Rhiannon Giddens will be just the fourth artist that has had the honor to perform at the Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival in the same year.
Newport Folk Festival announced on February 17th that the singer, violinist, banjo player and a founding member of the Grammy-winning country, blues and old-time music band Carolina Chocolate Drops, would be performing on Sunday, July 20th at Fort Adams State Park.
Back on January 30th, it was announced that Giddens would be performing with Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue on the opening night (Friday, August 4th) of the Newport Jazz Festival at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. Gideens will also perform on Saturday, August 5th at Fort Adams State Park.
“New stars, new stars, new stars. That’s what the Newport Festivals are all about. Remember in just the last few years: Cécile McLorin Salvant and Jon Batiste. I have seen Rhiannon at the Folk Festival with Carolina Chocolate Drops, but when I saw her fronting her own band on ‘Austin City Limits’ on PBS this past October, I knew I wanted to have her at the Jazz Festival this year. I’m looking forward to her special brand of storytelling and watching her make more Newport memories. Rhiannon is already a star,” said George Wein, Festival producer and chairman of the Newport Festivals Foundation in a previous press release.
Giddens joins Norah Jones, Jon Batiste and Preservation Hall Jazz Band as the only bands to perform at both festivals during the same year..
While tickets are just about sold out for the Newport Folk Festival (only Friday remain), tickets for Newport Jazz Festival can be found at http://newportjazzfest.org/.
