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Berklee Gospel & Roots Choir, Live In Concert: Newport Folk 2014

The Berklee Gospel & Roots Choir performs at the 2014 Newport Folk Festival.
Adam Kissick for NPR
The Berklee Gospel & Roots Choir performs at the 2014 Newport Folk Festival.

In the past, the Berklee Gospel & Roots Choir has been employed as a sort of Newport Folk Festival palate-cleanser: a way to kick off the day with something kind, approachable, reverent and rooted in many folk traditions. This year, with Mavis Staples on top of the bill, the group, which opens the proceedings on Sunday, functioned as both and a theme-setter.

As its name suggests, the group features some of the best and brightest at the talent-rich Berklee College of Music in Boston. Hear the Berklee Gospel & Roots Choir perform Negro spirituals and contemporary gospel as part of the 2014 Newport Folk Festival, recorded live on Sunday, July 27 in Newport, R.I.

Set List

  • "Give Me Jesus"
  • "Ain't That A Good News"
  • "Elijah Rock"
  • "Be With Me"
  • "Jesus Will"
  • "Come By Here"
  • "Break Every Chain"
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    Stephen Thompson is a host, writer and reviewer for NPR Music and Pop Culture Happy Hour. He appears frequently on All Songs Considered and NPR newsmagazines.

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