There are shows that stick with you. And then there are shows that live with you.
When The Avett Brothers hit the stage at the Newport Folk Festival back in July 2013, something transcendent happened. It wasn’t just another set in a busy summer lineup — it was a communal pulse, a heart-thumping reminder of why live music matters. And now, more than a decade later, that performance still echoes like a familiar refrain that you never want to end.
Tonight on All Things Considered Live, NPR Music takes us back to that electrifying evening — capturing every strum, stomp, and soaring harmony that turned Fort Adams into a full-blown folk revival. Whether you were in the crowd that day or are hearing it for the first time, this is a performance that demands your attention.
🎸 The Sound of Now, Rooted in Then
By 2013, The Avett Brothers weren’t just part of the folk revival — they were leading it. Blending Appalachian roots with punk-rock honesty and songwriting that punches the soul, Scott and Seth Avett, along with bassist Bob Crawford and cellist Joe Kwon, created a sound that felt handcrafted for a changing world.
And Newport? It’s the kind of place where legends are born and redefined. The festival that gave us Dylan’s electric epiphany and the voices of Pete Seeger and Joan Baez has always been about evolution. That July, The Avetts didn’t just honor that tradition — they expanded it.
📜 A Set That Stole the Festival
From the first downbeat, the energy was unmistakable — not polished, not rehearsed within an inch of its life, but alive. It was real.
With every line of “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise”, every breath behind “I and Love and You”, the band held nothing back. They gave the kind of performance where sweat and strings blurred together, where harmonies seemed to float just above the crowd and then crash back down into foot-stomping jubilation.
Standout tracks included:
- “Laundry Room” – a slow burn that built into a joyous frenzy
- “Live and Die” – sweet, aching, and cinematic
- “Kick Drum Heart” – pure euphoria, rhythm and soul in motion
Each song became a conversation between artist and audience — one built on vulnerability, fire, and trust.
🏕️ The Spirit of Newport
There’s a reason Newport Folk Festival continues to be a North Star for artists and fans alike. It’s not just about music. It’s about movement. It’s about stories passed between generations, between strangers, between voices that rise as one.
In 2013, The Avett Brothers didn’t just fit into that legacy — they made their mark on it. Their set proved that folk music isn’t confined to acoustic guitars or protest songs. It’s defined by connection. It’s about singing truths that are too big to hold inside.
📻 Tonight on All Things Considered Live
All of that magic? It’s back tonight.
All Things Considered Live — the boundary-pushing, heart-thumping radio show from NPR Music — will rebroadcast The Avett Brothers’ unforgettable Newport performance. Recorded live at venues and festivals across the country, this series captures music in its rawest form — without filters, without polish, and with maximum emotional impact.
This isn’t just a throwback. It’s a full-on sonic time machine. From the grassy hills of Fort Adams to your living room, this show brings the moment to you — whether you’re tuned in from the city streets or the quiet corners of rural New Jersey.
Tune in and let the music move you.
🔥 Why It Still Matters
Ten years later, the set still feels urgent. It still feels personal. That’s the thing about The Avett Brothers — their songs age like inked letters in a worn journal: always relevant, always intimate, always honest.
At JamFest, we celebrate those performances that cut through the noise and leave you changed. We remember the sets that redefined what folk is, what live music can be, and what it means to share a moment with thousands of strangers and still feel completely seen.
🎶 Still chasing the feeling? So are we.
And tonight, that feeling comes roaring back.
So dim the lights, turn the volume up, and join us for All Things Considered Live — where The Avett Brothers once again light up Newport and remind us why we fell in love with live music in the first place.
JamFest
Where live music lives forever.
Where moments become memories.
Where the music never stops.
🌀 Stay tuned, stay loud, and explore more unforgettable shows with us.
