Men's Journal

This weekend features a music festival made famous by Bob Dylan, North Carolina tarpon fishing, and a combo of yoga and Moby.

By Chris Gaymoli and John Talty

Newport Folk Festival, July 30th to August 1st

Newport, RI

When Bob Dylan took stage at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, he sauntered up to the stage with a Stratocaster hung surreptitiously across his stomach, strummed a few messy chords, and proceeded to single-handedly remap the trajectory of American popular music. Drawing boos, hisses, and a few scattered cheers, he introduced “-rock” into the folk music vocabulary while waving a big, fat middle finger at the genre’s dumbfounded traditionalists.

The Festival continues today thanks in no small part to Dylan’s deeply embedded lore. Despite a hiatus from ’71 – ’85, Newport’s realizations of folk have expanded to accommodate today’s more expansive tastes. Friday night features Steve Martin (yes, that Steve Martin) on banjo with the Steep Canyon Rangers, playing a traditional meld of frantic bluegrass. Saturday and Sunday feature a wide mix of Dylan-influenced performers: Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons, the Felice Brothers, Andrew Bird, Blitzen Trapper, The Avett Brothers, and lots, lots more.

Pack a cooler (no larger than 16 in x 12 in, and no glass, as per the event coordinators) and sit back for a rich weekend of tunes and history. Bringing your own alcohol isn’t permitted, but don’t fret: Magic Hat brewing company is one of the event’s many proud sponsors. And a particularly delicious one at that. (We highly recommend their amber lager, “Vinyl.”)

Travel and accommodations

Newport isn’t too hard to get to. It’s about an hour-and-a-half drive south from Boston along the MA-24S. Although camping isn’t permitted on site, Melville Ponds Campground in Portsmouth is a short 11 miles away from festival grounds. Call (401) 682-2424 for a reservation, or click for a few attractive hotel options. – C.G.

Tarpon Tournament, July 30th-August 1st

Oriental, NC

If game fishing is your thing, then take a trip to the Oriental Rotary Club Tarpon Tournament, offering over $11,500 in cash and prizes to those that have the most success catching the tricky swimmer. The tarpon is known as one of the better game fishes out there, fighting hard while on the line and proving to be a fun challenge for casters of all experience levels.

The jam-packed weekend will consist of fishing, barbecuing, and live entertainment by Bob Laverty, CK Full Circle, and LeveLLand. 

Travel and Accommodations

Fly into Coastal Carolina Regional Airport in New Bern. Oriental is about 30 minutes east of New Bern and accessible via Highway 55 East. As for hotels, the best place to stay is The Oriental Marina and Inn, located in the heart of Oriental. -J.T.

Wanderlust Festival, July 29th-August 1st

Squaw Valley, CA

Want a chance to open your body and soul through yoga and the musical stylings of Moby? Then the Wanderlust Festival is your dream come true.

Located in the scenic Squaw Valley, the fest features a wide variety of yoga techniques that will surely put you in the right state of mind. Those sessions, along with mediation and great music by the likes of the aforementioned Moby, Bassnectar, and Pretty Lights, make this an event worth attending. Nowhere else will you find such an eclectic mix of yoga instructors, meditation experts, and popular DJs.

The three and four day packages for the event are already sold out, but a limited amount of tickets for Thursday ($90) and Sunday ($140) are still available.

Travel and Accommodations

Your best bet is to fly into Reno-Tahoe International Airport, about 42 miles away from Wanderlust in Squaw Valley. From there take I-80 West towards Lake Tahoe and get off at CA-89 South, which will take you right to Wanderlust. For lodging, there’s no place better than Plumpjack Squaw Valley Inn. Plumpjack features two of the premier Wanderlust yoga spaces as well as one of the area’s nicest restaurants. -J.T.