The summer lobster/clam bake  involved digging a giant pit and burning wood logs in it until they were a glowing orange-red.  Next, the embers were covered with a layer of fresh seaweed which was then covered with wooden trays full of live lobsters, shellfish, bagged fish fillets,  corn and potatoes.  Finally the food was covered with another layer of seaweed, soil, tarps  and then left to bake.  A few hours later, the feast was unearthed and served to the crowd.  I can’t even describe how incredible it all tasted!!!

All you have to do is VOTE FOR THEM here by JUNE 30:
http://magichat.net/opener/voting

Over 150 bands applied to this Magic Hat contest, and The David Wax Museum was chosen by the Newport Folk Festival Committee as one of the top 3 bands!

But now THEY NEED OUR HELP.
–Please take a minute to login at the Magic Hat site and cast your vote for us: http://magichat.net/opener/voting
–Then, post this on your Facebook page and invite your friends to vote, too.
–They’d be forever grateful. Thanks so much!!

** For those who need convincing, here’s a little ABOUT THE BAND:

David Wax’s circuitous journey from mid-Missouri to the back roads of Mexico to Harvard University inspires The David Wax Museum’s lively fusion of traditional Mexican and American folk music. Tagged as “one of Boston’s hottest new bands” by The Boston Globe, they have toured with The Avett Brothers, shared the stage with The Low Anthem, tour up and down the Eastern seaboard, and this summer will join the Old 97′s throughout the Midwest and Northwest. The band receives consistent radio play on XM Sirius Radio’s Acoustic Coffeehouse; The Boston Globe selected the band’s new album Carpenter Bird for its list of top 10 local albums of 2009; and NPR recently featured the band on a segment about Mexico-centric indie rock.

The David Wax Museum features David Wax on jarana and guitar, Suz Slezak on donkey jawbone and fiddle, Jordan Wax on accordion and piano, and Mike Roberts on upright bass and electric guitar.

This premier bluegrass music festival commemorates the legacy of Joe Val -who is arguably one of the finest bluegrass musicians to emerge from New England. In 2006, the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival received the “Event of the Year” award from the International Bluegrass Music Association.

Tickets
Early Bird tickets are now on sale.  Click here to order yours

Festival Lineup
Here is a tentative lineup for the 25th Joe Val Bluegrass Festival.

1. Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver
2. JD Crowe and the New South
3. Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper
4. Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass
5. Special Consensus
6. The Josh Williams Band
7. Buddy Merriam and Back Roads
8. The Spinney Brothers
9. While Mountain Bluegrass
10. Acoustic Blue
11. Joe Sings Joe
12. Berklee Bluegrass
13. Bluegrass Gospel Project
14. Sierra Hull and Highway 111

Sandra Brennan, All Music Guide wrote:

Singer/songwriter Joe Val was a prominent traditional bluegrass musician and leader of the New England Bluegrass Boys. A native of Everett, Massachusetts, he was born Joseph Valiante, and his interest in bluegrass started in his early teens. He was influenced by fiddler Tex Logan, who had come north to study at M.I.T. and wound up giving the young performer his stage name. Val started out as a guitar player, but also mastered the banjo and the mandolin. He got his professional start playing with the Radio Rangers, and later joined the Berkshire Mountain Boys; with the progressive Charles River Valley Boys, Val recorded a distinguished album of bluegrass-adapted Beatles songs in 1967. Although Val played with progressive groups, he himself continued to favor a more traditional bluegrass sound; to this end, he founded the New England Bluegrass Boys in 1970 with guitarist Herb Applin, banjo player Bob French and bass player Bob Tidwell. The following year, they made their debut album. Although the group underwent many personnel changes over the next decade, Val was able to produce a remarkably consistent sound over the course of numerous albums. Sadly, Joe Val was stricken with cancer in the 1980s just as his band was beginning to achieve wider recognition; his last performance was in late 1984, and he died on June 11, 1985.

Goodtime Spencer has confirmed that Rhode Island is his second favorite state (next to Massachusetts). Nicki Singleton and Ryan Spraker of the original Hard Times band completed the group and great bluegrass sounds were made!  What is it about the calzone in Rhode Island? I think it may be the best I’ve ever had!