Days after turning heads with a progressively provocative music video, Tyler Childers kept the surprises coming with pop-ups at Newport Folk Festival. After playing a secret after-party where he welcomed Floyd Pepper from The Muppets house band Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem, Childers made a brief appearance at Newport Folk proper for a sit-in with Turnpike Troubadours.

Childers’ Friday show was held at the intimate Newport Blues Cafe and billed under the alias Shadrach ‘Shady’ Boggs. Sleuthing Childers fans recalled that the singer-songwriter played a character named Shadrach Boggs in the straight-to-YouTube short film Laid Back Makes a Deal and quickly sold out the 300+ capacity club.

That evening, Childers and his band The Food Stamps brought out a special felt-faced guest, bassist Floyd Pepper. Together they ran through Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem’s smash hit “Gonna Get There” as well as Childers’ own “Country Squire”—with Tyler and Floyd sharing vocals.

Sure, Tyler has shared the stage with the likes of Sturgill Simpson, Billy Strings, and a host of others, but this was Floyd Pepper. The members of The Electric Mayhem certainly got around at Newport Folk, with drummer Animal sitting in with Goose and My Morning Jacket.

Tyler Childers, Floyd Pepper – “Gonna Get There” (Dr. Teeth And The Electric Mayhem) – 7/28/23

[Video: K B]

The next day at Newport Folk Festival, Childers continued to expand his list of collaborators by joining Turnpike Troubadours. Unannounced collaborations are an integral part of the Newport Folk experience, with the leader of the Oklahoma country outfit Evan Felker fittingly joining Jason Isbell on “King Of Oklahoma” shortly before the Troubadours’ festival debut. With Childers at the helm, the band ran through John Prine‘s “Paradise” in a fitting tribute to Tyler’s native Kentucky.