Paper Swan Blog: 2010

Monday, November 22, 2010

Paper Swan Loft Party - 11/20/10

On Saturday night, Paper Swan presented yet another great night of acoustic music in the heart of Bushwick’s loft district. Sticking to its tried-and-true formula of combining old-timey folk/bluegrass/country music with the down-home feel of the Swan Loft, Paper Swan has proven once again how great live music, an intimate venue and an appreciative Brooklyn crowd can make for a truly memorable evening.

The night kicked off with a spirited set from the always musical and always harmonious Lawrence & Leigh, whose soothing sound set the tone for the night ahead. Built upon a foundation of unique, masterful songwriting (and love) this Brooklyn-based duo is a favorite at the Swan Loft.


Lawrence & Leigh

The evening continued with The Ghost of Arthur James, whose deep voice and howling harmonica had the crowd entranced with the sound of a songwriter well beyond his youthful countenance and charming on-stage presence.

The Ghost of Arthur James

After that, the crowd was graced by the rousing sound of one of Brooklyn's finest folk artists, Feral Foster. Foster's soulful vocal stylings and guitar pickin' has become a staple of Paper Swan's loft shows, and his memorable performance was one of many that keeps folks coming back time and time again.

Feral Foster

Lastly was a welcomed set from a Swan Loft newcomer, Jackson Lynch. Following in the footsteps of the great pickers before him, Lynch takes his audience on a spirited journey through American traditional music with honesty and sincerity.


Jackson Lynch

The night ended with a foot-stompin' jam led by Swan Loft house band, Free Advice. It all took place in front of Paper Swan's "Cardboard City," a captivating mini-city built entirely out of cardboard and lit up to the audience's enchantment.

The next Paper Swan event will take place on December 18. All Photos by Esty Stein.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Mumford & Sons at Lollapalooza - By Jason

Last weekend at Lollapalooza I had the amazing opportunity to shoot a behind the scenes package with one of my new favorite bands, Mumford & Sons. It's always exciting to get to work with musicians that you admire, and this was one of those moments that I was really looking forward to.

We spent the first 3 days shooting a bunch of short interviews with artists along with b-roll of the festival, which can all be very boring and tedious. However, on Sunday we planned on spending 3 hours with the lads from Mumford so that we could produce a behind the scenes thing, kind of a "day in the life" of a band at Lolla.

First we shot an interview with the guys in their dressing room, and they were absolutely hilarious. You could tell they were really having a great time, and it's clear that they are really good friends and a tight-knit band.

After the interview, I filmed them hanging out and then writing their setlist all while making sure that I was getting what I needed to produce a good piece. I kind of had to be a pest about it and was constantly asking the guys if they would let me shoot certain things, some of which they were against. It must get annoying having a dude with a camera following you around, and so I had to respect their space even though I was really under the gun.

After hanging out backstage, I got to shoot a couple songs of their show. The energy from the huge crowd was incredible, and it was really cool watching everything from the side of the stage. I caught up with the guys later in the night at an after-party and got to hang out with them without my video camera getting in the way. They were really nice and I even talked to the banjo player, Winston, about Paper Swan and he was stoked to hear about us.

The next day I woke up knowing that I had what I needed to finish my piece, and there's no better feeling in the world than that. Even though most people who see the Mumford & Sons Behind the Scenes at Lollapalooza package will never know my story or what this meant to me, I have the satisfaction of knowing that I was completely professional and respectful of my subject, and as an artist, I achieved everything that I set out to do.

Newport Folk Festival - By Ben

George Wein

I had the pleasure of attending this years Newport Folk Festival. For those that don't know, this is one of the most legendary festivals in the country. Its where Dylan went electric and hundreds of folk artists throughout the years have made their name. This year proved to be no different. Set in an old fort on the southern tip of Newport, Rhode Island, over three stages, one of which is in the middle of the fort, armed with some black and white film, I set to work documenting my experience.

O'Death

My plan was to check out artists I had never heard of instead of seeing the ones I knew. This proved to be fortuitous as I discovered some new favorites. I tended to gravitate toward the middle of the fort stage since it featured more up and coming acts and had a smaller crowd.

One of the standouts was Horse Feathers. From Portland, Oregon, these guys create beautiful music with a cello, banjo, violin, guitar, and percussion. Their sound is light, melodic and well composed. The string arrangements are something to behold.

Horse Feathers

Another standout to me was The Low Anthem, from Providence, RI. I have some pictures of them forthcoming. Their harmonies are about as perfect as I've heard live from four people. They have a nice approachable sound and crafty song writing. Their dynamic range is also very impressive.

Doc Watson was one of the older acts I really wanted see. His shows have such an amazing energy because of his stature among the fans. People know they are seeing a legend and at 87 Doc never fails to deliver. I got backstage and captured this photo of his grandson helping him on stage (he has been blind his whole life).

Doc Watson

Some other highlights were Elvis Perkins in Dearland, The Punch Brothers, Sarah Jarosz and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The best thing is you can listen to all the sets from the Festival here.

More Pictures: