Tyler Childers Joins Turnpike Troubadours to Play John Prine at Newport
This story has been updated.
The Newport Folk Festival has birthed some iconic moments in its long, storied history. This includes Bob Dylan going electric for the first time with The Band behind him in 1965, Johnny Cash introducing a young songwriter named Kris Kristoffferson to the audience and setting him off in the national consciousness in 1969, and Joni Mitchell making her first public appearance in many years with help from Brandi Carlile in 2022.
This moment may not end up as iconic as those previous ones, but who knows what the future holds since Tyler Childers and the Turnpike Troubadours continue to raise the ceiling for independent country artists, and to write iconic legacies of their own.
Upon the release of his new song “In Your Love” and the announcement of his new album Rustin’ In The Rain, Tyler Childers has been lurking around the Newport Folk Festival happening this weekend in Rhode Island, playing a surprise set on Friday (7-28), despite not being advertised on the bill. Then Childers showed up to help sing the iconic John Prine tune “Paradise” with the Turnpike Troubadours, sending fans of the two acts agog.
Childers also stuck around to sing a couple of lines of the Turnpike song “The Bird Hunters,” and later Troubadours frontman Evan Felker sat in on Jason Isbell’s set and sang Isbell’s new song “King of Oklahoma” from his latest album Weathervanes.
Though the Turnpike Troubadours and Tyler Childers have played some of the same festivals, this is the first time they have taken the stage together. This is the kind of magic only the Newport Folk Fest can facilitate. Despite the relative quaintness of the fest compared to the other events these two bands are used to headlining, the top acts in all of roots music love to play Newport simply due to he prestige the music gathering holds.
The Turnpike Troubadours have a new album of their own on the way call A Cat in the Rain due out August 25th.
You don’t want to be accused of being hyperbolic by comparing Tyler Childers, Jason Isbell, and Turnpike to some of the great Newport Folk Fest performers in the past, but those in attendance definitely got a treat by seeing these two make more Newport magic together.
Tyler Childers & Turnpike Troubadours just sang “Paradise” together @Newportfolkfest and safe to say we’ll never be the same pic.twitter.com/rfJb0bVVv1
— Oh Boy Records (@ohboyrecords) July 29, 2023
And some Bird Hunters! https://t.co/x6bXT1T8WG pic.twitter.com/Nfe7jnMnMu
— Geoff C (@G_offC) July 29, 2023
July 29, 2023 @ 5:12 pm
Senora May is scheduled to perform tomorrow. We might have a few more surprise appearances.
July 29, 2023 @ 6:33 pm
How good is Senora’s album “Lainhart”?!!
July 29, 2023 @ 6:35 pm
@G_offC on twitter just posted a clip of Tyler Childers singing lead on “The Bird Hunters”
July 30, 2023 @ 9:51 am
That is musical heresy.
July 29, 2023 @ 6:12 pm
They should have collaborated on a new song called A Cat Rustlin’ in the Rain.
July 29, 2023 @ 7:35 pm
I was lucky enough to be at Newport today .
Quite a moment . Childers also sang a couple verses on Bird Hunters. Another great moment. Jason Isbell’s set overlapped with some of Turnpikes but Felker still went up during Isbell’s set and sang The King Of Oklahoma . And he sang it wonderfully .
Turnpike was on one of the smaller stages and won the crowd over so much that they kept playing , even when their time had run out .
The boys from Turnpike seemed happy. Childers seemed happy. Isbell seemed happy. Good vibes all around, at least it seemed.
Country music (the kind we all love and the kind Trig blogs about) was the winner today at Newport. Nothing against the other bands. Nothing against the other artists and other genres. But today , at Newport Folk Fest, these artists were the ones creating the moments, the memories, and the internet buzz.
Them, all that….and the band The Hold Steady. Those dudes ripped
“There’s country music in the kitchen. I hear it singing through the screen…weather warnings in between. “
July 29, 2023 @ 8:15 pm
Thanks for the info. Sounds like an excellent time. Wish I could have been there.
July 30, 2023 @ 6:22 am
Happy to help Trig. Have been reading SCM for about 10 plus years , so anything to help Trig out ! I wanted to reach out right when it happened but didn’t really know how. Happy to see Turnpike crushing it again too. All love, brother .
You can have a nickel out of my last dime
August 1, 2023 @ 7:39 am
Hey Felker’s Ghost – I was bumming around too. Wish Isbell had played more tracks of earlier albums. For those not there, his first song was Cover Me Up, and everything else was off of Weathervanes. Nevertheless, they were great. And having Felker come perform before he ran over to the Quad stage for his set was a great touch.
Did you get there early enough to see Willi Carlisle? I unfortunately did not, but I heard he was great. SG Goodman had a decent crowd for one of the small stages from what I saw.
July 29, 2023 @ 8:10 pm
Billy Strings tomorrow.
July 29, 2023 @ 10:41 pm
BMFS was absolute fire tonight in the rain in Maine. Newport is in for a treat. Nothing touches a Strings show right now..
July 30, 2023 @ 6:47 am
Anyone seen Turnpike live and have any thoughts?
Saw them in NYC on Wednesday and no doubt they were good, but didn’t seem to be as into it or communicate with the crowd like other artists I’ve seen (Crockett, Flatland). Didn’t walk away disappointed just expected a bit more I think
July 30, 2023 @ 7:31 am
I saw them last weekend at FairWell Fest in Oregon. I thought it was a great show. Evan Felker has never been very jovial, animated, or even communicative in concert. That’s just not his style, he’s a reclusive songwriter fronting a country rock band.
I will say that I think the new album can’t get here soon enough. Since reuniting and even right before, they been playing the same material for a very long time. They have worked a couple of the new songs already released into the show. But the track list needs to be freshened both for the band and the audience to instill some new energy in it. That will happen once “A Cat in the Rain” is released.
July 30, 2023 @ 8:05 am
I also think they could stand to lengthen their sets a bit and allow for some deep cuts and/or more variety.
July 30, 2023 @ 9:59 am
Trigger,
I don’t know about that. Maybe the setlist is more tired in Oklahoma and Texas but the York audience lit up with every familiar song. Of course, it was their first time in the location, but the two new songs and the old stuff received the same response.
I wouldn’t mind a cover or two. They once did a marvelous version of “Fox on the Run” in France. But the band is so tight that the songs live sound like they do on the CD.
July 30, 2023 @ 11:15 am
I will say I only got to see them for the first time finally this summer as they’ve rarely been on the east coast. I’m really happy they played so many of the songs I would consider essential like good lord Lorrie, every girl, 7&7, long hot summer day, the bird hunters. Like I feel like there playing places they haven’t before and those people probably are happy to hear the hits.
August 1, 2023 @ 7:13 am
Harris,
Felker alluded to that during the York concert. At one point, he pulled out a harmonica and the crowd started buzzing about “Lorrie.” He laughed and said something to the effort of, “Don’t worry, we will do that song later.”
People want to hear the essential songs of Turnpike. The band delivers on that. Give the people what they want. I am not a typical Turnpike fan. I prefer “Bossier City” over “7&7.” But I am in the minority. But they played “Tornado Warning,” so I was happy.
July 30, 2023 @ 8:13 am
Evan is very much like George Strait where it’s “here’s the band thanks for coming” and then just playing. It’s not bad at all just different style.
July 30, 2023 @ 9:56 am
Just saw them at York. Audience was engaged. Evan just gets up and sings. Occasionally, he will have the audience claps their hands, but he isn’t there to tell stories or spend five minutes introducing the band. Which I love. I got 19 kickass songs one after another. I don’t need any more entertainment but good music. The audience was lively.
And I will say this, Evan was way more engaged and happy than when I saw them in 2017. He looked healthier and more upbeat.
The only time momentum was lost was when RC sang a song of his. It was decent but I could tell the audience was unsure of how to take it.
The only other negative was no “Bossier City.” I loved the rendition in 2017 when Crockett’s trumpeter came out and added a solo to it.
July 30, 2023 @ 5:52 pm
Thanks for the insight, definitely agree it was a good show, just different than what I was used to. Makes sense with who Evan is as he just gets up and plays.
Looking forward to seeing Childers this Thursday at Radio City and seeing what his set list is
August 1, 2023 @ 7:10 am
I get it, Motts. I like hearing the story behind a song as well. There are different flavors. Generally, I am not a fan of extending a song for eight minutes while the frontman painstakingly lists each player.
When I saw Turnpike in Philly in 2017, I can’t recall a song where Felker led the audience in clapping. At York, he probably started the habit three or four times on songs. He is never going to match Garth’s energy on stage but he doesn’t have to be that performer. The Felker I saw at York is what every Turnpike should want. Happy and healthy!
July 30, 2023 @ 8:07 pm
Your thoughts echo mine, Knight (I love Bossier City, and also caught them when they did it on the tour with Crockett). York show was a lot of fun. They don’t play in this region much, and I think a lot of folks made road trips to catch it. The people next to me drove 3.5 hours from WV and it was their first time seeing TT.
I was at one of the last shows in 2018 prior to the run of cancellations, and I’m really happy to see Felker these days. He looks and sounds healthy and he genuinely seemed to be enjoying himself.
August 1, 2023 @ 7:05 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLIDRe2R788
It is broken up by the band introductions but I love the horns.
Reminds me of “Rainbow Stew.”
July 30, 2023 @ 8:13 am
Any video of Felker joing Isbell’s set?. King of Oklahoma is probably my favorite song of the year so far. Would love to see a Felker version.
July 30, 2023 @ 8:32 am
Yes it was just added up top.
July 30, 2023 @ 8:23 am
The Joni Mitchell – Brandi Carlile fiasco is preserved for all to hear on a new album that is more cringe than Neil Diamond at Last Waltz. Also, “Weathervanes” blows.
July 30, 2023 @ 11:25 am
Just me or does Tyler not sound so great singing Bird Hunters?
Maybe it was more exciting to be there and hear it…or maybe nobody can sing it like Evan….
July 30, 2023 @ 5:05 pm
Other than prematurely starting the chorus, I thought he sounded great.
July 30, 2023 @ 6:14 pm
This seems like a pretty deliberate choice on Turnpike’s part to engage with these two artists at this time. Message received. People like me better wise up, or stop enjoying this music.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see rainbow flag TT shirts on their next tour. Was going to shell out a bunch of money and take a day off to go see them. I won’t be doing that now.
Once you’re rich, gotta support the values of your betters. Once you leave home, you can’t go back. Not without your tail between your legs anyway.
July 30, 2023 @ 8:21 pm
This feels like a complete overreaction and wrong assessment to me. Artists play the Newport Folk Festival because it is a white whale moment for them. It’s like playing The Ryman or the Grand Ole Opry. The Newport crowd is too small for all three of those artists. But they all have represented the top tier of independent roots for the last few years, and no matter how you feel about their politics, it’s cool to see them collaborate, which is what Newport Folk is supposed to be all about.
July 31, 2023 @ 5:17 am
I can not believe that is what you took from this moment.
I hope you are trolling. Otherwise, it’s sad.
July 31, 2023 @ 8:20 am
Well…. Didn’t they play the 2016 RNC? Might be trying to make up for that.
July 31, 2023 @ 6:10 am
Trig this should be nominated for “Comment of the Year”
What an outrageous conclusion to make.
July 31, 2023 @ 7:06 am
HOT TAKE BROOOOOOOO!!!!
July 31, 2023 @ 12:34 pm
Since you won’t be taking a day off to shell out all that money, at least no one will have to cover your shift down at the hate factory.
July 31, 2023 @ 7:23 am
The absurdity of this comment made me laugh out loud. If a (hypothetical, placed alongside dozens of merch items available for any thousands of people to possibly purchase at a music performance) rainbow colored tee shirt is triggering enough to make you miss out on seeing live music of a band you enjoy, there is not much to say other than good luck, God bless, and hoping you find peace.
July 31, 2023 @ 1:35 pm
There are already places where wearing an Isbell shirt is frowned upon, to the point where people might have words.
It might get to the point where no person who can actually relate to ‘The Bird Hunters’ will have anything to do with any of these artists. They’re going to be playing for college kids and a few hippies.
Cue “I like Timmy Childers and I hunt birds!” Yeah, man. You and 150 other people in this country.
August 1, 2023 @ 10:51 am
Trig- I like what this moment does, potentially, for future artists to attend NFF. Many of my favorite artists, who haven’t played NFF yet, commented or liked these posts and may notice the positive reaction of the fans there. New England tends to get a bad rep as a place that isn’t privy to independent music. I’ve been each of the last 10 years and this crowd loves good music