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 […]
Newport Folk Festival
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What’sUpNewp Interview: Grammy winner Maren Morris, whose Dreamsicle tour begins today, talks about her Newport experience
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 […]
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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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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, […]
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Alisa Amador makes memorable Newport Folk Festival debut
Musician Alisa Amador made her Newport Folk Festival debut on Friday, July 26, expressing amazement at the sound quality and experience. It’s not Amador’s first time to Newport, she has performed multiple shows as part of the Newport Live series. “I was amazed by the quality of the sound. You know, outdoors with several stages, […]
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Folk Family celebrates return of Newport Folk Festival
It’s hard to find fans anywhere more passionate about music than Newport Folk Festival fans. On Thursday, July 25, a pair of events were organized by members of the “Newport Folk Festival Family,” a Facebook fan group that was started in 2009 and has since grown to over 5,000 members. The afternoon began with a […]
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“A Complete Unknown,” Bob Dylan biopic trailer released – Movie due out in December
Music fans rejoice! The first trailer from the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” dropped earlier today. The two-minute trailer features official footage of Timothée Chalamet, who plays the iconic singer-songwriter, on the Dylan classic “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall,” with accompanying clips of iconic New York City clubs and concert venues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcNNteP22gQ The […]
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City of Newport offers water safety tips ahead of Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals
With Newport’s Folk and Jazz Festivals just around the corner, City of Newport officials are offering safety tips and reminders for those planning to spend time on the water. Newport city officials are advising those planning to spend time on the water during the upcoming Folk and Jazz Festivals to wear a life jacket, headlamp, […]
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“Six Picks” Newport Folk Festival Edition – Don’t miss these sets at the annual festival this weekend
The Newport Folk Festival is back! Founded 65 years ago, the annual event begins on Friday, July 26, at Fort Adams State Park and runs through Sunday, July 28. With over 50 performances on the schedule, every fan has their favorite. Below are “Six Picks” for 2024 with an important reminder – you can’t go […]
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Illiterate Light returning to the Newport Folk Festival with a bicycle-powered stage
Illiterate Light—the duo of singer-guitarist Jeff Gorman and drummer Jake Cochran—is very excited to continue hosting The Bike Stage for the third year in a row at the Newport Folk Festival, which takes place July 26-28. The Bike Stage is a pop-up stage powered by bicycle and solar energy. You can read Gorman’s piece, A Very […]
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Newport adds bike lanes for the Newport Folk Festival
Update: July 20 at 11 am According to Bike Newport, “the City of Newport has postponed the installation of the Bike Lane on Spring Street that was included in yesterday’s Media Alert.The following updated alert removes references to the Spring Street bike lane”. Over the years, the number of people arriving to the Newport Folk Festival by […]
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What’s Up Interview: Billy Bragg, singer and activist, playing the Newport Folk Festival on July 27
English folk singer, songwriter, and activist Billy Bragg is no stranger to the Newport Folk Festival. He first played the annual gathering at Fort Adams State Park in 1993, returning most recently in 2017 as part of the “Speak Out” sessions, where he shared the stage with Jim James, Margo Price, and Nathaniel Rateliff. Bragg […]
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11th Hour Racing returns as Environmental Awareness Sponsor of Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals
Newport Festivals Foundation, producer of the Newport Folk and Newport Jazz Festivals, today announced that Newport-based 11th Hour Racing is returning as the Environmental Awareness Sponsor of the festivals for the third consecutive year, continuing its longstanding support for sustainability initiatives at these landmark events in Newport. According to Newport Festivals Foundation, the following initiatives will be supported […]
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Newport Folk Festival announces Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’ return to Newport
The Newport Folk Festival kicked off lineup announcements for its 2024 event on Friday, February 2, with the news that Gillian Welch and David Rawlings would return to Newport. Welch and Rawlings, who was born in North Smithfield, Rhode Island, are a Grammy Award-winning American folk duo known for their distinctive blend of traditional folk, […]
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The Mystique of Newport Folk
Music fans, it’s that time of year again. Newport Folk Festival tickets go on sale Thursday, February 1 at 1:00 PM. For those not in the know, the 10,000 or so tickets available daily will sell out in seconds even though no performer has yet to be announced for the festival. This has been the […]
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2024 Newport Folk Festival tickets go on sale on Feb. 1
Newport Festivals Foundation, producer of the Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival, today announced that tickets for the 2024 Newport Folk Festival will go on sale on Thursday, February 1, 2024. The Announcement This summer the Newport Folk Festival will return to Fort Adams State Park in Rhode Island to celebrate a major milestone – the […]
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Movie Preview: Joan Baez biopic ‘I am a Noise’ coming to Jane Pickens October 13-18
A new film about legendary folk singer Joan Baez tells her remarkable story, an intimate portrayal of her “public, private and secret life.” Joan Baez, I am a Noise, directed by Karen O’Connor, Miri Navasky, and Maeve O’Boyle, is playing at the Jane Pickens Film and Events Center October 13-16. Advance tickets are available here. […]
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2023 Newport Folk Festival Day 3 – Billy, Lana, Folk Family, and Muppets
The 2023 Newport Folk Festival wrapped up on Sunday, July 30th, fulfilling the newly revised mission of the Newport Festivals Foundation “to create moments of hope through the power of music and community.” Of course, the festival has always been about bringing folks together; that idea is in focus now more than ever. It played […]
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2023 Newport Folk Festival Day 2: Diverse lineup shines bright at Fort Adams
The second of three days at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival showcased what the annual event does best – exposing fans to world-class performances in a variety of genres with familiar and new artists. There was something for everyone. Highlights included traditional folk tales from “new to the festival” singer-songwriter Willi Carlisle and a set […]
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2023 Newport Folk Festival: James Taylor makes surprise appearance on Day 1
The 2023 Newport Folk Festival kicked off in grand style on Friday, July 28. Friends old and new performed at the sold-out festival, the start of two weekends of musical magic at Fort Adams State Park. No doubt it was hot, literally and figuratively! From headliners including My Morning Jacket, Maggie Rogers, and Nickel Creek […]
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What’s Up Interview: John Oates, playing Newport Folk Festival Satuday, July 29
John Oates has many stories to tell. The legendary singer-songwriter/guitarist, best known for his duo work with Daryl Hall, is also an accomplished solo artist who mines the roots of rock and roll. In a special set with fellow guitar great Guthrie Trapp, Oates is playing Newport Folk Saturday, July 29, at 3:45 on the […]
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‘Six Picks’ Special: Six not-to-be-missed artists at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival
The biggest challenge fans face at the Newport Folk Festival is deciding which bands to see especially when set times for three main stages and a pair of side stages overlap. The fact is, you just can’t get to every act. Still, with three days and over 50 carefully curated sets this weekend, attendees will […]
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‘Six Picks’ top Newport Folk Festival moments from the past decade
With the Newport Folk Festival arriving at Fort Adams State Park this weekend, we thought it would be a good time to look back at recent festival history. The past decade has seen numerous memorable performances; Jay Sweet and his team at NFF have made history year after year. Here are a few of our […]
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What’s Up Interview: Rising star Bella White, playing the Newport Folk Festival July 28
Playing the Newport Folk Festival is a lifelong dream for many musicians. Some wait decades for the opportunity to perform; others are fortunate to be invited to the prestigious festival early in their career. 22-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter Bella White, scheduled to appear at the festival on Friday, July 28, is one of those getting the […]
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What’s Up Interview: Dan Blakeslee, playing Newport Folk Sunday, July 30
If you’re a Newport Folk Festival regular, you’ve probably seen Dan Blakeslee on your way in or your way out of Fort Adams State Park. The Festival favorite and former Rhode Island resident is returning this year, kicking off the festivities on Sunday, July 30 from the Fort Stage, making it the first main stage […]
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2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup announcements
The Newport Folk Festival began its tradition of a rolling lineup announcement for its 2023 festival on February 2. The sold-out 2023 Newport Folk Festival will take place at Fort Adams State Park on Friday, July 28; Saturday, July 29; and Sunday, July 30. General admission tickets for the festival went on sale on Wednesday, February 1, […]
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Newport Folk Festival adds Eastern Medicine Singers with Yonatan Gat and Lee Ranaldo to its 2023 lineup
Newport Folk Festival kept the 2023 lineup announcements rolling today. “Please welcome Eastern Medicine Singers with Yonatan Gat and Lee Ranaldo to this summer’s lineup,” Newport Folk Festival shared on Facebook. According to the group’s Facebook Page, Eastern Medicine Singers is an eastern Algonquin language drum group preserving the language by song. For their Artist […]
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Angel Olsen to perform at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival
As part of their rolling lineup announcements, Newport Folk Festival today announced that Angel Olsen will perform at their 2023 festival. “We can’t wait to welcome Angel Olsen back to the Fort this summer,” Newport Folk Festival shared on Facebook. “For her Artist Give, Angel asked that Newport Festivals Foundation provide a grant to Girls […]
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Remi Wolf joins 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
Newport Folk Festival announced today that Remi Wolf will be joining their lineup this summer. As is Newport Folk tradition, the festival has been rolling out the lineup over the last several weeks. Wolf, an American singer and songwriter from California, will perform on Sunday, July 30. For her Artist Give, she asked Newport Festivals Foundation to provide a […]
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Indigo De Souza joins the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
As part of their ongoing lineup announcement, Newport Folk Festival today announced that Indigo De Souza has joined their lineup. Indigo De Souza, a singer-songwriter from Asheville, North Carolina, will perform on Saturday, July 29. Read Indigo De Souzas’ full bio here. For her Artist Give, Indigo asked Newport Festivals Foundation to make a grant […]
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Willi Carlisle will perform at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival
Newport Folk Festival kept their rolling lineup announcements going today with the news that Willi Carlisle will perform at Fort Adams State Park on Saturday, July 29, 2023. Willi Carlisle, an award-winning folksinger, writer, and theater artist from Northwest Arkansas, shares the following on his website as part of his bio; Willi Carlisle is a poet […]
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Noah Kahan added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
Newport Folk Festival continued their rolling lineup announcements today with the news that Noah Kahan will perform at their 2023 festival on Friday, July 28, 2023. “As Noah Kahan changes, he casts those experiences onto songs like light through a film projector. At the core of the music’s upbeat energy and unfiltered lyrics, you’ll hear […]
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The Harlem Gospel Travelers will perform at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival
Newport Folk Festival kept their 2023 lineup announcements going today with the news that The Harlem Gospel Travelers will join them at Fort Adams State Park on Sunday, July 30, 2023. At their request, Newport Festivals Foundation has made a grant to Entertainment Community Fund, a nonprofit that provides programs and services such as emergency […]
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Newport Folk Festival adds The Heavy Heavy to its 2023 lineup
The Newport Folk Festival continued their 2023 lineup announcements today with the news that The Heavy Heavy has joined their lineup and will perform at Fort Adams State Park on Friday, July 28, 2023. The Heavy Heavy Shore Fire Media, a PR firm that represents musicians, shares the following biography on The Heavy Heavy on […]
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Gregory Alan Isakov added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
Newport Folk Festival kept their rolling lineup announcements going today with the news that Gregory Alan Isakov will return to Newport to perform at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park. Gregory Alan Isakov, who will perform at Newport Folk Festival, on Sunday, July 30, 2023, is an American singer-songwriter who has […]
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Newport Folk adds Jaime Wyatt to 2023 lineup
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that Jaime Wyatt has been added to their 2023 lineup. Wyatt will perform at Fort Adams State Park on Saturday, July 29. Jaime Wyatt is a rising star in the country music scene, known for her distinctive voice and authentic storytelling. Born and raised in Southern California, Wyatt was […]
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The Earls of Leicester added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that The Earls of Leicester has been added to their 2023 lineup. The legendary bluegrass band will perform on Sunday, July 30. The Earls of Leicester is a bluegrass band that pays tribute to the music of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. The band was founded in 2013 by […]
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Goose to perform at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that Goose will return to Newport, performing at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival on Saturday, July 29. Goose is an American jam band hailing from Connecticut. The group was formed in 2006 and consists of members Peter Anspach on guitar and vocals, Rick Mitarotonda on guitar and vocals, Trevor […]
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Newport Folk Festival adds Alice Phoebe Lou to 2023 lineup
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that Alice Phoebe Lou will be heading to Fort Adams State Park to perform at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival. Alice will perform on Saturday, July 29, 2023. Alice Phoebe Lou is a singer-songwriter and musician from Cape Town, South Africa. She is known for her unique, soulful voice and […]
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Free Range added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that Free Range, the project of Chicago-based musician Sofia Jensen, will be heading to Fort Adams State Park to perform at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival. Free Range will perform on Friday, July 28, 2023. On their behalf, Newport Festivals Foundation has made a grant to Afrorack, an audio arts organization […]
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Maggie Rogers added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that Maggie Rogers will be returning to Fort Adams State Park to perform at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival. Rogers will perform on Friday, July 28, 2023. Maggie previously performed at the Newport Folk Festival in 2019. Maggie Rogers is an American singer-songwriter who first gained attention with her viral hit […]
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Newport Folk Festival adds Madison Cunningham to its 2023 lineup
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that Madison Cunningham has been added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup. Cunningham will perform at Fort Adams State Park on Sunday, July 30, 2023. Madison Cunningham is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who first gained recognition for her virtuosic guitar playing and introspective songwriting. Born in 1996 in Orange […]
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Aimee Mann has been added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that Aimee Mann has been added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup. Mann will perform at Fort Adams State Park on Saturday, July 29, 2023. Aimee Mann is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and bassist known for her distinctive voice and introspective, often melancholy lyrics. She was born in Richmond, Virginia […]
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Mdou Moctar to perform at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival
The Newport Folk Festival today announced that Mdou Moctar has been added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup. The Tuareg rock band from Agadez, Niger will perform on Friday, July 28, 2023, at Fort Adams State Park. More about the band from their website; Prodigious Tuareg guitarist and songwriter Mdou Moctar boldly reforges contemporary Saharan music […]
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Danielle Ponder will perform at 2023 Newport Folk Festival
Newport Folk Festival today announced that Danielle Ponder has joined its 2023 festival lineup. Ponder, who is making her return to Newport, is scheduled to perform at Fort Adams State Park on Saturday, July 29, 2023. More about Danielle Ponder from her bio on her website; Bravery can take many forms. For Danielle Ponder it […]
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Abraham Alexander added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
Newport Folk Festival today announced that Abraham Alexander has joined its 2023 festival lineup. Abraham is scheduled to perform at Fort Adams State Park on Sunday, July 30, 2023. Born in Greece to parents of Nigerian descent, Abraham Alexander moved to Texas with his family at age 11, determined to escape the racial tensions they […]
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Nanna added to the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
Newport Folk Festival today announced that Nanna has joined its 2023 festival lineup. Nanna is scheduled to perform at Fort Adams State Park on Saturday, July 29, 2023. Nanna Hilmarsdóttir is an Icelandic singer-songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist of the indie folk-pop band Of Monsters and Men. Born on May 6, […]
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Bartees Strange will perform at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival
Newport Folk Festival today announced that Bartees Strange has joined its 2023 festival lineup. Peck is scheduled to perform at Fort Adams State Park on Saturday, July 29, 2023. Bartees Strange is a rising musician and songwriter hailing from Mustang, Oklahoma, who has been making waves in the music industry with his unique blend of […]
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Newport Folk Festival named Music Festival of the Year at Pollstar Awards
The 34th Annual Pollstar Awards were held on Wednesday evening in Beverly Hills California, and Newport Folk Festival had a big night – once being named Music Festival of the Year. According to Pollstar, the Pollstar Awards, presented by Live Nation, is the only peer-voted live entertainment industry awards and the most relevant and coveted recognition […]
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Orville Peck will perform at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival
Newport Folk Festival today announced that Orville Peck has joined its 2023 festival lineup. Peck is scheduled to perform on Sunday, July 30. Orville Peck is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician, known for his distinctive style that blends classic country and western with dark, cinematic elements. He first gained attention in 2017 when he released […]
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The Backseat Lovers added to 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
Newport Folk Festival today announced that The Backseat Lovers will return to Newport for its 2023 festival, performing on Saturday, July 29. The Backseat Lovers is an indie rock band from Salt Lake City, Utah. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Joshua Harmon, drummer Juice Welch, bassist and backing vocalist Jonas Swanson, and […]
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Jupiter & Okwess joins the 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
Newport Folk Festival has just announced the inclusion of Jupiter & Okwess in its lineup for the 2023 festival, set to take place from July 28-30 at Fort Adams State Park. The festival’s organizers have also revealed that on behalf of the Congolese band, a donation has been made to the Guitars not Guns Music […]
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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 […]
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Jonathan Richman added to 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
The Newport Folk Festival continued its 2023 lineup announcements today, announcing that Jonathan Richman will perform at Fort Adams State Park on Sunday, July 30. Jonathan Richman is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist known for his minimalist, acoustic sound and quirky, often humorous lyrics. He first gained popularity as the frontman of the proto-punk […]
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Billy Strings is returning to Newport for Newport Folk Festival
The 2023 Newport Folk Festival is shaping up to be great, with today’s announcement that Billy Strings, the renowned bluegrass virtuoso, will be returning to Newport! Billy Strings, who is scheduled to perform on Sunday, July 30 at Fort Adams State Park, is an American bluegrass guitarist and singer who has been active in the […]
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The Beths added to 2023 Newport Folk Festival lineup
The Newport Folk Festival is back this summer and promises to be one of the year’s most exciting events. The festival today announced its latest addition to its 2023 lineup, and music fans are in for a treat with The Beths set to perform on Folk Friday. The Beths, the four-piece indie-pop band from New […]
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Newport Folk Festival kicks off lineup announcements; CAAMP is returning to Newport
The Newport Folk Festival today began its tradition of a rolling lineup announcement for its 2023 festival, which is scheduled to take place at Fort Adams State Park from July 28 – 30. CAAMP, the folk-indie band from Athens, Ohio, kicks off the 2023 Newport Folk Lineup. The band has played at the festival twice […]
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Tickets for the 2023 Newport Folk Festival go on sale on Feb. 1
Tickets for the 2023 Newport Folk Festival, which will return to Fort Adams State Park on July 28-30, will go on sale beginning Wednesday, February 1 at 1 pm via DICE. Full ticket pricing is listed below. Children under 10 are free with a maximum of 2 children attending per ticketed adult. Children 10 and over will need to purchase a […]
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Newport Folk Festival returns July 28 – 30; tickets go on sale to the general public on Feb. 1
The legendary Newport Folk Festival is set to return to Fort Adams State Park in Newport for its 64th anniversary this summer. The festival is scheduled to take place July 28-30, 2023, and once again promises to feature a diverse lineup of artists, as well as unique experiences that celebrate innovation while preserving the deep […]
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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 […]
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What’s it like to play the Newport Folk Festival? Meet 16-year-old banjo sensation Nora Brown
The 2022 Newport Folk Festival featured artists in genres from hip-hop to rock, punk to bluegrass. One young artist is among those focused on keeping the folk tradition alive. I spoke to teenage banjo extraordinaire Nora Brown who is turning 17 next week. Needless to say, she was excited to be returning to the festival […]
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Newport Folk 2022: A lot more than just the headliners
If you follow the Newport Folk Festival you’ve likely heard about the heat (it melted my sneakers), the Covid cancelations and last-minute changeups, and Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell (the rumors were actually true for once!). So highlighting those areas feels a little redundant to what we already know which is: Newport Folk is the […]
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2022 Newport Folk Festival Day 3: Joni Mitchell appears for historic set
In Saturday’s Newport Folk recap, I wondered how the Festival could outdo itself after welcoming music legend Paul Simon to the Fort Adams stage. There were rumors of a “big name” coming on the third day of the 2022 festival, but there are always rumors at Newport that fail to develop, so most festival-goers were […]
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2022 Newport Folk Festival: Surprise Appearance by Paul Simon – Day 2 Recap and Photos
Saturday, July 23 at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival was a day to be remembered. The festival was overdue for a big surprise performance, and Saturday’s appearance by Paul Simon certainly fit the bill. There were some hints earlier in the year when Nathaniel Rateliff announced the “American Tune Review,” as a planned festival set. […]
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Gibson Partners with Newport Festivals Foundation to honor Sister Rosetta Tharpe on the 55th Anniversary of her legendary Newport Folk Festival Performance
Gibson, the iconic American instrument brand, has partnered with Newport Festivals Foundation through its philanthropic arm Gibson Gives at this summer’s Newport Folk Festival to celebrate the music icon Sister Rosetta Tharpe and the 55th anniversary of her groundbreaking Newport Folk Festival performance on July 16, 1967. This Sunday, July 24 at 12:40 PM on the Newport Folk Festival Foundation Stage a special performance will feature acclaimed singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist Celisse performing classic Sister Rosetta Tharpe songs such as “Didn’t It Rain,” as […]
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Newport Folk Festival includes stage powered by bicycles
By PAT EATON-ROBB Associated Press NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) — The Newport Folk Festival, known for creating electrifying musical moments — the most famous being Bob Dylan’s decision to plug in his guitar in 1965 — this weekend has a small outer stage that is being powered in part by festival-goers on stationary bicycles. The Bike […]
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County campers enjoy waterfront music by Newport Festival Foundation musicians
By Boys & Girls Club of Newport County Newport Festival Foundation’s Director of Development, Dan Swain, likes to say that the Newport Folk Festival starts with a performance at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County’s Camp Grosvenor, and, this year, musicians Steve Cerilli and Bill Cote kicked it off at the camp’s waterfront […]
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2022 Newport Folk Festival: Day 1 Recap and Photos
If there was a theme to the first day of the 2022 Newport Folk Festival on Friday, July 22, it was variety and diversity. A wide range of sound was represented, including several genre-defying bands and artists. No doubt, the focus was simply all about great music. The festival was more or less back to […]
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Pete Seeger postage stamp unveiled in ceremony at Jane Pickens Theater
Longtime Newport Folk Festival board member, performer, and activist Pete Seeger was honored in a ceremony at the Jane Pickens Film and Events Center Thursday, July 21. Members of the Seeger family were present when a new “forever stamp” with Seeger’s likeness was unveiled by the United States Postal Service before a packed house. The […]
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Pete Seeger gets own stamp; ceremony planned at Newport Folk
NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) — Pete Seeger, the banjo-playing folk singer whose music was indelibly intertwined with his social activism, was honored Thursday as the latest American musician to appear on a U.S. postage stamp. The forever stamp, which features a color-tinted, black-and-white photograph taken in the early 1960s showing Seeger in profile singing and playing […]
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What’s Up Interview: Maeve Gilchrist of Silkroad Ensemble, playing Newport Folk and Indian Ranch
One of the more innovative acts playing the Newport Folk Festival this weekend could have easily been booked for the Newport Jazz Festival … or even the Newport Classical Music Festival. When it comes to genre, the Silkroad Ensemble, led by Artistic Director and NFF veteran Rhiannon Giddens, is impossible to pin down. The group […]
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DEM: Access to Fort Adams State Park will be limited July 22 – 31 to ensure the smooth running of Newport Folk & Jazz Festival
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced today that it will temporarily restrict access to parts of Fort Adams State Park in Newport to ensure the smooth running of the upcoming Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival. The restrictions, which will be in effect July 22-31, will affect shore access to recreational and […]
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‘Six Picks’ Newport Folk: ‘Not to be missed’ sets at this weekend’s Newport Folk Festival
With over 50 acts scheduled to perform at this weekend’s Newport Folk Festival, it’s close to impossible to pick just six favorites, but we’ll give it a go. The historic festival begins Friday, July 22, and runs through Sunday, July 24 at Fort Adams State Park. We’ll have complete coverage on WhatsUpNewp including daily recaps […]
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What’s Up Interview: Ballroom Thieves, releasing new album and playing the Newport Folk Festival
It’s no secret that the pandemic almost destroyed the music touring industry. Understandably, some bands gave up during the two-year slowdown, while others hunkered down and made the best of a bad situation. Maine-based Ballroom Thieves were one of those bands who were down, but not out, managing to put together a new album which […]
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What’s Up Interview: Legendary Singer Judy Collins, coming to Jane Pickens for two shows August 19-20
What do you ask a folk music icon who inspired one of the greatest love songs of all time? That was the challenge as I prepared for a phone call with singer-songwriter Judy Collins recently. I decided to keep it simple … my first question, “Do you prefer Judy or Ms. Collins?” was enough to […]
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Newport Folk & Jazz Festival teams with 11th Hour Racing on sustainability initiatives
11th Hour Racing today announced its new role as the Environmental Awareness Sponsor of the Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals. “Widely considered two of the most treasured cultural institutions in American history, for over 60 years, the Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals have shown that music can positively impact the communities and lives it touches,” […]
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Newport Folk to host official aftershow benefit concerts at The JPT, Newport Blues Cafe
Now that they’ve finished announcing the lineup for its sold-out festival at Fort Adams July 22 – 24, Newport Folk Festival has moved on to announce aftershow benefits and events. For Pete’s Sake Newport Folk Festival on June 14 announced, in partnership with the United States Postal Service (USPS), that they will hos “For Pete’s […]
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2022 Newport Folk Festival Lineup Announcement
In traditional fashion, the sold-out Newport Folk Festival has begun announcing its lineup in a rolling fashion. Composer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and multi-GRAMMY winner, Taj Mahal, was the first artist to be announced to the 2022 Newport Folk Festival lineup on February 3, just a day after the event sold-out within minutes. The sold-out 2022 Newport […]
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Newport Festivals Foundation offering free afterschool music program to Aquidneck Island high school students
Registration is now open for the Newport Festivals Workshops Program, a free, virtual afterschool music program created by Newport Festivals Foundation, which produces the Newport Folk and Newport Jazz Festivals. According to a press release from Newport Festivals Foundation, the workshops will be taught by professional musicians and music industry professionals about Songwriting, Audio Engineering, Music Industry […]