Bartholomewtown News IV: The Democratic Folks

Bill Bartholomew

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Jeff Britt joined team Raimondo, and shortly thereafter, Rhode Islanders are getting mailers like this one:

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While Matt Brown did leave Rhode Island under a bit of confusion relating to campaign finances for his unsuccessful senatorial campaign over a decade ago, many voters across Rhode Island are being hit with literature suggesting Brown is Trumpian in his policies.  Too far?

Meanwhile, the so-called ABG (Anybody But Gina) movement has added a billboard sign on Route 10 to its arsenal of stickers and lawn signs:

Rounding out the Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls, Spencer Dickinson has added his own billboard sign just south of exit 16 on Interstate 95 north, and released a new round of literature.

Does Team Raimondo have polling data that suggests Brown is much closer to her than the recent WPRI/RWU poll presents?  Is the ABG-group working with the Brown operation?  Will Dickinson pull away any of Brown - or Governor Raimondo’s supporters?  Will all of the Democratic candidates actually debate ahead of the September 12th primary?  How does tonight’s shocking progressive victory in Florida impact each candidate’s focus?

While the GOP gubernatorial race featured its fair-share of bizarre incidents this past week - with more appearances from Al The Debate Chicken, and a highly-personal, two-way debate between Patricia Morgan and Giovanni Feroce on a Providence-based talk radio station - the three candidates are set to debate each other this Friday August 31st, at noon, on WNRI, a Woonsocket-based radio station.  Bartholomewtown will be in-studio for the debate, offering live Tweets and post-debate analysis.

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PROVIDENCE FOLK FESTIVAL

The fifth annual Providence Folk Festival took place this past weekend at the Roger Williams National Memorial, right on the intersection of downtown Providence, Smith Hill and the East Side.  While my conversations with patrons and past-performers revealed that the festival has left strong impressions on both artists and music lovers over its previous four years, this year’s festival had all of the makings of a hallmark event, including enthusiastic crowds, a blend of local and regional artists, and logistical considerations, including use of the nearby State House’s parking facilities.  Also: it is free to get in. I would estimate around 500 people attended the festival during my time on-site.

Highlights included a powerful set from Providence-based indie-folk crooner Jodie Treloar Sampson, neo-traditional Americana from Morgan Johnston, and a whos-who of Providence musical luminaries operating sound, managing stages and maintaining overall festival operations.

Bartholomewtown highly recommended that music lovers add the Providence Folk Festival to their summer festival plans.  Though nowhere near the size, scope and international relevance of Newport Folk Festival, the draw and artistic level of Rhythm and Roots, and lacking the diversity of performers and attendees that as220’s Foo Fest presents, with this year’s success, Providence Folk Festival has earned its place as a noteworthy statewide musical event.  

Photos from The 2018 Providence Folk Festival below.  (c) Bill Bartholomew

Lainey Dionne

Dan Blakeslee

                                                  Gabriela Rassi of silverteeth enjoying the afternoon

Main stage field

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​LOVE LETTERS AND HATE MAIL

Olivia in Warwick, RI writes:

Billy B, I was expecting your podcast to be mostly focused on arts and music.  When did you decide to make it about politics, too?

BB: Olivia, thx for the postcard!  I’ve always understood there to be a large overlap between arts and politics.  Could be the way my brain works, having spent a lot of time reading The Providence Phoenix and so forth when I was in middle school, could be my relationship with punk and folk music, could be my boredom with much of the conversation taking place today surrounding Rhode Island politics, could be my desire to better understand what I actually believe in politically, could be a bit of justice activism on my part, could be that I’m trying to beat my competition in the market, or join them in a neo-harmonious media ecosystem.  Could be because I’m passionate about many of these issues and needed a platform greater than a talk-radio call-in. Mostly, because I love the topics, love Rhode Island, and feel it is extremely important to have as much information available as possible when deciding who will lead our societal structures. This place (Rhode Island) is at a tipping point, and I want to be part of the movement to save it from falling off the proverbial cliff. It is a beautiful, topographically diverse landscape, filled with a wide-array of ethnicities, political views, religious and non-religious spirituality, and ideas… I hope Bartholomewtown can play even a small role in connecting the hearts and minds that will help boost Rhode Island’s economic position, open-mindedness, and general morale.  

Send your love letter or hate mail to:

Bartholomewtown
669 Elmwood Avenue
Suite c5
Providence, RI 02907

Or text 401.524.6825

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FOR YOUR LISTENING (AND READING) PLEASURE

New Bartholomewtown Radio Past Casts are now up here on 990wbob.com

New Bartholomewtown Podcast Episodes featuring gubernatorial candidate Patricia Morgan and Providence Mayoral candidate Robert DeRobbio are now available via Apple, Spotify, Alexa, Tunein, RIpodcast.com and bartholomewtown.com

I’m a weekly contributor to Motif Magazine, mvyradio, and the blog right here on 990wbob.com

Stream my band silverteeth on Spotify

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Instagram@billbartholomew

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