Newport Folk Festival Day 1

 So this was my first music festival ever, and I wasn't really sure how to do it right.  Should I stay in one place all day so I can have good seats for the bands I know and like?  Or should I flit around to the different acts and see as many different bands as I can?  I ended up doing the former, since most of the bands I wanted to see were scheduled to perform on the same stage.  I think in the future I'll try to mix it up a bit more, and sample some of the bands I haven't heard of.

I spent all of Friday in the harbor stage--in the front row!  It ended up being a good decision, because the skies opened up in the afternoon and started pouring rain. 

Hey Marseilles

The Last Bison

The Last Bison

The Mountain Goats (and NPR's cameraman)

Amanda Palmer with Neil Gaiman

 Amanda Palmer was the last set of the day.  I don't have any decent shots of her by herself, due to a combination of my poor photography skills and her constant movement on stage.  I listened to the Dresden Dolls quite a bit in high school, especially "Coin Operated Boy."  I think the person sitting next to me thought I was crazy, because I started shrieking when she began playing it.  That's what concerts are for, though, right?  She also did a Leonard Cohen duet with her dad, and even brought Neil Gaiman (her husband and one of my favorite writers ever) up on stage to sing a song.  I just about died.  And yes, I realize how much I sound like a teenaged fangirl, but I can't help it.  NPR supposedly recorded it, but hasn't put it up on their site yet.  I know because I keep checking it every four to six hours...