Arts & Culture

More Than 24,000 Jazz Lovers Turned Out For The 2016 Newport Jazz Festival More than 24,600 Jazz lovers – including a sold out audience on Saturday – turned out at Fort Adams State Park and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino July 29 – 31 for the 2016 Newport Jazz Festival® […]

The 62nd Newport Jazz Festival came to a close on Sunday with Angelique Kidjo bringing high energy and beautiful tunes to the North Lawn at Fort Adams State Park. Here’s a look back at day #3 of the iconic music festival;

The R.I. Music Educators Association Sr. All-State Jazz Ensemble opened up the sold-out and beautiful Saturday of the 2016 Newport Jazz Festival. The day wrapped up with a wonderful performance on the Fort Stage by Gregory Porter. Here’s a look at the moments and memories that we captured on day #2 of the Newport Jazz […]

The solo piano setting, the most intimate and intimidating format in jazz, demands a mastery of rhythm, melody, harmony, dynamics and orchestration, with nowhere to hide. And when you are called to play solo piano on a festival stage – especially one as significant at the Newport Jazz Festival – your ability to capture, hold […]

The first day of the 62nd Newport Jazz Festival started with (plenty of) rain and (plenty of) great jazz music from emerging musicians and artists. Berklee Global Jazz Institue Workshop Band opened up the festival under heavy rain on Friday around 11 a.m., but by the time they wrapped up their set and Peter Apfelbaum’s […]

Collin Van Pelt and Katrina Fortier, two free spirited music loving singers, make up the local duo that is known as AnamCara. AnamCara is their take on the Celtic spiritual belief of Anam Cara or “soul friend”. Anam Cara , is “a person to whom you look as the person to share, confess and reveal the […]

In case somehow you missed it, Kris Krisofferson returned to Newport for the first time since 1969 over this past weekend to surprise the Newport Folk Festival audience on the Museum Stage on Friday and on the Quad Stage on Saturday. While Fridays performance was more intimate and emotional, as he followed a performance by […]

Newport Jazz Festival Tickets for Friday and Sunday at Fort Adams Still Available While Supplies Last Tickets are still available for Friday and Sunday concerts for the Newport Jazz Festival® at Fort Adams State Park and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino. On July 29, don’t miss Friday at the Fort, made possible […]

With Alabama Shakes closing day #3 ,the 2016 Newport Folk Festival is now history. Here’s a look back at some of our favorite photos and memories from day #3, photos on day #3 by Patrick Murphy. Follow him on Instagram at  @thekingslens. What’sUpNewp’s 2016 Newport Folk Festival Coverage is brought to you by Midtown Oyster Bar […]

Phil Cook is a master collaborator, a martyr, a humanitarian, a philanthropist, a philosopher, a musician, and a father. He is one of the few people I have met that is as if not more interesting as he looks on paper. Initially, I was going to try and inscribe my and Ryan’s interview with Cook we both […]

After three beautiful and epci days, the 2016 Newport Folk Festival came to a close with Alabama Shakes wrapping up the weekend. If you were at Day #3 of the Newport Folk Festival, here’s who and what you heard. SUNDAY FOLK QUAD RIVER WHYLESS The Hunt Bath Salts Life Crisis Widows Walk Baby Brother All Day […]

This has been quite the calendar year for Matthew Logan Vasquez, former member of Delta Spirit, and member of Middle Brother since 2010. In November of 2015, Matthew released his first ever solo EP, The Austin EP, shortly followed by his second release in February of 2016. A full length LP, called Solicitor Returns, representative of his […]

The Suffers are from Austin, Texas and this ten piece band is not something to mess with. Their style of music is eclectic, a combination between Rock & Roll, Latin and a lot of Soul. Their integration of horn instruments imposes a relaxed island feeling. I quickly found myself Salsa dancing to the Official Newport Folk […]

Day #2 of the 2016 Newport Folk Festival got underway today at Fort Adams State Park with Cactus Blossoms opening the day and Patti Smith closing out the day around 7:30 pm. What’sUpNewp’s 2016 Newport Folk Festival Coverage is brought to you by Midtown Oyster Bar What’sUpNewp’s 2016 Newport Folk Festival Coverage is brought to you by Midtown […]

If you were at Day #2 of the Newport Folk Festival, here’s who and what you heard. SATURDAY FOLK HARBOR CACTUS BLOSSOMS Tennessee Border A Sad Day To Be You If I Can’t You’re Dreamng Mississippi Change Your Ways Or Die No More Crying The Blues Stoplight Kisses Powder Blue Queen Who’ll Be Next Goodbye Jack […]

If you were at Day #1 of the Newport Folk Festival, here’s who and what you heard. HARBOR STAGE JP Harris California Turnarounds Badly Bent Two for the Road Amarillo South Oklahoma Home Is Where the Heart Is Maria Hard Road When I Quit Drinking Gear Jammin Daddy Shelly Colvin Guest – vox Mark Sloan-guitar […]

Discover the best entertainment, comedy and live music happening around Newport, RI this weekend. If you find value in these listings, please consider supporting the venues in bold. These are the businesses who make what we do on a daily basis possible! Newport, RI Live Music & Entertainment Listings This information was provided to us […]

The 2016 Newport Folk Festival is set to take place this weekend out at Fort Adams State Park. From site map to schedules and what to bring to the Festival, Newport Folk Festival has it all laid out for you in this year’s Official Folk Handbook. Be sure to read it over before hitting the […]

The 2016 Newport Folk Festival got underway today at Fort Adams State Park with JP Harris opening the day and Flight Of The Conchords closing out the day around 7:30 pm. What’sUpNewp’s 2016 Newport Folk Festival Coverage is brought to you by Midtown Oyster Bar What’sUpNewp’s 2016 Newport Folk Festival Coverage is brought to you by […]

Forty seven years ago at the 10th Annual Newport Folk Festival, the crowd at Festival Field in Newport was entertained by Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Johnny Cash, James Taylor and many others. While James Taylor’s set would be cut short by George Wein because a man named Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, there was […]

Last week, when I talked with Jay Sweet he said to me, “Raury … is something we haven’t really done in the past, I am pretty excited about that.” I was excited, too, but did not get my hopes up. I knew that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to get any face time with Raury during […]

The Newport Festivals Foundation Inc. announced today that it has received a $30,000 grant from the Rhode Island Foundation to stage a third day of music featuring emerging artists and future icons at the historic Newport Jazz Festival on Friday, July 29, at Fort Adams State Park. After a two-decade hiatus, it is the third […]

Lorri Shankar will present A Retro Country Experience  at Jane Pickens Theater during Newport BridgeFest on Tuesday, July 26th. Among those performing at this show will be Mack Johnson, Joann Svendsen and Ragtime Jack Radcliffe. ‘Ragtime’ Jack Radcliffe has been performing for more than 45 years. He is a master of traditional country blues and stride […]

For the sixth consecutive year, Deer Tick will host official Newport Folk Festival after parties in Newport at the Newport Blues Cafe. The sold-out shows are scheduled for July 22nd, 23rd and 24th. Deer Tick announced who would be joining them on stage on their Facebook page, be prepared for some surprises. Check out the […]

When you hear the name Tom Perrotti you probably often think about the great work he does with Common Fence Music, you should also think or know of him as a great musician, interesting man and an asset to our community. We caught up with the man that we’ve been a fan of for many […]

Pianist Lois Vaughan has been performing professionally in Southeastern New England for almost 30 years. Her repertoire is broad – encompassing jazz, Latin & standards, classical music, and music for dancing (includes swing, classic rock, disco, reggae & Motown). She plays solo piano, and works with ensembles from duos to six and eight-piece bands. Louis […]

When you start naming off great musicians who call Newport home and play regularly in Newport, it won’t take you long before you have to mention Dick Lupino. Dick Lupino, bassist and vocalist, is a graduate of the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Over the past 30 years his professional experience has […]

Newport Festivals Foundation will continue the tradition of Newport Bridgefest in 2016, over the four days the festival will aim to celebrate folk, jazz, and the musical heritage of Newport. Newport BridgeFest was founded in 2009 by the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County to “bridge” the days between the Newport Folk and Jazz […]

With the 2016 Newport Folk Festival just days away, there’s plenty to be excited about – amazing artists are scheduled to perform, the long-range weather forecast is calling for warm and dry conditions and well…just about everything about the three-day weekend has us excited. Rhode Island PBS has appropriately scheduled The Newport Effect, a feature length […]

The following information was provided by Sarah Fleisher with Cornerstone Agency. Converse Inc. has announced the three local artists chosen to participate in the second annual “Converse Rubber Tracks x Newport Folk Festival Recording Week.” This special weeklong residency offers three aspiring artists the opportunity to record for free at the state-of-the-art Converse Rubber Tracks recording studio […]

The official companion app for the 2016 Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management goes live today. The mobile app includes performance schedules, customizable schedule, artist profiles and a festival map. To download the app to your mobile device, go to: To download and print daily schedules with set times and stages, go […]

The 2016 Newport Folk Festival is right around the corner and there are more events and after parties scheduled than ever before! The What’sUpNewp Crew has put together a list of all the official events (schedule of unofficial folk events to come) to keep your folkin’ weekend in official order, enjoy! We considered anything “official” […]

With just two weeks until the  Newport Folk Festival, organizers of the sold-out event have updated their smartphone apps, released the ‘Official Folk Handbook’ and have released their 2016 lineup schedule. Official Folk Handbook From site map to schedules and what to bring to the Festival, Newport Folk Festival has it all laid out for […]

Discover the best entertainment, comedy and live music happening around Newport, RI this weekend. If you’re looking for events and other activities that are happening this weekend, check out – What To Do This Weekend In and Around Newport (July 8 – 10). If you find value in these listings, please consider supporting the venues in […]

Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. announces the schedule for Bridgefest™ 2016, which features concerts and entertainment events presented by  area artists, clubs, restaurants, theaters, museums and other organizations.   The annual celebration of Newport’s rich musical heritage, including folk and jazz music, takes place July 25-28, bridging the gap between the iconic Newport Folk Festival™ and Newport […]

This story was originally published on March 21, 2016. With their 19th Annual IYRS Summer Gala just around the corner, IYRS is buzzing with excitement, and they are all-hands-on-deck to make this their finest, most successful Gala yet! The 2016 IYRS Summer Gala is scheduled for July 9th in the IYRS parking lot and will […]

“The contribution of jazz musicians of Caribbean lineage is as old as jazz itself. The difference with the current generation is their perhaps more overtly prideful embrace of elements of their native culture in their expressions of jazz, reflecting the more ecumenical nature of the 21st Century approach to the genre.” Willard Jenkins, New Music […]

Discover the best entertainment, comedy and live music happening around Newport, RI this weekend. If you find value in these listings, please consider supporting the venues in bold. These are the businesses who make what we do on a daily basis possible! Newport, RI Live Music & Entertainment Listings This information was provided to us […]