Newport Folk Festival today announced that The Backseat Lovers will return to Newport for its 2023 festival, performing on Saturday, July 29.
The Backseat Lovers is an indie rock band from Salt Lake City, Utah. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Joshua Harmon, drummer Juice Welch, bassist and backing vocalist Jonas Swanson, and lead guitarist and keyboardist Ethan Christensen.
The band was formed in 2018 when Harmon released a solo EP under the name The Backseat Lovers. The EP received positive feedback, and Harmon began collaborating with other musicians to form a full band. They released their first single, “Kilby Girl,” in 2019, and it quickly gained popularity on streaming platforms, leading to the band signing with an independent label, Roll Call Records.
In 2020, The Backseat Lovers released their debut album, “When We Were Friends,” which features their signature indie rock sound with catchy hooks and poignant lyrics. The album received critical acclaim and helped the band gain a larger following. They have since released several more singles, including “Just a Boy” and “Stay.”
The Backseat Lovers have been compared to bands such as The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, and The 1975, and their music has been described as a blend of indie rock, pop, and alternative. They have been praised for their high-energy live performances, and they have toured extensively throughout the United States.
Newport Folk Festival has also revealed that on behalf of The Backseat Lovers a donation has been made to the Nurture the Creative Mind, an organization in their home state of Utah that provides free multimedia experiences for youth including music production, recording and film. Funds will be used to buy an interface, keyboard and plug in acoustic guitar, electric guitar and condenser mic for their after school program that teaches youth how to produce their own music and provides free professional recordings to youth throughout the year.
The sold-out 2023 Newport Folk Festival will take place July 28 – 30, 2023, at Fort Adams State Park.
This announcement is just one of several made by Newport Folk Festival recently. The festival’s Artist Gives program, which donates funds to music education programs for every artist on the lineup, has also seen donations made to various other charities.
Among the previously announced lineup is Jupiter & Okwess, a Congolese band that has garnered international recognition for its unique fusion of traditional Congolese rhythms with contemporary rock and funk influences, will perform on Sunday, July 30. The band is known for its high-energy live performances and has been lauded for its commitment to using music as a means of promoting social change and cultural exchange. On their behalf, Newport Festivals Foundation has made a donation to Guitars not Guns, a nonprofit organization that provides guitars and lessons to foster children and at-risk youth as a way to steer them away from violence. The funds donated by Newport Festivals Foundation on behalf of Jupiter & Okwess will be used to purchase guitars, straps, tuners, gig-bags, and instruction books.
Jonathan Richman, an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist known for his minimalist, acoustic sound and quirky, often humorous lyrics, will perform on Sunday, July 30. Richman’s donation will support the festival’s music education programs.
Billy Strings, an American bluegrass guitarist and singer, has also been announced as a performer and will perform on Sunday, July 30. On his behalf, Newport Festivals Foundation has made a grant to the Appalachian Artisan Center’s Culture of Recovery program, which teaches people suffering from substance abuse disorders to build high-quality stringed musical instruments.
New Zealand indie-pop band The Beths is also set to perform at the festival on Friday, July 28, and on their behalf, Newport Festivals Foundation has made a grant to Die Jim Crow Records, a non-profit record label dedicated to releasing the music of formerly and currently incarcerated musicians.
CAAMP, the Ohio-based folk-indie band, kicked off the festival’s lineup and will perform on Friday, July 28. The band has previously played at the festival and is passionate about supporting music education programs. This year, they have generously agreed to match Newport Folk’s grant to support the Harmony Project, a music education program in Columbus, OH.
more on newport folk festival
Newport Folk adds Jaime Wyatt to 2023 lineup
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that Jaime Wyatt has been added to their 2023 lineup. Wyatt will perform at Fort Adams State Park on Saturday, July 29. Jaime Wyatt is a rising star in the country music scene, known for her distinctive voice and authentic storytelling. Born and raised in Southern California, Wyatt was…
2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup announcements
The Newport Folk Festival began its tradition of a rolling lineup announcement for its 2023 festival on February 2. The sold-out 2023 Newport Folk Festival will take place at Fort Adams State Park on Friday, July 28; Saturday, July 29; and Sunday, July 30. General admission tickets for the festival went on sale on Wednesday, February 1,…
The Earls of Leicester added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that The Earls of Leicester has been added to their 2023 lineup. The legendary bluegrass band will perform on Sunday, July 30. The Earls of Leicester is a bluegrass band that pays tribute to the music of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. The band was founded in 2013 by…
Goose to perform at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that Goose will return to Newport, performing at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival on Saturday, July 29. Goose is an American jam band hailing from Connecticut. The group was formed in 2006 and consists of members Peter Anspach on guitar and vocals, Rick Mitarotonda on guitar and vocals, Trevor…
Newport Folk Festival adds Alice Phoebe Lou to 2023 lineup
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that Alice Phoebe Lou will be heading to Fort Adams State Park to perform at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival. Alice will perform on Saturday, July 29, 2023. Alice Phoebe Lou is a singer-songwriter and musician from Cape Town, South Africa. She is known for her unique, soulful voice and…
Free Range added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that Free Range, the project of Chicago-based musician Sofia Jensen, will be heading to Fort Adams State Park to perform at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival. Free Range will perform on Friday, July 28, 2023. On their behalf, Newport Festivals Foundation has made a grant to Afrorack, an audio arts organization…
Maggie Rogers added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that Maggie Rogers will be returning to Fort Adams State Park to perform at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival. Rogers will perform on Friday, July 28, 2023. Maggie previously performed at the Newport Folk Festival in 2019. Maggie Rogers is an American singer-songwriter who first gained attention with her viral hit…
Newport Folk Festival adds Madison Cunningham to its 2023 lineup
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that Madison Cunningham has been added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup. Cunningham will perform at Fort Adams State Park on Sunday, July 30, 2023. Madison Cunningham is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who first gained recognition for her virtuosic guitar playing and introspective songwriting. Born in 1996 in Orange…
Aimee Mann has been added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that Aimee Mann has been added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup. Mann will perform at Fort Adams State Park on Saturday, July 29, 2023. Aimee Mann is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and bassist known for her distinctive voice and introspective, often melancholy lyrics. She was born in Richmond, Virginia…
Mdou Moctar to perform at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that Mdou Moctar has been added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup. The Tuareg rock band from Agadez, Niger will perform on Friday, July 28, 2023, at Fort Adams State Park. More about the band from their website; Prodigious Tuareg guitarist and songwriter Mdou Moctar boldly reforges contemporary Saharan music…
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.