Loading…
Loading…
Live at Newport Folk
Description
**John Prine and Friends - Live at Newport Folk (2021 release of 2017 performance)**
Recorded live at the Fort Adams State Park during the Newport Folk Festival on July 30, 2017, this double album captures the final major stage performance of American folk's most unflappable troubadour before his passing in October 2020. The set, produced by Nashville's Dave Cobb-a man whose ear for warm, textured arrangements elevates every session-arrives with the gravitas of a legacy being both preserved and honored. Released in 2021 via Oh Boy Records, the vinyl edition finds the 18-song program anchored by Prine's unmistakable baritone and a rotating gallery of fellow songwriters who understand the weight of his catalog.
The performance oscillates between intimate acoustic confessionals and communal sing-alongs, with guests including Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Dan Auerbach, Amanda Shires, Nathaniel Rateliff, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, and even Roger Waters on "Glory of True Love." Prine's originals-"Sam Stone" and "That's The Way The World Goes 'Round"-share the stage with covers that demonstrate an intimate understanding of the material, from Dylan's "Angel From Montgomery" to "Spanish Pipedream" and "Souvenirs." The presence of Roger Waters alongside these country and indie folk luminaries offers a curious historical bridge, one that speaks volumes about Prine's cross-generational appeal.
Critically, the recording functions as both a eulogy and a celebration-a dual-purpose artifact that understands the folk tradition's capacity for reverence without saccharine indulgence. Every tracklist selection feels curated not for convenience, but for emotional resonance, knowing when to summon the ache of "Long Monday" or the bittersweet ache of "Hello in There." The sound captures the Newport atmosphere-the sea air, the summer heat, the collective breath of an audience that had long been waiting for this exact moment. All proceeds benefited the John Prine Foundation, ensuring the performance's generosity extended beyond the album's physical existence.
A rare document of someone who understood that folk music's greatest power lies in its communal nature, this collection proves that John Prine never truly left Newport-nor did he ever leave us. His voice remains, echoing through Fort Adams and into the hearts of listeners still discovering him through the prism of these extraordinary collaborators. It is a fitting monument to a man who taught us all how to sing with honesty.
Sources: [Rolling Stone](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/john-prine-live-lp-featuring-roger-waters-jim-james-1145504/), [Consequence](https://consequence.net/2021/03/john-prine-and-friends-live-newport-folk-festival-2017-vinyl/), [Garden & Gun](https://gardenandgun.com/now-listening-john-prines-unforgettable-newport-folk-set)
Please log in to edit this record.