After taking a couple of years off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Newport Winter Festival returns for its 35th edition from February 17-26, 2023. Dave Rosenberg, organizer of the Newport Winter Festival, will join What’sUpNewp for a WUN-ON-ONE conversation at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. During our discussion, Dave will chat with […]
People & Profiles
Posted inPeople & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Jay Sweet and Dan Swain, Newport Festivals Foundation
Jay Sweet and Dan Swain, the Executive Director and Development Director of Newport Festivals Foundation, joined What’sUpNewp today for a conversation about the Foundation, the Newport Folk Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, and more. You can listen to our conversation here, or watch and listen below. More About The Newport Festivals Foundation Newport Festivals Foundation is […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
What’s Up Interview: Andrew Marlin of Watchhouse – duo coming to United Theatre in Westerly March 2
Roots/folk music fans should be looking west these days, at least as far as Westerly, RI. First up, keep an eye out for Watchhouse, coming to the United Theatre on March 2. (We’ll have previews of other shows scheduled there soon too!) The band consists of husband-wife team Andrew Marlin (vocals, mandolin, guitar, banjo) and […]
Posted inSports
AP Interview: Moltzan catching up to US teammate Shiffrin
By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer MERIBEL, France (AP) — When Paula Moltzan finished second behind Mikaela Shiffrin for the U.S. ski team’s first 1-2 finish in a women’s World Cup slalom in more than half a century, it was easy to assume that her more successful teammate was her main inspiration. Actually, it’s another American skier who Moltzan […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with G. Wayne Miller, Ocean State Stories
G. Wayne Miller, an award-winning journalist who recently retired from The Providence Journal after 41 years, joined What’sUpNewp on Tuesday, February 7 at 1 pm for a live virtual video conversation, where he shared a glimpse into his next journalistic project. Miller, the author of 20 books and a host on the Pell Center’s “Story […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up Interview: RI’s The Benji’s to release new album ‘Kitty Pills’ on February 14
A band that’s been percolating on the local scene over the past several years is especially excited to be releasing their new EP later this month. The Benji’s, who first played together in LA in 2014 and were Motif Magazine’s “Favorite Breakthrough Rock Act” in 2019, will release Kitty Pills, on February 14. I learned […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong
What’s the latest with the Pell Bridge Ramps project? Is school regionalization between Newport and Middletown still being discussed? What are members of Newport City Council focusing on and what can we expect to change in 2023? Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong joined What’sUpNewp this afternoon to answer those questions and discuss much more. Listen or […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles, Sports
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Brad Read, Sail Newport and The Ocean Race Newport Stopover
The Ocean Race fleet is expected to arrive in Newport on or around May 10-12, 2023, following an approximately 17-day trek from Itajai, Brazil. Before reaching the shores of the United States, the sailors will have completed 28,650 nautical miles, which is approximately 89% of the global race, which began on January 15, 2023. The […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up Interview: Meet Chris Swan, playing Daddy Warbucks in PPAC’s ‘Annie’
You could call Chris Swan a road warrior. Since 2014, he’s been traveling the road in one Broadway production or another. “The first was ‘A Christmas Story,’ where I played The Old Man,” said Swan recently. “That was the big one that got me into touring.” Next week, Swan comes to the Providence Performing Arts […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Evan Smith, President & CEO of Discover Newport
Update: Feb. 14 – This interview is being rescheduled at Smith’s request. We’ll update this story when a new time has been agreed upon. What’s ahead for travel and tourism in 2023? Just how bad or good was 2022 for the tourism industry? Evan Smith, President & CEO of Discover Newport, will join What’sUpNewp for […]
Posted inCity & Government
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
With construction underway at Rogers High School, regionalization with Middletown in limbo, and growing concerns in schools across the country about behavioral health issues – What’sUpNewp welcomes back Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain for her regular WUN videocast at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. We took a break over the holidays, but […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Podcast: A conversation with University of Rhode Island Economist Len Lardaro
University of Rhode Island Economist Len Lardaro, author of a monthly Rhode Island economic index, believes there is a 60 percent chance of what he calls a “vanilla” recession in 2023 and 70 percent in 2024. In this interview, he touches on immigration and its impact on employment, the economic importance of affordable housing, and […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Podcast: A conversation with former URI President Robert L. Carothers
Robert L. Carothers came to the University of Rhode Island, in the worst of times, and when he left 18 years later, URI and the state of Rhode Island were much better for his having been there. We catch up with Bob Carothers, as he now contemplates a second retirement, this one from College Unbound, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Ticket Giveaway: We interview Chris Spedding, coming to Newport’s Casino Theater Friday, January 20
A rock and roll mainstay will be headlining a rare live show at the Casino Theater in Newport on Friday, January 20. Guitarist Chris Spedding, best known for his studio work supporting just about every major artist to pass through the UK music scene since the late 1960s, will lead a trio of equally talented […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up Interview: Kara McKee, awarded Passim Iguana Award, to record first album
A year and a half ago, Kara McKee quit her job in the corporate world to chase down her dream of being a full-time musician. After years of gigging at small clubs around New England, the daughter of RI Governor Dan McKee finally received some national attention when she appeared on NBC’s The Voice last […]
Posted inCity & Government, News, People & Profiles
Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong joins What’sUpNewp for a live conversation on Dec. 28
Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Wednesday, December 28 at 2 pm. Over thirty minutes, What’sUpNewp’s Ryan Belmore chats with the Mayor about the Mayor’s first month on the job, what solutions he has for the Pell Bridge ramps construction project, what he sees as the latest with […]
Posted inCity & Government
The AP Interview: Vermont Sen. Leahy ponders his legacy
By WILSON RING Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Patrick Leahy lingered on a narrow balcony on the west side of the U.S. Capitol, soaking in a panoramic view of the National Mall, the Washington Monument and, beyond, the Lincoln Memorial. “Now this I will miss,” he said. As Leahy closes out a Senate career […]
Posted inArts & Culture, People & Profiles, Things To Do
What’s Up Interview: Jazz Guitarist John Pizzarelli playing Jane Pickens on Dec. 16
John Pizzarelli will forever be associated with “The Wonder of it All,” that unforgettable jingle from the Foxwoods ad that ran on TV and radio heavily in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. Of course, the Grammy Award-winning guitarist’s career has been about a lot more. He’s most recognized as a leading interpreter of songs […]
Posted inCity & Government
Ethics in Rhode Island? Common Cause executive director, joins WUN for a live conversation on Thursday
Since its founding in Rhode Island more than 50 years ago, Common Cause Rhode Island has consistently been at the forefront of ethics reform, serving as a significant watchdog over local and state government in Rhode Island. John Marion, Common Cause executive director, joins WUN for a 4 p.m. videocast on Thursday, December 8. We’ll […]
Posted inThings To Do
What’s Up Interview: Dave Sarazen of Laden Valley, playing Top of Pelham on Dec. 8
This is one of those “see them now, before they blow up” moments… happening Thursday, December 8 when Laden Valley, an up-and-coming Newport band plays a hometown gig at Top of Pelham. They’re even bringing an internationally known star along for the show. Fellow Newporter Elizabeth Beisel, best known as a medalist in Olympic swimming, […]
Posted inArts & Culture, People & Profiles, Things To Do
What’s Up Interview: Legendary rapper Kurtis Blow, appearing at PPAC Dec. 7 in ‘Hip Hop Nutcracker’
Going to see Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” during the holiday season is a time-honored tradition for many families. Over the past few years, a troupe of singers, dancers, and musicians have put a twist on the tradition in the award-winning production “Hip Hop Nutcracker.” Originally staged ten years ago, the show has grown in popularity and […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport School Superintendent Jermain joins WUN for a conversation on Wednesday
For Colleen Burns Jermain, Newport’s School Superintendent, it has been a challenging time — from the failed regionalization vote to revelations of expected substantial cost overruns for the Rogers High School construction project. Colleen joins WhatsUpNewp at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday) for her monthly live virtual video conversation with us. Is regionalization dead? Or does […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up Interview: Marie Osmond, performing with RI Philharmonic at the Providence Performing Arts Center Dec. 22
With almost six decades in the entertainment industry behind her, you might expect Marie Osmond to be slowing down a bit. Definitely not the case. In an interview earlier this week, I found the multi-talented entertainer a juggernaut, going strong at age 63, moving forward, and loving life. I caught up with Osmond as she […]
Posted inCity & Government
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Xay Khamsyvoravong, Newport’s next Mayor
Xaykham Rexford Khamsyvoravong, “Xay” (pronounced “Sigh”) for short, joined What’sUpNewp for a one-on-one live virtual video conversation on Friday. Xay was the top vote-getter for Newport City Council At-Large in last week’s election and was chosen among Newport City Council-elect earlier this week to serve as the Chair/Mayor beginning in December. During the 40-minute conversation, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up Interview: Craig O’Keefe of ‘The Sixties Show,’ coming to Jane Pickens November 20
Put on your tie-dye t-shirts, hop in your VW van and plan on heading on down to the Jane Pickens Film and Events Center on November 20. The Sixties Show is coming to town. The Sixties Show is a multimedia theatrical production built around classic songs from the decade that changed everything. The performance features […]