I remember the moment I fully realized the brilliance of Ian Fitzgerald’s songwriting. It was the first time that I listened to his latest release, “No Time to Be Tender” all the way through. The first two songs had me hooked, by the time ‘Galveston’ kicked in and the line “she eased my ear to her lips, whispered you’ve learned my tricks, hocus pocus and sim sala bim / then she rolled over gently the whole room felt empty / she could have been in Galveston” I knew that this guy just became one of my all time favorites.

I would go as far as to say that Ian is one of the greatest songwriter’s of my generation, and I can say that candidly and absolutely mean it with my full heart. He reaches into depths that other songwriters cannot even begin to tap and uses references, illusions, and phrasings in his writing that force you to be pulled in. I am extremely grateful to not only be a fan but a friend that has the chance to experience Ian’s music first hand. His involvement in Joe Fletcher’s Newport Eve just means that a broader audience will realize the genius of his songwriting craft, and for that I could not be any happier.

Ian took a few minutes to answer a couple questions about the night, the Newport Folk community, and his own music…

1) For the fine folks who may not be as familiar with your work, how would you sum up your sound?

IF: I think of it as folk music. I perform alone with an acoustic guitar, and I try to write about what goes on around here sometimes.

2) What projects are you currently working on or have you recently released?

IF: I released an album last year called No Time To Be Tender. I make no promises beyond that, though I’ve been writing.

3) Newport Folk is celebrated for its collaborations, community and bringing folks together for a weekend where they may not see each other otherwise. How do you feel about that preservation of unity and family sentiment in the folk music community? How does it play into your own music and where you come from? Is there a “scene” or community that you feel especially attached to?

IF: I used to think of community strictly in geographical terms, but my sense of that is changing. I feel like I’m a part, at least in some small way, of a community that includes musicians I know and people who’ve seen me play and people who I’ve gone to see play and, on a larger scale, people who love the same music and same musicians that I do. Newport is a great hub for the people who are connected on that larger scale to come together, meet each other, and find out who else in the community they should know: so fans of Beck, for example, can go to Newport and find out about Ramblin’ Jack Elliott; fans of Ramblin’ Jack Elliott can go and find out about Beck; and those two groups of fans can all be in the same place and interact with and meet each other. (And to jump off topic for a moment: this is why I don’t understand when people complain about the lineup and its lack of familiar acts or its lack of this or that. If you go to see someone you already like, you’re going to hear something new who you’ll also like.) Anyway, I’ve also learned, on a smaller local scale, that activity is required to maintain this community: for me, that means getting out to shows my friends play; learning about new musicians from those friends, then going out to see them play; and booking and playing shows with a variety of musicians who I think people should hear and will enjoy. Very fortunately for me, I have also been offered a lot of great opportunities by musicians and other people from this community.

4) Something a lot of folks (only those “in the know” really understand) don’t realize that the Fort is really only the beginning of the festivities for the day at Newport. The night shows can host some of the most spur of the moment and incredible performances of the weekend. What does it mean to you to be able to share your music at one of those very special, and much more limited (almost exclusive) shows?

IF: The Newport Folk Festival means a lot to me both historically and personally. To be part of the lineup for the show that will kick off this year’s festivities is an honor. It is not lost on me how fortunate I am nor the debt of gratitude I owe to those involved in making this happen.

5) In the same vein as the question above, who would you like to turn around and see hopping up on stage to sit in on your set at the after hours show this year?

IF: I’m not used to turning around and seeing anyone there on stage with me, and I’m always surprised when someone asks to collaborate on a performance. I’ll certainly remain open to the idea for this show.

6) Name 1 record that shaped you when you first started playing and 1 record or artists that you are now/are listening to now that you think folks really need to hear about? Maybe someone lesser known or local who is doing some great stuff.

IF: I’d focused for years on music from the middle of the last century, then I started to work my way backwards through country and much earlier folk music; but the record that really got me writing and playing my own songs was Gold by Ryan Adams. I was so unaware of contemporary music prior to hearing that record that I honestly didn’t know that anyone was still making music I’d have any interest in listening to; I didn’t know you could do that.

In terms of a local artist that people should know about, I’m going to assume that anyone reading this already listens to Brown Bird, Joe Fletcher, Haunt The House, James Maple, and Dan Blakeslee, for starters. Someone who may be lesser known but deserves to be heard is Molly Pinto Madigan. I think people who appreciate songwriters who draw on American folk traditions will recognize how talented she is and will enjoy her music. I’m looking forward to her next record.

7) So, why is creating music important to you? Why do you hit the stage night after night, pull out the old song notebook every day, or whatever else you do to let loose your creativity?

IF: Making music is really the only thing I feel compelled to do, and it may be the only thing that never feels like a waste of time or effort to me.

8) Aside from music, do you have any other pastimes? What would you want people to know about you aside from your musical endeavors?

IF: If booking, promotion, and driving for hours to and from shows count, then I’m lousy with pastimes.

9) Anything else you want to plug or we should know?

IF: Tickets for All Newport’s Eve go on sale at noon on Friday, May 9 at newportblues.com. (SOLD OUT!)

I have a bunch of shows between now and then that I’d love for people to come out to; those are listed at ianfitzgerald.com. And if you see me at one of those shows, at All Newport’s Eve, at the Festival, or just out and about, feel free to say hello.