Live In Concert from NPR's All Songs Considered Folgen

Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, the grandson of folk all-timer Pete Seeger, has carried on in the family tradition of musical activism, making frequent appearances at the venerable folk festival his grandfather helped found. But that's not his only claim to fame: The younger Seeger has also put out four albums with his band The Mammals, played with Sarah Lee Guthrie (Woody Guthrie's granddaughter) in the group RIG, and even sung with Bruce Springsteen and Pete Seeger at President Obama's inaugural celebration. Here, Tao Rodriguez-Seeger plays songs from his new solo album, 'Rise and Bloom,' at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I.

This is a golden age for fans of beardy guys who infuse their indie-rock sound with rich vocal harmonies that recall the heady days of Crosby, Stills & Nash. The L.A. band Dawes may be led by singer Taylor Goldsmith, but the group's layered backing vocals are just as much the star of its sweetly melancholy debut album, 'North Hills.' Here, Dawes performs live at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I.

At first blush, Horse Feathers might seem like the prototypical purveyor of ineffectual beard-folk, complete with a stirring string section. But two factors elevate the band to greatness: 1) That is a 'hell' of a stirring string section, which helps Horse Feathers achieve rare exquisiteness; and 2) singer Justin Ringle knows how to use his warm, kind tenor to mask powerful lyrics about dark secrets and bruised souls. Hear Horse Feathers perform songs from this year's excellent 'Thistled Spring' live at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I.