Hot Tuna, the legendary blues duo born out of Jefferson Airplane, will make its first-ever appearance at the Newport Folk Festival this summer, organizers announced this week.
Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bassist Jack Casady, both Rock and Roll Hall of Famers who have been playing together for more than half a century, are set for Friday, July 24. The Newport booking comes during a transitional period for the nearly six-decade project — the duo wrapped their final Electric Hot Tuna tour in 2023, and Kaukonen announced last October that he was entering the “cresting wave” of his live career, stepping away from full-scale touring.
Fingerstyle guitarist Yasmin Williams and Nashville composer William Tyler were announced Wednesday as a joint act for Saturday, July 25. The two acclaimed instrumentalists have been building a collaborative partnership in recent months. Tyler joined Williams on her 2024 Nonesuch debut “Acadia,” adding guitar to the track “Sisters,” and Williams said the pair are working on new music together. They have already appeared as a duo at Winter JazzFest and Big Ears this year.
Rounding out this week’s announcements is Brazilian singer-songwriter Tim Bernardes, who will perform Sunday, July 26. A Latin Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and producer based in São Paulo, Bernardes has collaborated with Fleet Foxes, David Byrne, Tom Zé and the late Gal Costa. He is also known as the frontman of the acclaimed Brazilian indie rock band O Terno, which went on indefinite hiatus in 2024.
The three new additions bring the total number of announced acts to 12 across the festival’s three days. Friday, July 24, now features Ms. Lauryn Hill, Hayley Williams & Friends and Hot Tuna. Saturday includes Lizzy McAlpine, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings’ Grateful Dead Acoustic Reckoning, This Is Lorelei and Yasmin Williams & William Tyler. Sunday’s bill features Brandi Carlile, CMAT, Brittany Davis & Black Thunder, Hudson Freeman and Tim Bernardes.
Tickets for the 67th annual festival, scheduled for July 24-26 at Fort Adams State Park, sold out within seconds of going on sale Feb. 4, as previously reported by What’sUpNewp. Additional artists are expected in the coming weeks at newportfolk.org.
