News: Pete Seeger passes

There isn't an artist that we play on MVY that isn't directly or indirectly influenced by the late Pete Seeger.  He will be missed.  And he will live on in nearly every song we play.

We had the good fortune to cross paths with the Folk Icon a number of times.

Find audio from Newport Folk 2009 with sets from Saturday and Sunday and from Merlefest 2006 when he performed in a Woody Guthrie Tribute with Slaid Cleaves, Jimmy LaFave, Eliza Gilkyson, Sarah Lee Guthrie, Gillian Welch and others.

And find photos in our archives here.

Newport Folk 2013: Black Prairie

When your main band goes on indefinite hiatus, it allows your side project to step out of the background.

Black Prairie features a number of members of The Decemberists (including Jon Moen), with their compass pointed in more of a bluegrass direction.  And taking the lead vocals is Annalisa Tornfelt of the Alaska-based band Bearfoot (hear them at Merlefest 2008).

In what should be a nice, small moment, fans should warmly greet the arrival of band member Jenny Conlee, who missed The Decemberists' 2011 performance while successfully receiving treatment for cancer.

Black Prairie comes to Newport Folk 2013, and mvyradio will be there again, participating in NPR Music's coverage. Hear performances live from the stage on mvyradio, July 26th through 28th. And watch this space for more NFF artist previews.

Hear Black Prairie and the other artists scheduled to appear at this year's festival, on our Newport Folk Channel, which you can stream for free!


Hear "How Do You Ruin Me" on Youtube.


Hear "Nowhere Massachusetts" on Youtube.


Hear "Song The Remains The Same" on Youtube.

Newport Folk 2013: Tift Merritt

Ask anyone on the mvy staff who's met her:  Tift Merritt is delightful.

Funny and charming and such a great songwriter, any day Tift is on the bill, is a good day.

You can hear some of our previous visits with her in the mvyradio Archives, including the Americana Music Conference, Merlefest, The Narrows and Newport Folk 2009.

Tift Merritt comes to Newport Folk 2013, and mvyradio will be there again, participating in NPR Music's coverage. Hear performances live from the stage on mvyradio, July 26th through 28th. And watch this space for more NFF artist previews.

Hear Tift Merritt and the other artists scheduled to appear at this year's festival, on our Newport Folk Channel, which you can stream for free!


Hear "Engine To Turn" on Youtube.


Hear "Mixtape" on Youtube.


Hear Tift at the Opry on Youtube.

Newport Folk 2013: The Avett Brothers

The Avett Brothers are no stranger to Newport Folk, having played the Main Stage, side stage and even on top of a crane!

We have tons of great Avett Brothers performances in our archives from Newport Folk and from Merlefest.  And we're looking forward to hearing more at Fort Adams.

The Avett Brothers come to Newport Folk 2013, and mvyradio will be there again, participating in NPR Music's coverage. Hear performances live from the stage on mvyradio, July 26th through 28th. And watch this space for more NFF artist previews.

Hear The Avett Brothers and the other artists scheduled to appear at this year's festival, on our Newport Folk Channel, which you can stream for free!



Hear the set on Youtube.

Uncharted Waters: Aoife O'Donovan

". . . mostly just me."

That's how Aoife O'Donovan describes her music in the video below, but also talks about the great players and stylistic influences that make up her solo record "Fossils."

Barbara Dacey will feature several tracks of this record, as part of Uncharted Waters, Friday at 9pm ET and in the archives.

For more Aoife, head into the archives where we have 9 different sets from her former band Crooked Still and a really wild set from Merlefest that includes almost all the member of Crooked Still, The Duhks, The Infamous Stringdusters and Uncle Earl.


Hear the song on Youtube.