This is the first of what I hope will be a series of free music Fridays.  To kick off this series we have a free Newport Folk Festival sampler pulled together by Paste magazine.  This sampler has some amazing performances from many artists that that we have highlighted in this blog including Of Monsters And Men, First Aid Kit, and Dawes.  I high recommend you check it out…..you sure can’t beat the price!

Here are the performers and songs from the sampler…….

Blind Pilot – Always

Joel Rafael – Racing And Chasing The Sun

Robert Ellis – Comin Home

Jonathan Wilson – Ballad Of The Pines

Trampled By Turtles – Keys To Paradise

Preservation Hall Jazz Band – A Good Gal’s Hard To Find

Ben Sollee – The Globe

Rodriguez – Like Janis

Deep Dark Woods – Virginia

Dawes – So Well

Apache Relay – Stay Naive

Jonny Fritz – Put Another Log On The Fire

First Aid Kit – Waltz For Richard

Of Monsters and Men – Little Talks

Dawes featuring Ben Sollee – I Dig Love

Here is the download link for the sampler…..

http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/av/2013/01/the-2012-paste-festival-sessions-sampler.html

One of the bands on the sampler that I have not written about but have been following for years is Blind Pilot from Portland, Oregon.  I particularly enjoyed their 2008 debut album, 3 Rounds and a Sound.  To give you an appreciation for this group I have two songs for you, a live performance from this years 2012 Newport Folk Festival and the title song from their debut album.  Enjoy!

As always…..let me know what you think.