More than a dozen musicians from across Rhode Island performed on the same stages used during Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival at Fort Adams on Wednesday night.
The official Bridgefest event, Local Bridges: A Celebration of Rhode Island’s Music Community presented by Newport Festivals Foundation, featured Franny & Friends, Wave Length Band, The Copacetics, and members of The Quahogs, The White-eyed Lizard Band, The Sugar Cones, Frankie & The Freeloaders, and more.
Franny and Friends and the Wave Length Band kicked off the night and are a part of Girls Rock! RI – a Providence-based non-profit that uses music to empower girls, women, trans, and gender non-conforming individuals to build collaborative relationships and develop healthy identities. Back on July 3rd, Newport Festivals Foundation announced that they would be providing financial support to create the Band Booster program, a new initiative for Girls Rock! RI.
The Copacetics then took the stage performing some of their original songs and covers before being joined by other members of bands from across Rhode Island.
At the end of the night, the bands and members of Girls Rock RI all united on stage to bring a special rendition of the classic Stand By Me.
“Our goal for tonight was really to present a concert that showcased some Rhode Island musicians, we’re all about trying to build those bridges between our organization and the Rhode Island music community.” Jill Davidson, Festivals Director for Newport Festivals Foundation told What’sUpNewp. “I think that really happened tonight and we’re really excited about that.”
Bridgefest, which continues thru August 2nd, “bridges” the days between the Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals, Bridgefest celebrates folk, jazz and Newport’s musical community. For more information, visit http://www.newportbridgefest.com/.
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