This morning’s announcement of the 2020 Grammy Award nominations included the names of several recent Newport Folk Festival Performers. Led by festival veterans Brandi Carlile and Bon Iver, several other past performers gained nominations.
In what is undoubtedly a record for the Festival, a total of three 2019 artists – Maggie Rogers, Yola, and Tank and the Bangas (2019 Jazz Festival) – were nominated for “Best New Artist.”
Another “major category” nominee is 2017 Festival contributor Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, nominated for “Record of the Year,” for “Hey, Ma,” and “Album of the Year” for I,I. The album was also nominated in the “Best Alternative Album” category.
Several members of the supergroup The Highwomen were nominated in various categories. Maren Morris and Brandi Carlile were nominated for “Best Country Duo/Group Performance” for “Common,” and Carlile was nominated for “Song Of The Year” for “Bring My Flowers Now,” performed by Tanya Tucker. Natalie Hemby was also nominated in this category, with “Always Remember Us This Way,” performed by Lady Gaga.
Reflecting the eclectic nature of the Festival, Newport artists appeared in diverse categories. 2012 and 2017 Festival performer Gary Clarke Jr. was nominated for “Best Rock Performance” and “Best Contemporary Blues Album” for his powerful This Land, and Elvis Costello received a nomination for “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album” for Look Now. Brittany Howard joined Clarke Jr. in the “Best Rock Song” category for her song “History Repeats.”
In the more folk-leaning categories, a Newport win is almost assured. In “Best Folk Album,” 4 of the 5 nominees have previously played Newport, and in the Americana/Roots categories, pretty much all of the acts have played the Fort at least once. See below for the list of nominees in some of the Festival’s favorite categories.
Best Folk Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental folk recordings.
- MY FINEST WORK YET
Andrew Bird
- REARRANGE MY HEART
Che Apalache
- PATTY GRIFFIN
Patty Griffin
- EVENING MACHINES
Gregory Alan Isakov
- FRONT PORCH
Joy Williams
45. Best American Roots Performance
For new vocal or instrumental American Roots recordings. This is for performances in the style of any of the subgenres encompassed in the American Roots Music field including Americana, bluegrass, blues, folk or regional roots. Award to the artist(s).
- SAINT HONESTY
Sara Bareilles
- FATHER MOUNTAIN
Calexico And Iron & Wine
- I’M ON MY WAY
Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi
- CALL MY NAME
I’m With Her
- FARAWAY LOOK
Yola
46. Best American Roots Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. Includes Americana, bluegrass, traditional blues, contemporary blues, folk or regional roots songs. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
- BLACK MYSELF
Amythyst Kiah, songwriter (Our Native Daughters)
- CALL MY NAME
Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan & Sara Watkins, songwriters (I’m With Her)
- CROSSING TO JERUSALEM
Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal, songwriters (Rosanne Cash)
- FARAWAY LOOK
Dan Auerbach, Yola Carter & Pat McLaughlin, songwriters (Yola)
- I DON’T WANNA RIDE THE RAILS NO MORE
Vince Gill, songwriter (Vince Gill)
47. Best Americana Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental Americana recordings.
- YEARS TO BURN
Calexico And Iron & Wine
- WHO ARE YOU NOW
Madison Cunningham
- OKLAHOMA
Keb’ Mo’
- TALES OF AMERICA
J.S. Ondara
- WALK THROUGH FIRE
49. Best Traditional Blues Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental traditional blues recordings.
- KINGFISH
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
- TALL, DARK & HANDSOME
Delbert McClinton & Self-Made Men
- SITTING ON TOP OF THE BLUES
Bobby Rush
- BABY, PLEASE COME HOME
Jimmie Vaughan
- SPECTACULAR CLASS
Jontavious Willis
50. Best Contemporary Blues Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental contemporary blues recordings.
- THIS LAND
Gary Clark Jr.
- VENOM & FAITH
Larkin Poe
- BRIGHTER DAYS
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
- SOMEBODY SAVE ME
Sugaray Rayford
- KEEP ON
Southern Avenue
