The Times They Are a-Changin'

Beck, Andrew Bird, and Chris Funk                                                  Zach Kohn

A report from the Newport Folk Festival, where the more things change, the more they stay the same ... sort of: "In the broadest sense, [the term 'folk'] applied to any of the artists who earned a spot in the festival's lineup. To be included, it helps to have the traditional instruments -- an accordion, a fiddle, a harmonica -- although none are strictly necessary. Political idealism is encouraged, as is the ability to pair that message with a melody that's easy to sing along to (and preferably one that the festival's audience can dance to)": http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/08/folk-music-isnt-what-it-used-to-be-and-thats-more-than-okay/278292/