Maren Morris, renowned American singer-songwriter who won a Grammy in 2017 for Best Country Solo Performance, electrified the Newport Folk Festival stages this past weekend. Morris spoke with What’sUpNewp before her Sunday set on the Quad Stage. Having played Newport Folk in the past, Morris shared how this year was different. “It was the most […]
Newport Folk Festival
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Newport Folk Festival showcases student talent through growing Music Lab program
The Newport Festivals Music Lab showcased its second year of growth during performances at the Newport Folk Festival, with high school students taking the stage alongside established artists, Langhorne Slim and Nathaniel Rateliff. The program, a partnership between Newport Festivals Foundation and the MET East Bay High School, provides local students the opportunity to learn […]
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SNACKTIME serves up brassy joy at Boston Calling 2025
Philadelphia’s own SNACKTIME brought the sunshine—literally and figuratively—during their high-octane opening set on Day 3 of Boston Calling 2025. As the first band to hit the massive rotating main stage Sunday morning, the brass-fueled collective shook off any lingering festival fatigue with a jolt of funk, soul, and swagger that had the crowd dancing from the first […]
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This Day in History: May 24, 1941 – Bob Dylan is born
OK, we know, he’s not a native Rhode Islander, but perhaps his greatest moment as a musician came in Newport in 1965. Singer-songwriter, “song and dance man” Bob Dylan was born Robert Zimmerman on this day in 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota. Dylan moved to New York City in 1961 and the rest is history. He […]
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What’s Up Interview: Legendary singer-songwriter Janis Ian, on new film ‘Breaking Silence’
Singer-Songwriter Janis Ian helped pave the way for modern songwriters. Where would today’s confessional singers be without ballads like “At Seventeen,” not to mention the groundbreaking classic “Society’s Child?” A compelling new documentary, Janis Ian: Breaking Silence, directed by Varda Bar-Kar, opens at the Jane Pickens Film and Event Center on April 3. The film […]
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Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown has enormous resonance – but doesn’t break with gender stereotypes
Lisa French, RMIT University In 1961, aged 19, Bob Dylan left home in Minnesota for New York City and never looked back. Unknown when he arrived, he would later be widely described as the voice of a generation. A Complete Unknown follows Dylan’s transformation from his arrival in 1961 to when he was booed at […]
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What’s Up Interview: Sharon Van Etten, playing Westerly’s United Theatre Saturday, February 1
You may not have noticed, but Newport Folk Festival three-time performer Sharon Van Etten and her band The Attachment Theory have been hanging out in Westerly all week, preparing for their winter tour, which begins Saturday at the United Theatre. Tickets are available here. Known for her indie-rock vibe, Van Etten began her career as […]
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Tickets for 2025 Newport Folk Festival go on sale on Feb. 5
The iconic Newport Folk Festival is returning to Fort Adams State Park this summer. Set for July 25-27, 2025, the three-day event marks its 66th year. Music fans can snag their tickets starting at 1 pm on February 5. Good news for regular attendees – ticket prices haven’t changed. A three-day pass will set you […]
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Flashback: Meet fans who were there when Bob Dylan went electric at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival
With the film “A Complete Unknown” creating a lot of interest in Bob Dylan and the Newport Folk Festival where he made history in 1965, we thought it was time to hear from some local experts. We spoke to several music fans who were there on that fateful day 60 years ago when one of […]
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Movie Review: New Bob Dylan biopic ‘A Complete Unknown’ is a complete hit
“People make up their past, they remember what they want, they forget the rest.” So says Timothée Chalamet, who plays Bob Dylan in the brilliant new film, A Complete Unknown, in a tense confrontation with Elle Fanning, who plays Sylvie Russo, a character based on Dylan’s on-and-off NYC girlfriend Suze Rotolo, as she prods him […]
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What’s Up Interview: Ocie Elliott, Canadian duo on playing the Newport Folk Festival
By Ken Abrams and Anna Lofgren The 2024 Newport Folk Festival is fondly remembered for headliners like Joan Baez, Conan O’Brien, and Gillian Welch. But as always, first-time artists serve to steer the historic festival in new directions, keeping things fresh while honoring the folk tradition. One of the standout acts at the July festival […]
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Judy Collins coming to Jane Pickens August 15-16 – We revisit our 2022 interview with legendary singer-songwriter
Note: This interview was originally published in July 2022. It has been updated. Click here for tickets to see Judy Collins at Jane Pickens Film and Event Center. So what do you ask a folk music icon who inspired one of the greatest love songs of all time? That was my challenge recently as I […]
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Bike Newport founder highlights growth in Newport Folk & Jazz Festival cycling
Bike Newport is experiencing a steady flow of cyclists at the Newport Jazz Festival, with 350 bikes counted on Friday, according to Bari Freeman, Executive Director and Founder of the organization. While the numbers are lower compared to the Newport Folk Festival held last week, which saw up to 1,800 bikes per day, Freeman says […]
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New protected Bike Lane improves safety during Newport Folk Festival
A new protected bike lane on Harrison Avenue significantly improved safety for cyclists attending the Newport Folk Festival, with organizers considering making it a permanent feature for future events. The dedicated two-way bike lane, implemented through collaboration between Bike Newport and local police, addressed safety concerns on a steep section of the road where cyclists […]
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Newport Jazz Festival opens doors to Newport’s youth
The Newport Jazz Festival is expanding its student outreach program, offering free tickets to Rogers High School seniors for the second consecutive year. Dan Swain, Director of Development and Programs for Newport Festivals Foundation, says the initiative aims to cultivate lifelong jazz fans among the younger generation. “We started last year offering any senior student […]
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Newport Folk & Jazz Festival’s Family Tent evolves with local nonprofit partnerships
The Newport Festivals Foundation is enhancing the family experience at its Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals with a revamped Family Tent featuring local nonprofits and hands-on activities for children. Dan Swain, Director of Development and Programs for the Newport Festivals Foundation, says the idea for the new format emerged about two or three years ago […]
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Legendary folk hero Joan Baez made several stops in Newport recently
Joan Baez made several appearances in Newport as of late. The folk icon touched down among familiar ground at the Newport Folk Festival over the weekend, starting out with a lowkey poetry reading of her newly released debut poetry book, When You See My Mother, Ask Her to Dance, which had released this past April. […]
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What’s Up Interview: Folk Festival artists Steve Poltz and John Craigie reflect on their Newport Folk Festival experience
John Craigie is an L.A.-born singer-songwriter who infuses comedic storytelling into his performances. He’s been compared to Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, and he has collaborated with artists like Jack Johnson, Gregory Alan Isakov, and the Shook Twins. Seattle Newspaper The Stranger has called Craigie “…the lovechild of John Prine and Mitch Hedberg with a […]
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From Bike Stage to Harbor Stage: Palmyra’s Newport Folk Festival journey
Palmyra, a folk band, performed at the Newport Folk Festival on Sunday, marking their third appearance at the event. The trio has played approximately 150 shows and recorded a new album in the past year. “We’ve been keeping busy, for sure,” said one of the band members during an interview with What’sUpNewp on Saturday. After […]
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Stage Hopping at Newport Folk
I spent three wonderful days at the 65th Annual Newport Folk Festival and here’s what went down. Day 1 William Prince opened the festival at The Harbor Stage. His voice is so rich and calming that it lowers my blood pressure. He sang “Goldie Hawn”, a gorgeous tune for his fiancée, and He also gave […]
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Newport Folk Festival 2024: Conan and Friends wrap up 65th annual event – Day 3 recap and photos
The 2024 Newport Folk Festival is in the books, and oh, what a time it was. The 65th anniversary of the historic festival closed out on Sunday, July 28, with an all-star set led by musician, podcaster, and former late-night host Conan O’Brien. Sprinkling in a bit of comedy as a light rain fell in […]
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Rising Folk trio Oliver Hazard talks about Newport experience
Oliver Hazard, a band from Waterville, Ohio, made their Newport Folk Festival debut on Jul. 27, 2024, opening the day’s performances. The trio, consisting of Michael Belazis, Devin East, and Nate Miner, expressed their surprise and gratitude for the reception at the festival. “It was amazing. We didn’t expect many people to come,” one of […]
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Newport Folk Festival 2024: Diverse lineup plays Fort Adams – Day 2 recap and highlights
Day two of the 2024 Newport Folk Festival reflected the level of diversity on stage that this festival has achieved. Where else can you experience a poetry reading from Joan Baez, a gospel-inspired hip-hop set from Killer Mike, a spot on Grateful Dead tribute band in drag (Bertha), and a masked gay cowboy (Orville Peck) […]
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From Baton Rouge to Newport: Britti’s Folk Festival journey
New Orleans-based singer Britti is making her debut at the Newport Folk Festival, performing on a bicycle-powered stage. The artist, originally from Baton Rouge, is set to showcase her unique blend of musical styles on a stage where audience members pedal bicycles to generate power for the amplifiers. “I feel like I’m in a dream,” […]
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Newport Folk Festival 2024: High energy at Fort Adams – Day 1 recap and photos
65 years since it was established by the late George Wein, the Newport Folk Festival still knows how to “rumble.” The festival got off to a great start Friday, July 26, with beautiful weather and a diverse line up of new and established stars in folk music and beyond. The Fort Stage opener, Medicine Singers, […]