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Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals

Gibson sponsored Newport Folk Festival held last weekend, JVC Jazz Festival to be this weekend.

Newport, RI (August 5th, 2008) -- Newport is one heck of place to be during this time of year.

Blue skies, crystal clear waters and amazing music describe last week''s Newport Folk Festival, sponsored by Gibson Acoustic at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island. Held annually since 1959, this folk-oriented music festival is a marquee performance event that has celebrated the careers of many established performers and helped launch the careers of many others. This year''s lineup included Brian Wilson, Jimmy Buffett, Stephen and Damian Marley, Trey Anastasio, the Cowboy Junkies, the Black Crowes, Brandi Carlile, Jakob Dylan and Levon Helm.

The JVC Jazz Festival-Newport will be held next week, featuring Aretha Franklin, Chris Botti, Sonny Rollins and Herbie Hancock. The event will kick off with an evening concert at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino, followed by two full days of jazz on three stages at Fort Adams State Park.

NPR has made audio clips of last weekend''s Folk Festival performances available at npr.org/music. Jazz Festival audio will be streamed live and archived as recorded webcasts next weekend.

With acoustic guitars serving as the backbone of the Folk Festival, it''s only appropriate that an acoustic guitar maker was involved as a sponsor. Gibson Acoustic was the official guitar of the festival and sponsored many on-site events, including talent showcases. The Gibson Bus served as a backdrop for the Harbor stage and some of the performers even called it home for the weekend. The Gibson Acoustic trailer, positioned on the grounds of the festival, gave guests the chance to perform at Open Mic/Jam Sessions and experience the latest Gibson Acoustic models.

Our friends from Gibson have passed along some photos from the Folk Festival:

Gillian Welch has earned widespread acclaim for her resurrection of the musical styles most commonly associated with rural Appalachia of the early 20th century.Alongside Grammy winner Levon Helms, musician Jimmy Vivino rocked out to record-setting crowds with his Gibson Les Paul on the festival''s main stage.
Black Crowes guitarist Audrey Freed played with Jakob Dylan Stephen Marley, the second son of Bob Marley, performed to enthusiastic crowds.
Guests enjoy the exclusive Gibson Acoustic trailer on site.Blues legend Sammy Davis made a surprise appearance and performed with support from guitarist Larry Campbell.

All photo credits: Tom Galloway

For more information on Gibson Acoustic go to www.gibson.com
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Supro Montauk Mini Rocker Amp Demo

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Build quirks will turn some users off.

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There’s an allure to the sound and feel of a great electric guitar. Many of us believe those instruments have something special that speaks not just to the ear but to the soul, where every note, every nuance feels personal. As much as we obsess over the pickups, wood, and hardware, there’s a subtler, more controversial character at play: the role of the finish. It’s the shimmering outer skin of the guitar, which some think exists solely for protection and aesthetics, and others insist has a role influencing the voice of the instrument. Builders pontificate about how their choice of finishing material may enhance tone by allowing the guitar to “breathe,” or resonate unfettered. They throw around terms like plasticizers, solids percentages, and “thin skin” to lend support to their claims. Are these people tripping? Say what you will, but I believe there is another truth behind the smoke.

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