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Kate Lee and Forrest O'Connor

Kate Lee & Forrest O'Connor

Photos: Shannon Kelly

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Photo Gallery: World Of Bluegrass Festival photo-gallery-inside-world-bluegrass-ibma-awards-festival-raleigh

Photo Gallery: Inside World Of Bluegrass, IBMA Awards & Festival in Raleigh

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Join us on-the-ground, backstage and in the front row for the premiere bluegrass event of the year
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Sep 28, 2018 - 3:26 pm

The International Bluegrass Music Association's World Of Bluegrass descends upon Raleigh, N.C. this weekend, and the Recording Academy is right there to bring you all the action with exclusive interviews, backstage photos, performance recaps, and more. 

The festivities kicked off Thursday, Sept. 27 with the IBMA Awards followed by the official Recording Academy Nashville Chapter afterparty at Raleigh's Lincoln Theatre. The exclusive event was emceed by GRAMMY winner Jim Lauderdale and featured an all-star lineup of performers, including Kate Lee & Forrest O'Connor, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, and Special Consensus. Check out some of the highlights from the place to be for bluegrass this weekend, Raleigh, N.C.!

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Jim Lauderdale served as the gracious host for Thursday night's Recording Academy afterparty, and even treated the audience to a few tunes.

Gillian Welch

We sat down to chat with GRAMMY winner Gillian Welch backstage before her performance on Friday as part of the First Ladies Of Bluegrass to talk vinyl, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," "Look At Miss Ohio," songwriting, and more.

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Special Consensus delivered a special performance Thursday night at the Recording Academy Nashville Chapter afterparty after taking home IBMA Awards for Album Of The Year for their album Rivers & Roads and Instrumental Recorded Performance their song "Squirrell Hunters."

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First Ladies Of Bluegrass

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The talk of the town on Friday night was the First Ladies Of Bluegrass, an all-star band boasting the lineup of Missy Raines, Alison Brown, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, and Becky Buller with special guests Rhiannon Giddens and Gillian Welch. Check out our exclusive look inside the history-making supergroup, complete with quotes from the pickers themselves. 

Flatt Lonesome

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Just before Florida's Flatt Lonesome took the stage Friday at the Red Hat Amplitheatre we caught up with the group's vocalist and mandolin player Kelsi Robertson Harrigill for an exclusive interview.

Sister Sadie

Bluegrass supergroup Sister Sadie delivered a top-notch set on Friday reflective of its outstanding group members. Even greater than the sum of its parts, Sister Sadie performed songs from their latest album Sister Sadie ii. We caught up with the band's bassist Beth Lawrence and banjo player Gena Britt for an exclusive interview during a late-night rehearsal for their IBMA performance. 

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

Michael Cleveland

Fresh off his win for Fiddle Player Of The Year, Michael Cleveland and his band Flamekeeper burned up the Lincoln Theatre stage Thursday night at the Recording Academy Nashville Chapter afterparty.

Kate Lee and Mallory Eagle

Kate Lee & Forrest O'Connor

Kate Lee

Forrest O'Connor

Kate Lee & Forrest O'Connor and their band took the stage for a special performance featuring Mallory Eagle as well as Geoff Saunders on bass and Brad Bulla on guitar, and we caught up with the crew outside before they took the stage Thursday night for their set at the Recording Academy Nashville Chapter afterparty.

Po' Ramblin' Boys IBMA

East Tennessee's Po' Ramblin' Boys returned to the IBMA scene this year after last year's convention springboarded their career. We sat down with vocalist and mandolin player C.J. Lewendowski for an exclusive interview to hear about their rise in the ranks and how going deeper in to bluegrass' history helps them push the genre forward. 

First Ladies Of Bluegrass 3

Exclusive: Billy String Talks 'Tinfoil & Turmoil,' Doc Watson, Bluegrass, Heavy Metal & More

 

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Our Native Daughters

(L-R) Rhiannon GIddens,Allison Russell, Leyla McCalla, Amythyst Kiah
Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

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Backstage At Newport Folk Festival 2019 backstage-newport-folk-festivals-60th-anniversary

Backstage At Newport Folk Festival's 60th Anniversary

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Find out who stopped by to see us behind-the-scenes of one of the most legendary music festivals of any genre or era, Newport Folk
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jul 27, 2019 - 9:16 am

Walk backstage with the Recording Academy at the 60th anniversary Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I., this weekend, as we take you inside Fort Adams for exclusive interviews and coverage of the 60th anniversary of the historic festival. From the Queen of Country Soul to the leader of Promise Of The Real, find out which artists came through to discuss music, life, culture what makes this community-driven festival feel like home.

*All photos by Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy unless otherwise noted

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GRAMMY-winning folk icon Judy Collins stopped by to chat about the first time she attended Newport Folk in 1963, rubbing shoulders with Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, what the fest means to her and more - read the full interview here.

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Dawes' Taylor Goldsmith said hello and posed for some portraits after delivering a special 10th anniversary set of their entire (and incredible) 2009 album North Hills on the Quad Stage.

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Hayley Heynderickx and her band brightened up our day backstage, posing for portraits and talking about her debut album, I Need To Start A Garden. 

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Kenya-born, Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter J.S. Ondara swung by to talk about what Newport Folk means to him, his prolific songwriting habits and more.

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Colombia joropo group Cimarrón treated us to an unforgettable impromtu performance backstage. Be sure to spin up their latest album, Orinoco.

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Colorado-based singer/songwriter Gregory Alan Isokov hung out after his set on the Fort Stage to pose for some photos and talk everything from touring to farming to songwring and more.

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Three-fourths of The Highwomen stopped by to talk about their bold and beautiful two singles "Redesigning Women" and "Crowded Table," their message of inclusivity and their upcoming full-length album, out Sept. 6. 

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The Nude Party came by to snap a few shots with the historic Fort Adams as the backdrop. Check out the North Carolina rock outfit's 2018 self-titled debut and catch them on the road and at festivals this summer. 

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California-born, Nashville-based bluegrass master Molly Tuttle spent some time with us to talk about her debut album When You're Ready, her International Bluegrass Music Awards win and nominations, mental health and more.

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Yola graced us with her infectious energy and opened up about her breakout album Walk Through Fire, working with Dan Auerbach and what it means to her to be the Queen of Country Soul.

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Photo: Doublas Mason/Wireimage

Saturday's big suprise appearance did not dissappoint! The one-and-only Dolly Parton joined a female collaboration to remember, providing the biggest surprise of the weekend.

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Lukas Nelson and Promise Of The Real hung out to tell us about the meaning and purpose behind Turn Off The News (And Build A Garden), the single "Bad Case," and why they’re inspired by the trajectory and music of The Band. 

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Adia Victoria came through after her riveting set on the Fort Stage to discuss the meaning behind her stellar album, Silences.

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Yola joined The Highwomen on stage to close out Friday night on the Quad Stage with an all-voices-on-deck sing-along of "Redesigning Women," one of the many special Newport moments. 

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Moments before he delivered for a guest-heavy show-stealing performance, soulful singer/songwriter Hozier sat down with us to talk about his latest album, Wasteland, Baby!, Newport's magic and what he had up his sleeve for the afternoon set on the Fort Stage.

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Devon Gilfillian gave a memorable performance on the Fort Stage, kicking off Saturday with energy and soul. We caught up with him afterwards to talk about his big hit "Troublemaker" and what he's got planned for us next. 

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Photo: Nate Hertweck/Recording Academy

We spoke with the incomparabe Todd Snider about his new album, Cash Cabin Sessions, Vol. 3, just before his set before a packed house on the Harbor Stage - read the exclusive interview here.

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Ohio trio CAAMP swung by to talk about their album By & By, which dropped the same day as their Newport appearance, and discuss the global message of love behind its single "Wunderbar."

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Madison Cunningham discussed her forthcoming album, Who Are You Now, a different kind of love song with "Different Kind Of Love," and the courage it took to cover Joni Mitchell.

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Ruston Kelly swept through the fort with a smile, talked touring, writing and the process of making his introspective masterpiece Dying Star.

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Rhiannon Giddens, Allison Russell, Leyla McCalla and Amethyst Kiah of Our Native Daughters sat down to discuss their incredible new collaborative project Songs Of Our Native Daughters and what it meant to cap their debut run of shows at Newport Folk. Read the full interview here.

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Matthew Houck, a.k.a. Phosphorescent, came through to take some pictures and talk about what will follow his 2018 album C'est La Vie.

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Amy Ray came through to talk all things Amy Ray Band, including her latest album HOLLER, plus future Indigo Girls plans, GRAMMY history and more.

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Charley Crockett was dressed to the nines in a brand-new custom suit backstage at Newport to talk about playing The Valley, his upcoming album recorded just before his life-saving heart surgery.

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Photo: Douglas Mason/WireImage

Maggie Rogers wowed the crowd at Newport, tearing up the Fort Stage with songs from her 2019 debut album, Heard It In A Past Life.

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Bluegrass badboy Billy Strings went deep with us on the details behind his forthcoming album, HOME, what it means to take care of yourself on the road and more.

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A fresh new supergroup played just their fifth or sixth show at Newport Folk, Bonny Light Horseman featuring Josh Kaufman, Eric Johnson and Anias Mitchell. We spend some time talking with the trio to hear how they dreamed up this new collaboration and find out what's next. Stay tuned for the full interview!

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New Englanders The Ballroom Thieves sat down to talk about the kindness and gratitude that makes Newport special, how music can have a social impact and songwriting on the road.

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Well-dressed Nashville singer/songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan chatted with us about the influence of songwriter like John Prine and Todd Snider, sharing the bill with Cheap Trick, rehearsing and touring. 

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Liz Cooper, leader of Liz Cooper & the Stampede, sat down with us to discuss her band's latest live EP, Live In Chicago, including what the windy city has meant to her career, life on the road and more.

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Nashville singer/songwriter Parker Milsap dropped in after his set to reveal how his electrifying cover of Sly Stone’s “Everyday People” came to be and relay his thoughts and feelings about playing at such an historic folk festival.

Erin Rae

Another Nashville singer/songwriter creating a big buzz, Erin Rae said hello and answered some questions about her new album Putting On Airs, how she got connected with John Paul White and more. Check out her interview here.

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The O'My's stopped by to dish about their Above Ground EP, collaborating with Chance The Rapper and what's in-store next for the Chicago outfit.

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Experimental rock duo Illiterate Light paid us a visit to talk about their unique stage setup and snap a few pics.

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Australia's Angie McMahon made a sparkling appearance in our backstage portrait studio. Check out our exclusive interview with her all about her incredible new album Salt, which just dropped on Friday.

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Legendary Gov't Mule frontman Warren Haynes paid us a visit to talk about playing Newport Folk in the past with the Allman Brothers Band and his special acoustic set this year’s fest. 

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After starting Sunday off right with a groove-packed set on the Fort stage, Stephen Marley and Jo Mersa Marley stopped by to snap a few pics.

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The hilarious and talented Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale of The Milk Carton Kids posed for some pics and talked about their "Sad Songs Comedy Hour," what it's felt like to be nominated for GRAMMY Awards and more.

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British singer/songwriter Nilüfer Yanya talked with us about the inspiration behind her album Miss Universe, and took a moment to pose for our camera in the portrait studio.

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Rayland Baxter shared the touching story behind his new tribute to Mac Miller, Good Mmornin, and told about his experience at Newport Folk.

Go Behind The Scenes Of ESSENCE Fest's 25th Anniversary: Party With A Purpose

Larkin Poe

Larkin Poe

Photos: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

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Photo Gallery: Backstage At Lollapalooza 2018 backstage-lollapalooza-2018-recording-academy-photo-gallery

Backstage At Lollapalooza 2018 With The Recording Academy | Photo Gallery

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Follow us to Chicago for one of the summer's biggest and best festivals as we take you behind-the-scenes with all your favorite artists
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Aug 3, 2018 - 9:29 am

Lollapalooza marks the apex of the summer in music each year, descending upon Chicago's Grant Park for four full days of performaces from artists spanning many genres. We are on-the-ground backstage at the festival to give you an inside look at the action.

Tank And The Bangas at Lollapalooza

New Orleans alternative R&B-soul collective Tank And The Bangas came through to talk about their meteoric rise since winning NPR's Tiny Desk Contest and tell us about their latest single, "Smoke.Netflix.Chill."

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Rising superstar Billie Eilish took a moment to chat with us about her success this year, her new Beats 1 radio show, and what fans can expect from her debut full-length album.

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Chicago rapper Valee chopped it up with us on his latest GOOD Job You Found Me, his single "Womp Womp," touring with Pusha T, and the relationship between boredom and creativity.

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The loud and lovely Lizzo swung through to hype up her Lolla set, open up about her time on Rupaul's "Drag Race" and tease a super secret upcoming project.

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The boys of rock torch-bearers Greta Van Fleet stopped by to tell us about the makings of their latest single, "When The Curtain Falls," and dish on their highly anticipated debut full-length before hamming it up for our cameras.

Clairo at Lollapalooza

From making songs in her bedroom to taking the Lollapalooza stage, Clairo remained cool, calm and collected backstage, opening up about her debut EP Diary 001, her lates collab with Cuco, "DROWN," and keeping a level head in the storm of success she's experiencing.

Chromeo at Lollapalooza

Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo stopped in before thier Sunday set to tell us about their new album, Head Over Heels, and its highly danceable lead single "Must've Been" featuring DRAM. 

James Bay at Lollapalooza

GRAMMY nominee James Bay opened up about his musical transformation during our interview with the British singer/songwriter. He also told the story behind "Pink Lemonade" and revealed his three favorite hobbies outside of music.

Jessie Reyez at Lollapalooza

Jessie Reyez took some time to tell us about her single "Apple Juice" and what it's like drawing from Canadian and Colombian music backgrounds.

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Self-described as "writer by nature, rapper by craft," Chicago's femdot. came through to give his reaction to playing at Lolla and talk about what's happening in his city's hip-hop scene right now.

Dorothy at Lollapalooza

Firey and soulful, Dorothy posed for our cameras backstage at Lolla. Her latest album, 28 Days In The Valley, showcases her one-of-a-kind show-stopping voice and authenticity.

Anderson East at Lollapalooza

Nashville singer/songwriter Anderson East sat down with us to discuss the quick and dirty recording process of his raw new album Encore.

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Provo, Utah's sparkle rock quartet The Aces visited our tent backstage to talk about their stellar debut album, When My Heart Felt Volcanic, and breakdown their irresistible video for "The Last One."

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GRAMMY-nominated children's hip-hop group Alphabet Rockers visited us to discuss the empowering messages of their music, their lastest album Rise Shine #Woke and what they're working on next.

DJ Taye

Chicago's DJ Taye paid us a visit to reveal his feelings on playing his first Lollapalooza. He also broke down his trippy single "Trippin'" and posed for a few snapshots.

Larkin Poe

Larkin Poe came by to say hi after their incredible Lolla set and tell us about hitting the road with Keith Urban.

Wallows at Lollapalooza

Wallows dropped in to talk about Lolla kicking off their run of festival dates and let us in on the making of their delightful DIY video for (deep breath...) "Under The Streetlights In The Winter Outside Your House."

BONES at Lollapalooza

Fierce and fabulous British rock duo BONES took the time to talk with us about their undeniable song, "Creature," their unmistakable visual aesthetic and their rush of excitement for upcoming tour dates in the States with the likes of Stone Temple Pilots, Bush, The Cult, and Palaye Royale - lookout, U.S.A.!

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Galantis and Max at Lollapalooza

Our interview with mighty dance duo Galantis was crashed by Max, the artist featured on their new collaboration "Satisfied." The trio talked about working together and had some fun in our portrait studio.

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Pale Waves hung out with us to talk about their latest EP and upcoming album and their experience on tour with The 1975.

GoldLink at Lollapalooza

GoldLink surprised us with a visit after running into his friends, Tank And The Bangas, outside our tent. The Washington D.C.-born rapper took a minute to pose for a quick photo.

Rusko at Lollapalooza

Fresh off the Lollapalooza stage - and a trip across the Atlantic - Rusko dropped in to share some of his magic and discuss how he's infusing his music with glorious '90s vibes. 

Bazzi at Lollapalooza

Soulful pop singer/songwriter Bazzi swung through to tell us about the story he tells with his debut full-length album, COSMIC.

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Latin GRAMMY-winning children's artist Mister G brought some sunshine into our tent before their fun Friday Kidzapalooza set.

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We linked up with morgxn to hear the inspiration behind his transformational album, Vital, and breakdown "Carry The Weight" and "Home."

Freya Ridings at Lollapalooza

British songstress Freya Ridings gave us the inside scoop on her breakout hit "Lost Without You" and struck a pose for a few photos after her Lolla set.

Mobley at Lollapalooza

Austin's one-man band, Mobley made an appearance after his Lolla set to show us his sleek style in our portrait studio. 

What So Not at Lollapalooza

What So Not stopped in before his set to tell us about his dazzling debut full-lenght album, Not All The Beautiful Things, and reveal the neon green head of hair under his hat for our cameras.

LIDO at Lollapalooza

Norweigian producer LIDO stopped in for a quick pic and to chat about his many upcoming project. His list of past credits include Halsey, Portugal. The Man, Ariana Grande, and more.

Carly and Martina

Up-and-coming singer/songwriter duo twins Carly and Martina popped in to see us and discuss songwriting collaborations, the recording process, their rapidly growing popularity, and more.

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Dubliner Dermot Kennedy sat down with us to talk about his latest projects, working with Mike Dean and the benefits of being a well-traveled artist.

Wes Period

Wes Period came through to tell us what he's up to on tour with Kesha and Macklemore, dish about his pair of new singles, and describe that feeling you get at Lollapalooza.

Matt Maeson at Lollapalooza

From Who Killed Matt Maeson to The Hearse, we talked getting personal on his pair of stellar EPs with singer/songwriter Matt Maeson.

Sasha Sloan at Lollapalooza

Sasha Sloan swung through for a quick picture and a chat about living an artist's life in Los Angeles. Catch her on the road in a town near you soon!

John Splithoff at Lollapalooza

Chicago-raised, New York-based soul-pop artist John Splithoff came by to chat about playing his hometown's biggest stage, singing the National Anthem at pro sports games, and his latest EP, Make It Happen.

Welshy Arms at Lollapalooza

Cleveland blues rockers Welshy Arms paid us a visit. The group released their debut full-length album, No Place Is Home, earlier this year.

Ekali at Lollapalooza

Hot off Perry's Stage, Ekali stopped by to talk about how out-of-control the crowd was for his Lolla set and where his musical wild ride is taking him next.

Justin Roberts at Lollapalooza

We also saw GRAMMY-nominated Chicago-based children's singer/songwriter Justin Roberts. Roberts recently testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on behalf of music creators in support of the Music Modernization Act. 

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Boston pop visionairy Emilia Ali hung out with us backstage and smiled big for our cameras after her Lolla set. 

For more from Lollapalooza 2018, check out our official recap.

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Courtney Barnett

Photo: Douglas Mason/Getty Images

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9 Female Acts Who Rocked 2018 Newport Folk Fest 2018-newport-folk-fest-9-fierce-women-who-rocked

2018 Newport Folk Fest: 9 Fierce Women Who Rocked

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The iconic fest features rising star women from the future of folk and beyond
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jul 29, 2018 - 6:22 pm

Newport Folk Festival has been the destination for cutting edge cultural commentary through music since 1959. This year the festival's lineup included a wide variety of wonderful women from all over today's musical landscape. Let's take a look at seven of the female artists who rocked Newport.

Margo Price Talks 'All American Made'

Amanda Shires

Amanda Shires blew the tent away above the Quad stage, treating the Newport Folk audience to material from her forthcoming album, To The Sunset. Her soaring vocals in the album's opener, "Parking Lot Piroughette," echoed off the stone walls at Adams Fort State Park, announcing a new musical phase for the already well-accomplished singer/songwriter/violinist.

Valerie June

The versatile and delightful Valerie June dazzled the waterside crowd on Saturday afternoon, delivering songs from her fourth album, The Order Of Time, just in time for the ocean breeze to push out some of the heat.

Margo Price

With her bold and brazen new album, All American Made, Margo Price has arrived. Her set on the opening day of Newport Folk did not disappoint, including a masterful turn with John Prine on his classic duet, "In Spite Of Ourselves." This day belonged to Price, and her set proved she's one of music's next great voices.

St. Vincent

Newport Folk Festival has always had a strong streak of something new and different. Enter St. Vincent. This year, the GRAMMY-winning artist closed opening day of the festival with haunting acoustic performances, peeling back to the bones of her unique songs and giving the festival crowd a fresh angle on what folk music can sound like.

Tank And The Bangas

The success story belonging to Tank And The Bangas is part modern magic and part destiny. The New Orleans eclectic collective were "discovered" last year when they won NPR's Tiny Desk Contest, but Tank and Co. have been cultivating their honest, quirky and lyrical sonic vibe into a monster. They let the beast out at Newport, opening their Saturday set with an electrified "Star Spangled Banner" and turning the energy up to match the heat.

Brandi Carlile

A true class act, Brandi Carlile's Sunday set put the perfect punctuation on a weekend of community, acceptance and fun. Not only did she blare her unforgettable signature hit "The Story" out to a roaring crowd, she treaded into rarely charted territory with her soaring cover of Led Zeppelin's "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You." Wow.

Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius

With a bunch of buzz mounting for the dynamic duo of Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, Lucius made their return to Newport for a triumphant set Friday, filled with their masterful vocal dynamics and harmonies. The songs echoed with the purity of their latest album, Nudes, and teased the promise of what's to come for the duo as they move toward a fourth album.

Courtney Barnett

Perhaps no other artist on Newport's bill falls simultaneously as close to the American folk tradition and further away from it than Courtney Barnett. Coming all the way from Australia, her word-heavy verses and blunt choruses harken back to the days of Dylan while her electrified Newport set burned with a new fire, one that is all over her latest album, Tell Me How You Really Feel.

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

Leon Bridges and Jon Batiste

Leon Bridges and Jon Batiste

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

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Go Inside Newport Folk Festival 2018 go-backstage-us-newport-folk-festival-2018

Go Backstage With Us At Newport Folk Festival 2018

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Join us behind the scenes at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, R.I., for the country's most historic folk festival
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jul 27, 2018 - 8:05 pm

This year's Newport Folk Festival was full of fantastic music, friendly faces and special surpises right up to Sunday night's spectacular festival-closing "A Change Is Gonna Come" revue featuring soul star Leon Bridges and masterminded by Jon Batiste with the Dap Kings. They were joined on stage by a host of incredible guests - collaborations that could only have happened at Newport. You had to be there to believe it!

Newport Folk festival boasts an unmatched combination of tradition, innovation and good ole' fashion community. GRAMMY.com was on the ground in Newport, R.I., for one of the most eclectic — and electric — years in the festival's storied history. Take a look to see who rocked the stage and who dropped by to visit us backstage.

Brandi Carlile

Sunday headliner Brandi Carlile dropped in to discuss everything from the powerful messages of By The Way, I Forgive You to her love of fishing before she tore up the stage.

John Prine and Margo Price

Folk legend John Prine paid us a visit to talk about his wildly successful new album, The Tree Of Forgiveness, before rising star Margo Price dropped in to say hello. With a stellar album currently making waves in the americana music world and a recent cameo in Prine's "Knockin' On My Screen Door" video, we had plenty to talk about with the pair of master songwriters.

Amanda Shires

Photo: Douglas Mason/Getty Images

The incredible Amanda Shires wowed the audience by performing songs from her upcoming album, To The Sunset.

Lukas Nelson at Newport Folk Festival

Lukas Nelson and his band, Promise Of The Real, rocked Newport hard on Saturday. After their set, he stopped by to chat about the many, many projects he's working on and snap some portraits with us.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Newport Folk

New Orleans musical institution Preservation Hall Jazz Band arrived in style, dressed fresh in white and bearing instruments. We sat down with bandleader Ben Jaffe to talk about the musical message they take with them everywhere they go. 

JD McPherson

We asked JD McPherson all about his latest album, Undivided Heart & Soul, focusing on his fuzz-heavy single, "Lucky Penny" and the soulful "Crying's Just A Thing That You Do," with he co-wrote with fellow Newport Folk performer Butch Walker.

Bermuda Triangle at Newport Folk

Meet Becca, Brittany and Jesse of Bermuda Triangle, a new trio from East Nashville who turned an impromptu jam into a real deal band. The ladies came by to tell us how they started playing music together and talk about their experience at Newport Folk.

Mumford & Sons

Photo: Douglas Mason/Getty Images

Surprise! This year's suprise headliner on Saturday night of Newport Folk Festival was none other than Mumford & Sons. The band made their first ever appearance at Newport, and called up a host of guest including Maggie Rogers, Brandi Carlile, Phoebe Bridgers, and more.

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Jazz/folk duo Tuck And Patti stopped by after they kicked off day one of the festival to talk about what makes Newport so special, their upcoming projects and even drop some advice on making it as a musical duo and a married couple.

Fantastic Negrito - Newport Folk 2018

Hot off the release of Please Don't Be Dead, Oakland, Calif., neo-blues hotrod Fantastic Negrito had some wise words to share backstage about true artistry, the good vibes at Newport and where he keeps the GRAMMY he received for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 59th GRAMMY Awards for The Last Days Of Oakland.

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Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius showed up in stunning matching blue to talk about their latest "acoustic" album, Nudes, why they love coming back to Newport and what they're working on next.

Paul Cauthen and Shakey Graves

While we were chatting with Alejandro Rose-Garcia, aka Shakey Graves, his friend and ours, Paul Cauthen, dropped in to talk about the Newport hijinks he'd been getting into so far and how the festival is the perfect setting for connecting with all of their closest musical friends.

St. Vincent

Photo: Douglas Mason/Getty Images

St. Vincent closed things down Friday night with a haunting set, proving Newport Folk is, and has always been, about pushing the limits.

Rachael & Vilray

Ever since college, Rachael & Vilray have shared a love for '30s and '40s traditional jazz. The duo came through to talk about the Newport experience, reveal what makes the music they love so enduring and pose for our cameras.

Sidi Toure

Photo: Douglas Mason/Getty Images

Sidi Toure tears up the stage on day one, bringing the Newport Folk Fest crowd to their feet.

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Hot off the stage, New Orleans' Tank And The Bangas pulled up to take a quick snapshot and tell us how excited they were to share their music with the equally excited – and receptive – Newport crowd.

Hiss Golden Messenger at Newport Folk

MC Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger came through after his set to talk about the natural way his Halelujah Anyhow album came together and how being a father has meant everything to him as an artist.

Valerie June at Newport Folk

The ever-entertaining Valerie June stopped by to talk about the incredible vibes at Newport and breakdown one of her most cosmic songs, "Astral Plane."

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Thirty Tigers artist Tyler Childers shared his impressions of Newport Folk as well as some insight on his 2017 album, Purgatory.

Lone Bellow at Newport Folk Festival

The magnetic trio The Lone Bellow paid a visit to our corner of the fort to talk about Walk Into A Storm and tell the touching story of "May You Be Well."

The Wood Brothers

Apropos of being situated right on the water at Newport's Fort Adams State Park, the Wood Brothers discussed the various water themes and symbols that flow through their latest album, One Drop Of Truth.

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The musical journeyman Phil Cook swung by to see us and talk about why he loves Newport Folk Festival, his new - and first - solo album, People Are My Drug, and why now is a crucial time in music's history. 

Stay tuned for much more to come from Newport Folk Festival 2018.

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