The Newport Folk, Forecastle, and Sled Island fests have announced (or added to) their lineups this week. Quick and dirty, allow us to lay out the basics you need to know about all three before you book a plane ticket:
2012 Newport Folk Festival
When: July 28-29, 2012
Where: Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI
Fun Fact: After last year’s fest, the newly nonprofit Newport Festivals Foundation appointed an artist-comprised Advisory Board that included Gillian Welch, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Colin Meloy (the Decemberists), Jim James (My Morning Jacket), and Ben Knox Miller (the Low Anthem); the board helped organizers George Wein and Jay Sweet curate this year’s bill.
Lineup: My Morning Jacket, Jackson Browne, Conor Oberst, Iron & Wine, Patty Griffin, Guthrie Family Reunion, Dawes, The Head & The Heart, Deer Tick, Punch Brothers, City & Colour, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Tallest Man on Earth, tUnE-yArDs, Tom Morello, Trampled by Turtles, Gary Clark, Jr., Alabama Shakes, Blind Pilot, Of Monsters and Men, original music from: Jay Farrar; Will Johnson; Anders Parker; & Yim Yames set to the lyrics of Woody Guthrie, Sharon Van Etten, First Aid Kit, Sara Watkins, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Brown Bird, Jonny Corndawg, Jonathan Wilson, Spirit Family Reunion, Deep Dark Woods, Carl Broemel, Ben Sollee, Robert Ellis, Frank Fairfield, The Apache Relay, Spider John Koerner & His Rag Tag Boys, Joel Rafael, Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons, Elizabeth Mitchell, honeyhoney, Sleepy Man Banjo Boys, The Kossoy Sisters, The Berklee City Music Choir
2012 Forecastle
When: July 13-15, 2012
Where: Waterfront Park, Louisville, KY
Fun Fact: The 10th anniversary of Forecastle also brings My Morning Jacket as co-curators, but this southern fest also hosts after-parties on steamboats. Seriously.
Lineup: My Morning Jacket, Bassnectar, Wilco (headliners), Girl Talk, Andrew Bird, Sleigh Bells, Atmosphere, Neko Case, Clutch, A-Trak, Galactic, Flying Lotus, Beach House, The Head and the Heart, Stax! Soul Revue, Dr. Dog, Deer Tick, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Beats Antique, Real Estate, Justin Townes Earle, Washed Out, Walk The Moon, Dean Wareham Plays Galaxie 500, Wye Oak, Atlas Sound, Fruit Bats, Daedelus, Ben Sollee, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, JEFF the Brotherhood, The Features, Mike Doughty, Tanlines, Zion I, Sleeper Agent, Floating Action, Wick-It The Instigator, James Vincent McMorrow, Wax Fang, Daniel Martin Moore, King’s Daughters & Sons, Houndmouth, Cheyenne Marie Mize, The Ravenna Colt, Rachel Grimes, Nerves Junior, Cabin, Scarlet Smile, Lydia Burrell
2012 Sled Island Festival
When: June 20-23
Where: Venues around Calgary, Alberta, Canada (à la SXSW) with several separately ticketed shows at Olympic Plaza
Fun Fact: Sled Island is a baby fest: it was started in 2007 by the founder of local Calgary venue Broken City Social Club to nurture local talent by showcasing them alongside international acts.
Lineup:As of this evening, Feist, the Hold Steady, Archers of Loaf, and Thurston Moore are the only acts announced.
