Good morning, Newport! 🗓️ Today is Friday, Aug. 1, the 213th day of 2025. There are 152 days left in the year.

🚨 You need to know

As the 2025 Newport Jazz Festival officially launches today at Fort Adams State Park with sold-out crowds, jazz enthusiasts who missed out on the main event have multiple opportunities to experience the festival’s spirit at intimate downtown venues throughout the weekend.

Tonight offers two distinct experiences: At 9:30 PM, the Jane Pickens Theater hosts “George Wein’s Jazz Futures – Now & Then,” featuring eight talented musicians including Christian McBride, Alexa Tarantino, Brandon Woody, Carl Allen, Chris Lewis, Julius Rodriguez, Mark Whitfield, and Marlon Jordan. This carefully curated group represents the essence of George Wein’s vision for jazz education and mentorship, bridging generations of jazz artistry. Meanwhile, just blocks away at Parlor Bar & Kitchen on Broadway, the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio takes the stage for a sold-out show at 10:00 PM for a benefit concert supporting the Newport Festivals Foundation.

The weekend programming continues with Saturday’s sold-out “Julius Rodriguez and Friends” performance at Parlor Bar, again benefiting the Newport Festivals Foundation with doors at 9:30 PM and show at 10:00 PM. The young pianist, who also appears in tonight’s Jane Pickens lineup, returns for what promises to be a more intimate showcase of his artistry. The weekend concludes Sunday with a “Post-Festival Jam Session” at Parlor hosted by Leland Baker at 9:30 PM, offering musicians and audiences a chance to decompress and continue the musical conversation after the main festival wraps.

With cover charges ranging from $20 to around $58, these performances provide more accessible alternatives while maintaining the high caliber of musicianship Newport jazz fans expect.

Here’s what else you should know

🎺 The 2025 Newport Jazz Festival gets underway at Fort Adams State Park today. While the 3-day event is sold out, there is an opportunity to catch a great show at The JPT tonight, featuring many of the talented artists.

⚾ Playoffs begin tonight at Cardines Field for the Newport Gulls. The hometown team will take on the Mystic Schooners in Game 1 of the Quarterfinals at 6:35 pm.

👏 Thanks to everyone who came out (and who dressed up) for The Big Lebowski Party at The JPT last night! More than 200 showed up for the fun and festive night.

🎶 Here’s a look at all the live music, entertainment, and events happening this weekend; enjoy!

📰 The Latest from What’sUpNewp

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

📈 Yesterday’s most-read

The following were yesterday’s most-read What’sUpNewp articles.

  1. Obituary: Joseph Jennings
  2. Historic John Easton House sells for $4.8M in Newport’s Kay Catherine neighborhood
  3. Coast Guard says rotten wood and poor inspections led to deadly schooner mast collapse
  4. Obituary: Ann Marie DiSalvo
  5. Celebrity chef to headline 20th Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival
  6. Listing of the Week: A coastal classic off of Indian Avenue, 78 Cornelius Drive
  7. No surveillance footage recovered after May fire that destroyed Matunuck Oyster Bar
  8. Made in Newport: The JPT celebrates films shot in city
  9. Obituary: Frank Savage
  10. Things to do in Newport County this week and weekend: July 28 – Aug. 3

📅 What’s Up Today

Weather Forecast

  • Today: Showers, mainly before 8 am. Patchy fog before 10 am. High near 70. Northeast wind 14 to 16 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%—new precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
  • Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. North wind 8 to 10 mph.
  • Tomorrow: Sunny, with a high near 76. North wind around 8 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Sun, Moon & Tide

  • Sunrise at 5:40 am. Sunset at 8:01 pm. 14 hours & 21 minutes of sun.
  • High tide at 1:41 am & 2:14 pm. Low tide at 6:50 am & 8:09 pm.
  • The lunar phase is a Waxing Crescent.
  • The coastal water temperature is 72 degrees.

Things To Do

Live Music & Entertainment

Newport County Public Meetings

  • No public meetings are scheduled.

Organizing an event? Submit your event to What’sUpNewp’s Event Calendar.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...