Lazy Trail, a Providence-based indie rock and bedroom pop project, will headline the opening concert of NIMFest 2026 this Sunday, July 12, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the King Park Gazebo, 125 Wellington Ave. Providence singer-songwriter Hey Rel opens the afternoon. Admission is free.
Lazy Trail is the project of songwriter Emma Willer, whose dreamy, intimate sound draws on her roots in the Rhode Island DIY scene. The band — Willer, Tom Bora, Emma Corbin, and Conor Breen — are all veterans of regional and national touring projects. Willer first gained attention with Upstate New York indie band Slumbers before joining acclaimed indie outfit Boyscott. Bassist Emma Corbin is also known for her work booking shows at Providence’s AS220.
Hey Rel is the project of Providence artist Ariel Hirschhorn, whose debut EP Big Try earned praise earlier this year across the regional music community. The project has been featured on Rhode Island NPR and is currently working on a debut full-length.
NIMFest — short for Newport Independent Music Festival — is a free, family-friendly summer concert series presented by the New England Music Organization at King Park overlooking Newport Harbor. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs; the park is also accessible by kayak and paddleboard. Alcohol is not permitted. All concerts are weather permitting.
The series continues Sundays through August 23. The full schedule is available at newenglandmusic.org.
