines, Jesse McBride, Jim Brock Photography, Jimmy Buffett, John Boutte, John Mahoney Big Band, John Mayall, Johnny Sketch, Johnny Vidacovich, Jon Batiste, Kermit Ruffins, Kidd Jordan, Lagniappe Stage, Leah Chase, Les Paul, Leyla McCalla, Lionel Richie, LMB, Lucinda Williams, Lyle Lovett, Mardi Gras indians, Mark Mullins, MC Taylor, Mike Dillon, Mr Sipp, music photography, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Nicholas Payton, Old Crow Medicine Show, Paul Sanchez, Police, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Quint Davis, Radiators, reggae, Rich Vogel, Robert Mercurio, Rolling Road Show, Ron Carter, Ronell Johnson, roots music, Ruthie Foster, Samantha Fish, Shamarr Allen, Shannon Powell, Sheryl Crow, Sonny Landreth, Stanton Moore, Stephen Bernstein, Steve Miller, Steve Riley, Steve Tyler, Sting, Stratocaster, Sturgill Simpson, Talking Heads, Tank & the Bangas, Telecaster, Terence Blanchard, The Revivalists, Thinline, Threadheads, Tipitina's, Tipitina's Foundation, Toots & the Maytals, trombone, Trumpet Mafia, ukelele, Walter Trout, website, Wild Magnolias, WWOZ Jazz Tent

Reflections and Musings of a Jazz Fest Photographer – 2018 Edition

April 27 – May 6, 2018 Best Jazz Fest ever? It’s a tie between the last one and the next one. Jazz Fest 49 was no exception. Seven Fest days and 30 minutes of rain. Unheard of. Unexpected discoveries? Check. Food I’m still working off? Check. Love in an Elevator? Never mind. Yes, Aerosmith at Jazz Fest had some folks head scratching when announced, but they went over big at their only gig of the year. And, as any Fest vet knows, it ain’t about the BNAs (“big name acts”). While this year was solid with the likes of Sting, Rod Stewart, Beck, Jack White et al. who knew the place would be abuzz over Socks in a Frying Pan from Ireland? Aah, but I digress… This photographer is fortunate to have a few ease in days ahead of Fest and we got in the mood Thursday night with Tony Hall, Terence Higgins, Roosevelt Collier and Jonathon “Boogie” Long funking up Jimi at NOLA Brewing on Tchoup. Fueled by a bellyful of BBQ pork and house brew, this was a boatload of fun with plenty of room to move in the beer warehouse by day room. The playing was loose, […]
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Sep 29
by Jim Brock in Reviews 0 comments tags: 80s music, 90s, 90s music, Aerosmith, Americana, artWork, Avett Brothers, blog, blues, Blues Traveller, Bob Crawford, Cary Ann Hearst, Chris Isaak, Chris Vos, classic rock, Cold War Kids, Colvin & Earle, concert photography, Daryl Hall, Derry, Derry deBorja, Dumpstaphunk, Dustbowl Revival, ES-335, Eye on the Music, Hall & Oates, Humor Me, Ian Neville, indie rock, Ivan Neville, Jack Johnson, jam bands, Jason Isbell, Jim Brock Photography, Jimbo Hart, Jimmy Buffett, Joe Kwon, Joe Perry, John Oates, John Popper, KAABOO, Karl Denson, Karl Denson & His Tiny Universe, Lenny Kravitz, Macy Gray, Marc Cazoria, Margaritaville, Mark McGrath, Michael Trent, Mowglis, Nathan Willett, New Orleans music, parrotheads, Paul Janeway, roots music, Sarah Silverman, Scott Avett, Seth Avett, Shakey Graves, Shawn Colvin, Shovels and Rope, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Stephan Jenkins, Steve Earle, Steve Tyler, Sugar Ray, Tania Elizabeth, Telecaster, The Record Company, Third Eye Blind, Tony Hall, Zach Lupetin

KAABOO 2016

September  16-18, 2016 KAABOO is an art and food festival with a serious music problem – a weekend away with a killer soundtrack. With a year to percolate since last year’s inaugural, KAABOO again flashed musical diversity, tasty cuisine, artisanal liquids, five-story art, good humor and an abundance of creature comforts around the historic Del Mar Fairgrounds. It’s an event and region meant for each other.The brainchild of entrepreneur Bryan Gordon, KAABOO is also a refreshing break from the AEG, Goldenvoice and Live Nation events that dominate much of the festival landscape. Sophomore KAABOO was not without its hiccups, but its place in the California festival landscape is certainly secure. Aerosmith saw to that. The unlikely pairing of Macy Gray and Chris Isaak kicked off the event Thursday night for those with “Amplify” passes. Her set was frothy, funky, full of sexuality and maybe a little lost on the not so danceable crowd, while his was schmaltzy, entertaining and well rehearsed with his band of 30 years (and the guy can still hit all the high notes of “Wicked Game” without flinching and probably ages slower than the rest of us). Not to mention there was so much good food being […]
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May 23
by Jim Brock in Reviews 1 comments tags: Abner Ramirez, accordion, Acura Stage, Alabama Shakes, Alejandro Escovedo, Alex McMurray, Allen Toussaint, Alynda Lee Seggara, Amanda Sudano, Americana, Anders Beck, Anders Osborne, Arcade Fire, Astral Project, Avett Brother, B-3, Baritone Bliss, baritone sax, Bernard Allison, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Big Freedia, Big Sam Williams, Bill Nershi, Blodie's, Blues Tent, Bombino, Bonerama, Boz Scaggs, Brittany Howard, Casandra Faulconer, Chaka Khan, Chick Corea, Christina Aguillera, Chuck D, Cody Dickinson, concert photography, Congo Square, Cowboy Mouth, Creedence Clearwater, Dan Oestreicher, David Shaw, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dumpstaphunk, E Street, Ed Williams, Eric Clapton, ES-335, Eye on the Music, Ezra Koenig, Fender guitar, Flavor Fav, Fred LeBlanc, Gal Holiday, Galactic, George Porter, Glen David Andrews, Greensky Bluegrass, Gregory Davis, Gregory Porter, Henry Butler, Honey Island Swamp Band, Hooray for the Riff Raff, Infamous Stringdusters, Irvin Mayfield, Ivan Neville, James Si, Jason Isbell, Jazz Fest, Jazz Tent, Jimmy Buffet, Joe Krown, John Boutte, John Fogerty, John Fohl, John Hiatt, John Thomas Griffith, Johnny Sansone, Johnny Vidacovich, JOHNNYSWIM, Jonathon Boogie Long, Keb Mo, Lakland, Laura Mvula, Led Zeppelin, Liam Tyson, Lil' Nathan, Little Freddie King, Lonnie Smith, Luther Dickinson, Lyle Lovett, Maggie Koerner, Marcia Ball, music photography, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, New Orleans music, New Orleans Suspects, Nikki Glaspie, North Mississippi Allstars, Patry, Paul Languedoc, pedal steel, Pharoah Sanders, Phish, Public Enemy, Quint Davis, Raul Malo, Reggie Scanlon, riti, Robert Earl Keen, Robert Plant, rock photography, Rodriguez, Roger Lewis, Roosevelt Collier, Runnin' Pardners, Russ Broussard, Russell Batiste, Samsung Galaxy Stage, Santana, Sensational Space Shifters, slide guitar, Soul Rebels, Southeastern, Springsteen, Stanton Moore, Stratocaster, String Cheese Incident, Sugarman, Tab Benoit, Terence Blanchard, The Mavericks, The Meters, The Nevilles, The Radiators, The Revivalists, The Wailers, Threadhead Records, Tom Morello, Tony Hall, Trey Anastasio, trombone, Trombone Shorty, Vampire Weekend, Voice of the Wetlands, Walter Wolfman Washington, Wayne Toups, Win Butler, World Boogie, Zachary Richard, zydeco, Zyedcajun

Reflections of a Wandering Jazz Fest Photographer

Years come and go. Jazz Fests do not. They endure. Each seemingly better than the last. Each its own indelible stamp on the soul. Jazz Fest 45 had everything going for it and, man, it did not disappoint. From the time the lineup dropped in January and headliner after headliner brought smiles, to the days of Fest without a drop of rain and temps in the 70s and 80s, to the ensuing butter and crawfish withdrawl, Fest 45 delivered. The big moments were big – Springsteen and New Orleans deepening their love affair, an epic crowd for Clapton, Phish’s return after 18 years and Robert Plant flashing some legend. But the small moments were big, too. Kindness spread generously throughout the Fair Grounds for seven days and musicians who were on stage one day would be roaming around the next. Locals Johnny Sansone, Irvin Mayfield and James Singleton were regularly spotted throughout the Fest. Photographer and fan frequently collide within me. Call it an occupational hazard. Stay on task, cover ground, hit my stages. But sometimes, you gotta just put the gear down and take it all in. I actually managed to do that (a little). I’ve come to the […]
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