30 Days til Newport: Day 23 Aoife O’ Donovan early morning on the Fort Stage

Aoife O’ Donovan’s 2013 release Fossils sat high atop the list of my favorite things I heard that year. Reflecting on thoughts ““Sometimes a voice just grabs you. A sound so compelling that when the song ends you are utterly distraught and when the next one starts you are completely elated.” I still listen to ‘Fossils’ at least every other day on my commute to or from work, it has become a staple in my go to library of music that I draw inspiration and joy from.

I was actually lucky enough to write the Newport Folk introduction for O’Donovan last year. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting after she was announced on the Fort stage. Would members of Crooked Still be backing her? It was an early slot: would she tackle it solo? I was beyond excited and happy to see that Paul Kowert (of Haas-Kowert-Tice and Punch Brothers) join her on stage. As much as I love Aoife and her music, it was awesome to see Paul on stage as well and adding his upright flavor to her songs and providing backing harmonies on a handful of tracks as well.

Kicking in with a solo vocal arrangement that bleed into “Lay My Burden Down” was a wonderful treat and the set just built and built from there. Choice tunes from her latest release, a Crooked Still tune, and a toss back tribute to Joni Mitchell to close out the set. Great energy to help power you through the long day in the beating sun.

This was one of my favorite memories last year. It was a wonderful way to kick off another beautiful sunny day at Newport and while the Fort plays host to louder, more full acts typically, I was truly pleased to catch the songwriter in duo form playing a beautiful and stripped down set to a large early crowd overlooking Newport Harbor.

You can re-live that set, like I have done many times, right over her on NPR: http://www.npr.org/2014/07/21/333723010/aoife-odonovan-live-in-concert-newport-folk-2014