The Newport Folk today announced the on-sale date for tickets for the 2022 Festival, scheduled for July 22-24. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, February 2 at 11AM. In past years, Folk Festival tickets have sold out in minutes, so patrons are advised to purchase tickets immediately when they are available. Check the full text […]
Newport Folk Festival
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Newport Folk Festival releases ‘2021 Thank You Video’
In an email to fans today, Newport Folk Festival released their annual Thank You Video. “We are excited to share details about our 2022 on sale early in the new year, including our new ticketing partner. We cannot wait to see you back at the Fort on July 22-24. Before we officially turn the page […]
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What’s Up Interview: Natalie Hemby, 2021 Newport Folk artist releases new album
As live music fans continue to process the past 18 months, we’re looking back on concert highlights from this past summer. The Newport Folk Festival’s “Folk On” experience was a whirlwind, full of over-the-top moments, including a triumphant set from first-time artist, Natalie Hemby. She just put out a new album on October 8th, Pins […]
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Newport Festivals co-founder George Wein dies at age 95
A spokesperson from the Newport Festivals Foundation provided the following press release this afternoon: Impresario, promoter, pianist, art collector and philanthropist George T. Wein, co-founder and creator of the Newport Jazz Festival® and the Newport Folk Festival®, who for seven decades, was the most influential presenter of music around the globe, died peacefully in his […]
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Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals announce 2022 dates
Time to plan ahead. Newport Folk and Jazz Festival organizers today announced the dates for the 2022 events. The Folk Festival will be held at Fort Adams State Park July 22-24, 2022, and the Jazz Festival is scheduled for July 29-31, 2022. With the expectation of full capacity events next summer, it’s notable the Folk […]
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Newport Folk “First-Timers” – We speak with Ida Mae and Elijah Wolf
Playing the Newport Folk Festival can be a career-defining moment for any artist. Some musicians use the exposure as a steppingstone, others mark it as a career-high point. Either way, everyone who’s played Newport understands the historical significance of the event. Last week at “Folk On,” I spoke with several young artists who are making […]
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Newport Folk 2021 – The final day of “Folk On” (July 28)
The 2021 Newport Folk Festival edition known as “Folk On” is now part of folk history. The six-day Festival (conceived as two three-day mini-fests), with half capacity crowds due to Covid, was a resounding success. The Festival felt a little different, with smaller crowds and stripped-down sets from many artists. Still, the vibe was pure […]
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Newport Folk 2021 – “Folk On” Part 2 Day 2 (Tuesday, July 27)
“This is a very special festival,” remarked music iconoclast Beck from the Lawn Stage Tuesday evening. “There’s nothing really like this anywhere else in America,” he noted. We couldn’t agree more. Beck headlined the fifth day of folk music in Newport, a day full of diverse talent. And although you couldn’t find much relief from […]
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Newport Folk 2021 – “Folk On” Part 2 – Day 1 (Monday July 26)
The first day of “Part 2” of “Folk On,” Newport Folk’s iteration of the 2021 Festival, was a resounding success. If you haven’t heard, the Festival reduced its capacity to 50% due to the pandemic. So, a pair of three-day mini-fests replaced the usual three-day weekend Festival. Monday featured a good mix of music, from […]
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Newport Folk 2021 – “Folk On” Day 3 Recap and Photos
The last day of the first of two (half-capacity) Newport Folk Festivals began with a morning sprinkle – and ended with a thunderstorm – of talent. The big surprise of Day 3 at Newport Folk was an appearance by R&B legend Chaka Kahn. The ten-time Grammy Award-winning singer joined the thematic set “Allison Russell’s Once […]
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Newport Folk 2021 – “Folk On” Day 2 Recap and Photos
Saturday, July 24th was a perfect day to ‘Folk On” at the Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park. It was Day 2 of the first of two three-day downsized festivals, with Fort Adams at half its regular capacity. The day featured great music and a visit from RI Governor Dan McKee. The day […]
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“Folk On” Saturday Headliner: Jason Isbell to close out Lawn Stage Saturday
One of the great songwriters of the modern era, Jason Isbell is scheduled to headline tonight’s Newport Folk Festival’s “Folk On” event, playing the Lawn Stage at 6:05 PM. A Grammy Award-winning artist, Isbell began his career as a member of the Drive-By Truckers and later formed his band the 400 Unit. During the pandemic, […]
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Newport Folk 2021 – “Folk On” Day 1 Recap and Photos
With the words “Happy New Year,” Newport Folk Festival Executive Director Jay Sweet kicked off “Folk On,” the 2021 version of the historic Festival. The event was downsized somewhat this year, with about half the normal capacity due to the pandemic. Still, the 5000 or so fans at Fort Adams made up the difference with […]
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“Folk On” Headliner: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats return to Newport Friday
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats will be headlining the Lawn Stage at “Folk On” Friday, July 23. The Festival performance comes just as he releases a new album, Red Rocks 2020, recorded live during the pandemic. Red Rocks 2020, the new live album from Nathaniel Rateliff, was just released on Stax Records. The live record was […]
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NFF First-Timers: Singer-Songwriter Andrea von Kampen bringing Nebraska vibe to “Folk On”
Every year, WhatsUpNewp interviews Newport Folk and Jazz Festival artists who are playing Fort Adams for the first time. Our first chat this year was with Andrea von Kampen, a Lincoln, Nebraska-based singer-songwriter who will be playing the Folk Festival’s “Folk On” event Monday, July 26th. “How does it feel?” we wondered. “It feels very […]
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Newport Festivals: Bike Newport ready to assist riders at Fort Adams beginning Friday, July 23
WhatsUpNewp’s Folk and Jazz Festival coverage is brought to you by the Midtown Oyster Bar. If you’ve ever tried to exit the Newport Folk or Jazz Festival by car at the end of a day of music, you know patience is a virtue, and cyclists come first. Although it’s not quite the Tour de France peloton, […]
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2021 dates, details announced for Newport Folk and Newport Jazz
It’s getting even more official. This summer, Newport Folk and Newport Jazz will return to Fort Adams State Park. Newport Festivals Foundation, producers of the the Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival announced some dates and details on Thursday. “Though Newport Folk and Newport Jazz won’t look exactly the same, we are thrilled to […]
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Newport Festivals Foundation to release “John Prine and Friends” album
Recorded during the 2017 Newport Folk Festival®, John Prine and Friends is the first-ever release of this celebrated and unique performance. Joining John on stage during this once-in-a-lifetime set were some of our very dear friends including (in order of appearance) Justin Vernon, Jim James, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff, Lucius, and Roger Waters. Offered exclusively through Newport Folk and […]
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Newport Folk Festival, Newport Jazz Festival planning to return this summer
Attention Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival fans, there’s hope, positive news, and/or reasons to be excited. Governor Dan McKee today announced during his weekly COVID-19 press briefing that he is working closely with organizers of the Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival on a plan that allows them to host safe events […]
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Newport Folk and Jazz Artists dominate Grammy Awards
Like most awards shows this year, tonight’s Grammy Awards (hosted by The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah), will be quite different from years past. Many presenters, including Lizzo and Ringo Starr, will be streaming in remotely, and workers from shuttered concert venues will be presenting awards. Headliners include Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Megan Thee […]
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Newport Folk Launches “Wake the Folk Up” Video Series to Benefit Musicians
“Wake The Folk Up” is a new video series from the folk at the Newport Festivals Foundation, designed “to highlight the issues that matter most to artists during these unprecedented times.” In an effort to support touring musicians, the Foundation is providing grants to artists to share their insights and songs. The episodes will premiere […]
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Newport Folk Festival to Release “A Change is Gonna Come” LP to Benefit Festival Foundation
Recorded during the finale of the 2018 Newport Folk Festival, A Change Is Gonna Come was a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between some of our very dear friends. Featuring Jon Batiste, Mavis Staples, Leon Bridges, Gary Clark Jr, Valerie June, Brandi Carlile, Maggie Rogers, Rachael Price, Chris Thile, Bermuda Triangle and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band backed […]
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Newport Folk Festival Programming Streaming All Weekend
As you know by now, the Newport Folk Festival will not be happening this year. But don’t fret, the Festival has put together some special moments for this weekend. There are ticketed and free online events starting Friday at 11AM, when the Festival typically launches – details below. See you next year at the Fort! […]
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What’sUp Interview: Newport Folk Musician Courtney Marie Andrews
Along with dozens of other artists, Courtney Marie Andrews had hoped to be performing live in this coming weekend at the Newport Folk Festival. Of course COVID-19 got in the way, but you can still see her play in a live stream, as part of the “Deer Tick and Friends” event happening Saturday at 8:30PM. […]
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Newport Folk and Levon Helm Studios to Present “Levon 80” Webcast Thursday June 18th
Since they can’t throw the previously scheduled Levon Helm 80th birthday celebration at Fort Adams this summer, the Newport Folk Festival has teamed up with Levon Helm Studios to host a livestream fundraiser at 8:30PM on June 18th. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX0f9t9OwMM Performers include Phil Lesh, Mavis Staples, Margo Price, Dawes, Son Little, War and Treaty and the […]